Backpack Rifle Choice?

I am planning a backpacking trip for this upcoming November. I'm hoping to do some small game hunting... fox and coyotes at the largest. I'm seriously considering buying a 22 rifle and want to hear your opinions on which one to buy. I'm NOT looking to spend a lot of money. MY 300WM is my target rifle and money pit haha. So this one will be my budget rifle that will only be used on short backpacking trips for small game ONLY. It probably won't ever get shot past 50-100yds.

Thanks!

 

Get a Ruger 10-22 Backpacker. Folds up, has three spare mags in the stock.

 

A 22LR doesn't pack enough punch for coyotes in my opinion.

 

A 17 hmr much better than a .22..

 

I find the 17 hmr very interesting. Do you know if Tikka or any popular brand has something nice in 17 hmr.

 

Get a back pack 410

 

In general , a good backpack rifle for your small game hunting should be lightweight , accurate , reliable , and powerful enough to take down the fox and coyotes at the distance you you'll be shooting

 

Savage LWS with a featherweight .284 Win barrel. Why? Because in a 6 lb. rifle (sub-7 scoped) that's about as much recoil as I want. Same would be true for a .308 shooting 165 grainers. I like to shoot quite a bit (400-500 rounds/year at the range) and I've learned that 20-22 ft. lbs. of recoil is my upper comfort limit. If I was willing to carry heavier rifles, I could shoot '06 or 7 mag or even 300 win mag, but with sub-7 lb. rifles, the .284 Win/.308 is about it. Both of those are more than capable inside 300 yards (400 or more probably). So those are my choices. I have a sub-7 lb. Savage in 7mm-08 for hunting deer.

 

I second you on that

 

Savage LWS with a featherweight .284 Win barrel. Why? Because in a 6 lb. rifle (sub-7 scoped) that's about as much recoil as I want. Same would be true for a .308 shooting 165 grainers. I like to shoot quite a bit (400-500 rounds/year at the range) and I've learned that 20-22 ft. lbs. of recoil is my upper comfort limit. If I was willing to carry heavier rifles, I could shoot '06 or 7 mag or even 300 win mag, but with sub-7 lb. rifles, the .284 Win/.308 is about it. Both of those are more than capable inside 300 yards (400 or more probably). So those are my choices. I have a sub-7 lb. Savage in 7mm-08 for hunting deer.

 

My answer is a Savage LWS with a featherweight .284 Win barrel. Why? Because in a 6 lb. rifle (sub-7 scoped) that's about as much recoil as I want. Same would be true for a .308 shooting 165 grainers. I like to shoot quite a bit (400-500 rounds/year at the range) and I've learned that 20-22 ft. lbs. of recoil is my upper comfort limit. If I was willing to carry heavier rifles, I could shoot '06 or 7 mag or even 300 win mag, but with sub-7 lb. rifles, the .284 Win/.308 is about it. Both of those are more than capable inside 300 yards (400 or more probably). So those are my choices. I have a sub-7 lb. Savage in 7mm-08 for hunting deer.

 

Since the OP was planning on his backpacking trip in November I wonder what he decided on?

 

Savage model 24 O/U in 22lr / 410ga or 223 / 20ga the best of both worlds great little guns IMO
Thanks
Sgoose

 

Get a fold up 410.

 

I realize I am late to the game and the OP has already had his trip but I am surprised that no one mentioned the Henry AR7 survival rifle. It breaks down to where everything fits in the stock (saving space on a backpacking trip) and as a bonus, the stock is waterproof and will float. While I also agree that a .22LR is light for coyotes, it would handle just about every other small game out there (squirrels, rabbits, fox, groundhogs, opossum, raccoons). For space savings and the ability to keep the metal parts of the gun in a dry storage container, I would select the Henry AR7 for a backpacking trip.

 

Also, a kit gun 22 lr revolver has 8 shots S&W 317

 

A revolver would be the best.

 

I have a kimber 308 that weighs 5lb 13oz, I wouldn't hesitate to use it for elk.