1000 ROUNDS DOWN:  4 (Until you have put 1000 + rounds through it, you don’t know!)

The PGW Coyote Scout .308 rifle.   Independent review by Andrew Venables following extensive use at the WMS Steel Challenge firearms training facility.

The PGW Coyote Scout Rifle:

The finish is basic black and the first class KG baked on paint finish which shows no sign of deterioration after 18 months at WMS in all weathers, rain, dust, mud, flying bits from muzzle brakes and 5000 + rounds of mostly Mil Spec 7.62 ammunition. Yep, that’s right, 5000+ rounds! The only sign of any corrosion is the Allen bolts which retain the Badger Ordnance scope mounts, these always seem like a moisture trap and would be better on the sides than the liquid retaining holes in the top of most mounts?

The action is slicker than greased weasel shit! Everyone comments on the smooth and positive bolt operation and solid feel of the PGW action. The lock up is firm and there is plenty of leverage and strength in the bolt handle should ammo prove hot or sticky. The extraction is crisp and reliable with empty cases forming a neat pile about 75cm from the rifle.

The Magazines provided are steel, solid single stack nominally 8 round but take 9. They are this size as the maximum capacity without hitting the ground when prone or raising the firing position, where these rifles normally operate, you DON’T want to stick your head up! There is a window to show the fifth round

The grip and trigger are pure mil spec with a straight hand AR15 style pistol grip bolted to the underside of the action. The grip angle is natural and encourage correct finger pad contact with the trigger. This has remained as factory set at 1.75 kg and has bedded in well, contact is made, pressure increased and the sear breaks with no real further thought. A perfect break should almost surprise the firer.

The travel from the grip to bolt and back becomes muscle memory and does not disturb the prone position normally adopted for this style and weight of rifle.

The wing style safetycatch is thumbed all the way to the rear to lock the action and block the trigger. The operation is silent and positive.

The folding stock is operated by a thumb bolt on the left of the action and the stock swings to the left which is ok, but not ideal. The next Coyote will be a thumb latch and I believe it will swing right and cover the bolt, to be confirmed. The thumb bolt needs a fairish tweak to lock the stock solid. Once done, you could knock fence posts in with it.Its big brother, the Timber wolf passed all UK milspec tests with flying colours.

The barrel is something else. Our version, with CTW and covert work in mind has an 18 inch barrel. The fluting on the outside is deep and spiral anti clock wise, opposite to the rifling inside. Double stress relief and heat shedding. It is a cryogenically stress relieved Krieger barrel with 1:10 twist. They don’t come better and with reasonable care and factory loads I would expect 30,000 + accurate rounds at least! Our 5000+ have had no effect at all.

The thickness and short, rigid style help the rifle shoot most any .308 ammo to almost the same point of aim. It will shoot a sub 4cm group at 100mts mixing 150, 155, 165, 168 and 180gn ammo in the same magazine.

For my taste (practical and hunting focussed) the heavy barrel and all metal construction make the scoped, moderated rifle a bit heavy for woodland and stalking open ground. Check specs below. For accurate work at 50 to 800 metres prone, sitting or kneeling it is tough to beat. Standing it’s a bit heavy but possible. In a ruck sack (its 24” long folded) or a short drag bags its no problem.

The stock / chassis is all cast magnesium alloy, rifles do not come tougher than this one. The finish is smooth, well rounded at the edges and highly ergonomic. The metal finish can be very cold in the winter (-18c) and gloves are needed. The trigger guard and trigger work fine with reasonably thick gloves. There are various multiple fixing points for sling swivels, picatinny rail and pretty much anything you want to securely fix to the weapon system.

 turret adjustment. The S&B PM2 3-12 fitted has 17.5 Mils of elevation and 8 more in the reticule, enough for 1500mts……….IF……

The calibre wasnot .308 / 7.62. But for good reasons of sense and economy it is and with a short, handy barrel. So, across the board the ammo shoots between 2 and 6% slower than factory in a 24” barrel. From 50 to about 800 metres this makes NO practical difference. From 800 to 900 mts it starts to show. Between 900 and 1000 metres the rounds go trans sonic and the accuracy  tails off. Its maths and ballistics, so if you want a general duty rifle for everything its fine. If you specialise in 800 to 1000 metre work, go for the standard 24” version, its identical, they just didn’t shorten it. Ours is a delight moderated, the standard version is looonger and heaaavier!

Accuracy?Ohhh YES!

When I miss or its not perfect, its me. This is one of the most stable, inherently accurate rifles I have ever touched. Any weight bullets, any decent ammo, SP, HP, FMJ, Match, BarnesX, it digests everything I put through it and even shoots it to the same point of aim at 100 metres! It LOVES 145 to 185gn. Most of the rounds fired have been 145gn German army surplus MEN and it shoots sub MOA all day, often Half MOA. We have seen sub MOA groups at all ranges out to 900 Metres. I once hit a 10” plate 3 times out of 5 at 1000 metres. But only once!

As I started, when I miss it’s my fault, the rifle will do it all day.

The Moderatorfitted is a Jet Z over barrel design which is very effective giving around 30db noise reduction and 50%+ recoil reduction in a package which is of reasonable length and weight. It does seem to come loose on rapid fire 10 rounds + so check this design, rifles will vary.

The Muzzle Brake is sooo effective it really is spooky when fired. The moderator is good at reducing recoil and you don’t lose the target at all. With the muzzle brake fitted it just stay still, weird! Your friends however will move away and curse as muzzle brakes are the instrument of the DEVIL when you have company. Don’t even dream about not wearing full muffs at all times or risk instant irreparable damage to your hearing.

5000 308 and 7.62 rounds later it looks like new when dusted off with a silicon cloth, the KG finish has not really altered at all apart from two thin bright lines on the bolt body. It feels like it may just be run in and shoots like a dream. Any gripes?

I wish it was about 3 lbs lighter, then I would use it for everything all the time and hardly touch my other mid calibre rifles, it is that good. My clients love it and draw to it like moths to a candle.

Delivery on PGW’s is circa 12 months, if you want one be patient. Once you have it, put it in your Will, you wont wear it out and your kids will want it!

5000+ passed. Ohhh yes!

PGW Coyote Scout Rifle by...

Andrew Venables

WMS Firearms Training

25/05/11

Technical Specification of Coyote 7.62 SWS Rifle:

Receiver and bolt:

Receiver material:  Stainless Steel Pr. 70 416

Bolt material:  4140 C/M HTSR
# of lugs:  3 (2 front 1 rear)-one piece bolt.
Lug rotation:  90 degrees.
Recoil lugs on receiver:  3 lugs.
Scope rail screws:  10-32 (5).
Action screws:  5/16-24 (2).
Safety:  3 position with middle “field strip” position.
Ejector:  Single plunger set.
Extractor:  Hook type.
Barrel thread:  1.162X16.
Production method:  CNC-VMC, LATHE and WIRE EDM. 

Barrel:

Barrel material:  4140 C/M.
Barrel length:  24”
Barrel twist:  1-10”
Grooves:  6
Brake/suppressor thread:  ¾-20.
Tenon thread:  1.162X16.
Fluting:  Helical pattern.
Stress relief:  Cryogenic. 

Trigger:

Adjustments:  Weight, creep and over travel.
Stage:  Single. 

Magazines:

Magazine material:  Stainless.
Capacity:  8 rounds. 

Scope rail:

Material:  Aluminum.
Pattern:  1913 Picatinny.
Slope:  Forward 25 minute. 

Stock (Folding stock available upon request)

Material:  Fiberglass.
Model:  A5.
Adjustments:  Saddle cheek piece and spacer butt.
Bedding:  PGWDTI-Titanium Cantilever Monoblock.
Swivels:  To specification.
UNS/PEQ mounts: Night vision to specification. 

Muzzle brake:

Material:  Stainless steel.
Attachment:  Quick detach (with Allen key).
Configuration:  Side port tactical. 

Suppressor:

Material:  Titanium
Attachment:  Tool free. 

Night vision capability:

Type 1:  Simrad via custom scope ring sets.
Type 2:  UNS or MUNS via PGWDTI proprietary mount. 

Finishes:

Stock:  Molded camo to specification.
Metal:  Teflon color to specification. 

Transit case: (optional)

Material:  Polymer.
Case:  Fitted Hardigg iM3300 for all components 

System dimensions and weights-Coyote:

Rifle weight: 13.5lbs.
Rifle length (with brake):  46”Rifle length (with silencer):  51”Silencer weight:  30oz.
Silencer length:  12”.Silencer diameter:  2”. 

Accuracy:

Sub .5 MOA with proper ammunition.