Best Coyote Rifles (2026): Bolt Guns and ARs for Predators

Coyotes do not care what your rifle cost. They care whether you can put the first round where it needs to go at 250 yards, in wind, after you have been sitting on a cold hillside for 40 minutes trying not to twitch. Everything else is gear-shopping therapy.

So this list of the best coyote rifles for 2026 is built around what actually matters on a stand: a flat-shooting cartridge, accuracy you can count on, a trigger that does not fight you, and a rifle you are willing to haul to the next set. Every pick was shot by a GunsAmerica Digest writer. One ran a Savage 110 Carbon Predator that averaged 0.58-inch groups with its favorite load. Another clocked CMMG’s 22 Nosler AR at 3,535 fps, faster than the box promised. Another rang a 24-inch plate at 1,800 yards with a Mossberg that cost around $350 at the time.

Bolt gun or AR? Both work, and we included both. Bolt guns tend to be lighter for the accuracy you get. ARs give you a fast second shot when the pair comes in together, which happens more than people admit. If you are building an AR from the ground up, our writer’s guide to setting up the ultimate AR for coyote hunting walks through the optic, trigger and ammo side of it.

Fur season is here. Let’s find you something that will make the dogs regret coming to the call.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best Coyote Rifles In 2026

The best coyote rifle setup is a rifle, an optic and a load that agree with each other. Buy those three as a package and you will kill more dogs than the guy with the fancier rifle and the bargain-bin scope.

Best Coyote Rifle Caliber

A .223 Remington or 5.56 is the default for a reason: cheap ammo, light recoil and plenty of power at normal calling distances. Fur hunters who care about pelt damage like fast, light bullets. The 22 Nosler and .204 Ruger push the speed even harder for open country, and 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 makes sense when shots stretch past 400 yards or you want one rifle for coyotes and deer. Whatever you pick, buy enough of one load to zero, confirm and practice.

Bolt Action Or Semi-Auto

A bolt gun is usually lighter and more accurate per dollar. A semi-auto AR lets you stay on the scope for a quick follow-up on a runner or a double. Our testers got sub-MOA groups from both kinds, so pick the one that fits how you hunt, not the one that wins internet arguments.

Weight And Handling

You will carry this rifle from stand to stand, often in the dark. Under 8 pounds with a scope is a good target for a walking setup. Heavier varmint rifles are better on a tripod or a truck window. A threaded barrel matters too, because a suppressor makes a calling setup much easier on your ears and less spooky for the next stand. See our best suppressors if you want to go quiet.

Triggers Matter More Than You Think

Our SIG Tread Predator reviewer measured the factory trigger at just over 7 pounds, swapped in a 3-pound Geissele and watched his groups shrink to under an inch. A crisp 2 to 4 pound trigger is worth more than another quarter MOA on paper.

Glass For Day And Night

A 3-12x or 4-16x variable with a simple reticle covers most daytime calling. Night hunting, where legal, needs thermal or digital night vision. Our best night vision guide and the thermal picks in our best Trijicon optics guide are the places to look. Budget glass for day hunting lives in our best rifle scopes under $1,000.

Best Coyote Rifle For The Money

You do not need to spend $1,700. The Mossberg Patriot Predator and Savage 110 Predator both shot sub-MOA for our writers at a fraction of the price, and our best budget hunting rifles guide has more. Spend the savings on ammo and a good call.

Best Coyote Rifles Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup

Savage 110 Carbon Predator: Best Coyote Rifle Overall (2026)

This is the rifle we would grab for a full day of calling. Savage wrapped a cut-rifled Proof Research barrel in carbon fiber, spiral-fluted the bolt and got a 110 that weighs slightly more than 7 pounds. Our reviewer’s 6.5 Creedmoor test gun, after he snugged up the action screws, shot sub-MOA average groups with all four hunting loads he tried, and the best of them averaged 0.58 inch.

Read our full Savage 110 Carbon Predator review here.

The AccuTrigger broke clean at just under 2 pounds, 4 ounces with no creep, and it adjusts down to 1.5 pounds. He did note that the five-round AICS-style magazine fed reliably but not perfectly smoothly, with a few rounds hanging up slightly before chambering. The MSRP was $1,695 at the time of review in 2023, which is real money for a coyote gun. You are paying for light weight and a barrel that stays accurate as it heats up, and on a busy morning both of those pay you back. Savage also offers it in .223, 6mm ARC and .308, among others.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor (as tested); .223 Rem, 300 AAC Blackout, 6mm ARC, .308 Win and others offered
• Barrel: 22 in, carbon fiber wrapped Proof Research, 1:8 twist (as tested)
• Weight: slightly more than 7 lb
• Magazine: 5-round AICS-style
• Trigger: AccuTrigger, measured just under 2 lb 4 oz
• Price: $1,695 MSRP (2023 review)

Pros

• 0.58-inch average groups with its best load
• About 7 pounds
• Excellent AccuTrigger
• Barrel sheds heat

Cons

• Expensive for a predator rifle
• Some rounds hung up slightly feeding
• Action screws needed tightening

🛒 Check Current Price for Savage 110 Carbon Predator on GunsAmerica

CMMG Endeavor 300 Mk4: Best AR For Coyote Hunting (2026)

Want speed? CMMG chambered its Endeavor 300 Mk4 in 22 Nosler, a round built to beat .223 performance while still running in an AR-15-size rifle. Our reviewer chronographed Nosler’s 53-grain Varmageddon load at 3,535 fps from the 24-inch barrel, 85 fps faster than the factory number, and said it outruns 55-grain .223 by a wide margin.

Read our full CMMG Endeavor 300 Mk4 review here.

It also shot. That same load averaged 0.80-inch groups at 100 yards with a best group of 0.47 inch, and he was more than a little happy to get an unmodified factory AR to do that. The trigger measured a consistent 4 pounds, 10 ounces. MSRP was $1,749 at the time of review in 2021. The catch is ammo: 22 Nosler is not on every shelf, so buy in bulk before season. If you want a semi-auto that hits like a much bigger varmint round, this is it.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 22 Nosler (as tested)
• Barrel: 24 in
• Action: semi-auto AR
• Trigger: measured 4 lb 10 oz
• Velocity: 3,535 fps with Nosler 53-grain Varmageddon (measured)
• Price: $1,749 MSRP (2021 review)

Pros

• 0.47-inch best group from a factory AR
• Beat factory velocity claims
• Fast follow-up shots
• Flat trajectory for open country

Cons

• 22 Nosler ammo is harder to find
• Heavier trigger than the bolt guns here
• Long, heavy barrel

🛒 Check Current Price for CMMG Endeavor 300 on GunsAmerica

Mossberg Patriot Predator: Best Coyote Rifle For The Money (2026)

Our reviewer’s opener says it all: a 6.5 Creedmoor that retailed for around $350 at the time of his 2020 review, ringing a 24-inch plate at 1,800 yards. Nobody is calling coyotes at 1,800 yards, but a rifle that can do that has no trouble with a dog at 300.

Read our full Mossberg Patriot Predator review here.

At 100 yards, Barnes Precision Match 140 grain and Barnes VOR-TX LR 127 grain printed 0.65 and 0.50 MOA three-shot groups. Hornady American Gunner and ELD-X Hunter held 0.75 MOA. The 22-inch fluted barrel is threaded 5/8×24, the LBA trigger adjusts from 2 to 7 pounds, and the whole rifle weighs 6.5 pounds, light enough to carry all day. Fit and finish are budget-rifle fit and finish. The accuracy is not.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor (as tested)
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Barrel: 22 in fluted, threaded 5/8×24, 1:8 twist
• Weight: 6.5 lb
• Trigger: LBA, adjustable 2 to 7 lb
• Length of Pull: 13.75 in
• Price: retailed around $350 (2020 review)

Pros

• 0.50 to 0.75 MOA with several loads
• Hit steel at 1,800 yards
• 6.5 pounds
• Threaded fluted barrel

Cons

• Budget fit and finish
• Some loads only held about 1.25 MOA

🛒 Check Current Price for Mossberg Patriot Predator on GunsAmerica

SIG Tread Predator: Best Coyote Rifle For AR Tinkerers (2026)

The Tread Predator is a well-built 5.56 AR with a 16-inch stainless barrel under a 15-inch M-LOK handguard, and our reviewer said the fit and finish were superb. Out of the box it shot about 1.5-inch five-shot groups with Hornady Varmint Express. Then he got honest about why.

Read our full SIG Tread Predator review here.

The factory trigger broke at just over 7 pounds, and his own predator rifles break around 3. He dropped in a Geissele SSA-E at right about 3 pounds, put a bigger scope on it and the groups shrank to just under an inch. Zero malfunctions throughout. It weighs about 7.5 pounds and had an MSRP of $1,099 at the time of review in 2021. Buy it as a solid base, budget for a trigger and you will have a coyote AR that runs and shoots.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel: 16 in stainless, threaded 1/2×28
• Handguard: 15 in M-LOK
• Weight: about 7.5 lb
• Trigger: factory measured just over 7 lb
• Price: $1,099 MSRP (2021 review)

Pros

• Zero malfunctions
• Superb fit and finish
• Under 1 inch with a better trigger
• Barrel tapered for SIG suppressors

Cons

• Heavy factory trigger
• Needs upgrades to shoot its best

🛒 Check Current Price for SIG Tread Predator on GunsAmerica

Savage 110 Predator: Best Heavy Barrel Varmint Rifle (2026)

Our reviewer bought into the 110 Predator for rock chucks in windy country, which is about as good a coyote training ground as exists. His .204 Ruger came with the trigger set at 2 pounds, 2 ounces, and four three-shot groups with Federal 40-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip averaged 0.89 MOA.

Read our full Savage 110 Predator review here.

Then he took it out on a stormy day with 20 mph wind and worked chucks from 200 to 400 yards. The AccuStock lets you tune length of pull and comb height, the muzzle is threaded 1/2×28, and the semi-heavy barrel keeps a small cartridge like the .204 from moving the rifle at all. MSRP was $949.99 at the time of review in 2019. It is heavier than the Carbon Predator, so it is a better rifle for a set-up stand or a truck than a long walk.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .204 Ruger (as tested); 22-250, .223 Rem, .243 Win, .260 Rem, .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor offered at review
• Trigger: AccuTrigger, measured 2 lb 2 oz
• Stock: AccuStock, adjustable
• Muzzle: threaded 1/2×28 (as tested)
• Price: $949.99 MSRP (2019 review)

Pros

• 0.89 MOA average with .204 Ruger
• Light, adjustable trigger
• Adjustable AccuStock
• Handled 20 mph wind work

Cons

• Heavier than a walking rifle
• Older review, so confirm current calibers

🛒 Check Current Price for Savage 110 Predator on GunsAmerica

CVA Cascade Varmint Hunter: Best Coyote Rifle For Suppressed Stand Hunting (2026)

CVA is better known for muzzleloaders, so the Cascade Varmint Hunter might surprise you. Our reviewer’s .223 test rifle came with a 20-inch fluted barrel threaded 5/8×24, a 20 MOA rail already installed, a cheek riser and a flat-bottom stock that sat steady on bags, tripods and tree branches. It shot great suppressed, and with the brake on, the heavy barrel kept muzzle rise down for quick follow-ups.

Read our full CVA Cascade Varmint Hunter review here.

Accuracy was good with the right ammo. It delivered multiple sub-MOA groups, though most loads clustered near an inch, and he wished more of them had gone under. The trigger broke at a consistent 2 pounds and adjusts to 4, but the adjustment screw backed out and fell out during testing, so put a drop of thread locker on it. MSRP was $900 at the time of review in 2024, about $800 on the street then.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .223 (as tested)
• Barrel: 20 in fluted, Cerakote smoked bronze, 1:9 twist, threaded 5/8×24
• Weight: 8.7 lb
• Magazine: 10-round CVA (one included)
• Trigger: measured 2 lb, adjustable 2 to 4 lb
• Rail: 20 MOA, installed
• Price: $900 MSRP (2024 review)

Pros

• Sub-MOA with match ammo
• 2-pound trigger
• Stable flat-bottom stock
• Suppressor ready

Cons

• Trigger adjustment screw fell out
• Many loads near 1 MOA
• Ships with one magazine

🛒 Check Current Price for CVA Cascade Varmint Hunter on GunsAmerica

Rock River LAR-8M: Best Semi-Auto Coyote Rifle For Long Shots (2026)

When the fields are big and the dogs hang up at 400 yards, a 6.5 Creedmoor semi-auto earns its weight. Our reviewer ran Rock River’s LAR-8M Predator HP through a two-day long range course and found a rifle that is light recoiling and accurate, with a fast follow-up shot when you need one.

Read our full Rock River LAR-8M review here.

The 20-inch fluted stainless barrel wears an RRA Operator brake that tames an already soft round, and the RRA two-stage match trigger, rated at 4.5 to 5 pounds, broke crisply with a solid reset. He fired three rapid shots prone off a bipod and rear bag at 100 yards and kept them tight in the middle. It is 9.5 pounds before glass, with an MSRP of $1,950 at the time of review in 2018. That is a lot of rifle to carry, so it fits a tripod or a truck setup best.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor (as tested)
• Action: semi-auto, direct gas impingement
• Barrel: 20 in fluted stainless, 1:8 twist
• Muzzle: RRA Operator brake
• Trigger: RRA two-stage match, rated 4.5 to 5 lb
• Weight: 9.5 lb
• Price: $1,950 MSRP (2018 review)

Pros

• 6.5 Creedmoor reach with a fast follow-up
• Crisp two-stage trigger
• Effective brake
• Light recoil

Cons

• 9.5 lb before a scope
• Older review, so confirm current configuration

🛒 Check Current Price for Rock River LAR-8M on GunsAmerica

Final Thoughts On The Best Coyote Rifles Of 2026

If you want one rifle that does it all, the Savage 110 Carbon Predator is our pick. It is light, it shot 0.58-inch averages, and the trigger is excellent. If you want an AR, the CMMG Endeavor 300 in 22 Nosler is fast and accurate, as long as you stock up on ammo. If your wallet is tight, the Mossberg Patriot Predator proved a $350-class rifle can still ring steel absurdly far away.

The SIG Tread Predator is a great base for a guy who likes to upgrade triggers, the Savage 110 Predator and CVA Cascade are steady varmint rifles for set-up stands, and the Rock River LAR-8M is the semi-auto for big country.

Then spend your time where it counts: learning the wind, practicing from field positions and finding stands the dogs actually use. Check your state’s rules on night hunting, calibers and suppressors before season. If an old rifle is collecting dust while you shop, sell it on GunsAmerica and put the money toward ammo. Shop coyote rifles on GunsAmerica.com.