There’s more open country and public land within driving distance of Ely, Nevada, than the naked eye can take in. From rolling hills and a sea of endless cedars to the vast horizons of sage flats, it’s perfect country for coyotes. It was also perfect for putting two of Remington’s newest firearms to the ultimate predator hunting test. On a two-day hunt, we’d be using two modern takes on Remington classics—the Model 870 DM in 12-gauge and 700 Magpul in .260 Remington.
Model 700 Magpul On ‘Yotes
My best opportunity at a double on ‘yotes came on the first morning of the first day of the hunt, with our expert caller, Kendall, playing a tune on the FoxPro across an endless sage wasteland. Perched in my Duck Dynasty camo chair and trying to shake off the cold from a windy late November morning in Nevada, I saw four sets of ears darting back and forth as they approached our set.
I steadily worked the action of Remington’s newly introduced Model 700 Magpul, chambered in .260 Rem. and loaded with 120-grain Barnes TTSX boat tail loads, which travel roughly 2,950 fps from the muzzle. The first dog came to about 120 yards and posted up, broadside, giving me the perfect shot. I squeezed the X-Mark Pro trigger, which broke cleanly and crisply, sending a cloud of dust into the air where the bullet touched down, about 3 feet short of th
e coyote. I pulled the trigger on a second dog at 250 yards, with a similar result.
Always Double Check Your Zero
I’ve had more than my fair share of user-induced misses, but on this occasion, I felt confident in my rest and trigger press. Kendall and I decided to set up a McDonald’s bag with a giant red dot we’d painted on it at 100 yards and check zero on the rifle. Sure enough, the rifle had gotten jarred during shipping and was significantly off. We made the adjustment on my Trijicon 2.5-10×56 AccuPoint riflescope, got it successfully zeroed, and headed off to the day’s next set. In life and in hunting, the best you can do is make the adjustment and move on.
Accuracy overall was impressive, especially since I was shooting prone off a backpack and the target was an improvised fast food bag. Even so, groups were well below an inch, which is essential for the days when call-weary ‘yotes won’t come any closer than 200-300 yards.
Magpul Makeover
Remington’s Model 700 has been around since the early 1960s and is one of America’s most reliable and beloved hunting rifles. This past year Remington introduced the Magpul edition, which features a Magpul Hunter stock with aluminum bedding blocks. Not only does the newly made-over rifle support Magpul magazines, it’s incredibly durable in any environment and highly adjustable for any size shooter. The stock comes with length of pull adjustments from 13 to 15 inches, as well as three separate comb inserts, making it ideal for any size of shooter.
SPECS:
- Caliber: .260 Rem.
- Type: Bolt action
- Trigger: X-Mark Pro, externally adjustable
- Stock: Magpul Hunter (adjustable length of pull and cheek piece)
- Length of Pull: 13 to 15 in.
- Barrel Length: 22 in.
- Barrel: Heavy contour, free floated, 5R rifling
- Twist: 1:10 in.
- Weight: 8.75 lbs.
- MSRP: $1,175
Features
The rifle also features a heavy-contour barrel with 5R rifling, which isn’t exactly lightweight but is a great setup for windy, open country and shooting from sticks out to several hundred yards. Without scope the rifle weighs just shy of 9 pounds and has an overall length of roughly 41.5 inches. With a sling, it’s more than manageable on short-range walks to a coyote set, although it’d be more cumbersome for days afield in the elk mountains.
Remington offers the 700 Magpul in several popular long-range calibers, including .308 Win., .260 Rem., .300 Win. Mag. and the ever-popular 6.5 Creedmoor. The rifle features a 22-inch barrel (the .300 Win. Mag. variant features a 24-inch barrel) with either a 1:8- (.260, 6.5) or a 1:10-in. (.308, .300 Win. Mag.) twist. The barrel features a black Cerakote finish for added durability in the elements. The barrel comes threaded with a protector and is ideal for suppressed shooting. Along with helpful sizing adjustments, the Magpul Hunter stock is extremely durable and a great option for those of us who like to beat the hell out of their equipment.
The Magpul 700 also features an X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger that’s extremely clean and crisp. The break is excellent and there’s virtually no creep, something that comes in handy for long-range predator hunting. The carbon steel action features a tactical bolt handle which is ideal for shooting with gloved hands. The stellar trigger contributes to the rifle’s overall accuracy, which is easily sub-MOA, while long-range-friendly caliber pairings make the 700 Magpul and obvious choice for distance work at the range or in the field.
Close Range Coyotes
Not to be outdone on the shotgun side, Remington recently introduced the Model 870 DM Magpul, a detachable magazine 12-gauge pump that we brought along for extra insurance on those close-range kamikaze coyotes. The 870 DM features Magpul’s SGA stock, which was created to provide custom fit for one of the world’s most popular shotguns. The length of pull spacer adjustment system provides adjustments from 12.3 to 14.3 inches, while a recoil reducing buttpad lightens the sting of the 12-gauge.
SPECS:
- Model 870 DM Magpul
- Type: Pump action
- Gauge: 12, 3-in.
- Magazine: Detachable, 6-rd.
- Stock: Magpul SGA
- Barrel: 18.5-in., Tactical REM choke
- Receiver: Matte blued
- Sights: XS Ghost Ring
- Weight: 7.5 lbs.
- Manufacturer: Remington.com
- MSRP: $800
As most veteran ‘yote slayers will tell you, it’s a good idea to keep a shotgun close by with some 00 buck for the coyotes that come in fast and close to the call. My friend Jonathan had one such encounter during our hunt, as a dog raced down a gulley and appeared just shy of 15 yards. As luck would have it, that was one of the few times we left the shotgun at the truck, but Jonathan was able to get his 700 in .260 Rem. on the dog anyway and drop it with a single shot. Lesson learned: always bring the shotgun.
For Defense
The 870 DM is an equally capable shotgun for home defense, as decades of law enforcement and defense applications have proven. The pump action is reliable, and 12-gauge defense loads are as advanced as ever. The detachable magazine gives an added benefit in that it keeps the weight rearward on the shotgun, preventing the obvious arm strain that comes from steadying a half-dozen rounds of lead extending out to the front of the barrel. As a result, the 870 DM is highly maneuverable and manageable in tight spaces. I found even with coyotes the weight-to-balance ratio is helpful for swinging and shooting on moving dogs while preventing fatigue.
Parting Shots
Magpul’s highly versatile stocks, whether on the new 870 DM or Model 700, provide an exceptional level of adjustment and customization for a wide range of shooters. With the length of pull inserts and three different cheek pieces, these two new firearms are even handier than ever. Combine these innovative new stock designs with two of the best shotgun and bolt-action platforms ever made, and you’ve got a winning combination for coyote fields and home defense.
Remington was equally smart to chamber the 700 Magpul in some of the best long-range calibers, including the 6.5 Creedmoor. With a highly accurate barrel and a phenomenal trigger, the 700 Magpul is a phenomenal rifle at a reasonable price point.
For more information about Remington firearms, click here.
***Check out GunsAmerica for a Remington 870.***