AR 15 Coyote cartridge

[7mmmag]

I was looking at the 22 Nosler and the 224 Valkre for night hunting rig with thermal sight. I was wanting something as flat as possible to help with the lack of looking at the thermal screen , I have hard time judging distance so flat shooting cartridge would help. I noticed there are a lot of heavy bullet loads but not many 50 - 55 gr loads for these . Thanks

 

[OKyote73]

53gr vmax will do it

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I was looking at the 22 Nosler and the 224 Valkre for night hunting rig with thermal sight. I was wanting something as flat as possible to help with the lack of looking at the thermal screen , I have hard time judging distance so flat shooting cartridge would help. I noticed there are a lot of heavy bullet loads but not many 50 - 55 gr loads for these . Thanks

If coyote hunting is the purpose, I see no problem with a plain ol .223. Lots of options for bullet weights etc and plenty for most hunting shots. If you want something a little faster, anything on a Grendel case will be great.....224, 6mm or 6.5 cal. It's amazing how that little case can push a bullet as fast as it can. I'd probably do a 6 Grendel, myself. Not sure how fast it'll push them from an AR15 based gun but you can likely get around 3,450ish with 65-70 gr bullets without pushing real hard. I shoot 80's in a br bolt gun at 3300. It'll go a little faster but brass life suffers.

 

[7mmmag]

If coyote hunting is the purpose, I see no problem with a plain ol .223. Lots of options for bullet weights etc and plenty for most hunting shots. If you want something a little faster, anything on a Grendel case will be great.....224, 6mm or 6.5 cal. It's amazing how that little case can push a bullet as fast as it can. I'd probably do a 6 Grendel, myself. Not sure how fast it'll push them from an AR15 based gun but you can likely get around 3,450ish with 65-70 gr bullets without pushing real hard. I shoot 80's in a br bolt gun at 3300. It'll go a little faster but brass life suffers.

 

[7mmmag]

I do have 2 6.5 Grendel's and used 85 HP last year and worked good but that bullet is not very good on bc department . The problem I have is that I can't judge yardage very well with the thermal from 200 on its hard to get good read on yardage . Would it be possible to run sierra 55 Blitzking say 3500 fps or better in the Nosler or Valkre ?
I will probably trade my Armasight Zues for night vision and use thermal for scanning .

 

[nockhunter]

Sierra 55g Blitz King!

Mike

 

[Lougler]

Depending on what your maximum yardage is, a 20 Tactical or 20 Practical would be very flat shooting.

 

[fredo]

Predators are 'dumb' at night, and easy to call into easy MPBR distance.
Pick a decent killing bullet, zero it @ 200yds , and hold dead on for every shot you are presented...

If you miss, it's your fault!

 

[outasite`08]

Predators are 'dumb' at night, and easy to call into easy MPBR distance.
Pick a decent killing bullet, zero it @ 200yds , and hold dead on for every shot you are presented...

If you miss, it's your fault!

What he said. Don`t over think it.

 

[7mmmag]

I hunt areas where they have had lots of pressure but I tried that last season with 223 . It worked ok but we hunted the open areas where the shots are 250 to 500 . There were several times coyotes tried winding at 500 - 800 yds.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I hunt areas where they have had lots of pressure but I tried that last season with 223 . It worked ok but we hunted the open areas where the shots are 250 to 500 . There were several times coyotes tried winding at 500 - 800 yds.

There is nothing that will allow you to shoot from 250 to 500 without a fair amount of holdover or clicking into a coyote sized target my friend.

 

[fastnflat1]

I was looking at the 22 Nosler and the 224 Valkre for night hunting rig with thermal sight. I was wanting something as flat as possible to help with the lack of looking at the thermal screen , I have hard time judging distance so flat shooting cartridge would help. I noticed there are a lot of heavy bullet loads but not many 50 - 55 gr loads for these . Thanks

I was in the same shoes a couple years ago and built a couple of 22 noslers. I shot the factory 55gr ammo at 3700fps out of 24" barrels. With a 225yd zero it is not a problem to kill a yote at 300yds. I ran across an olympic arms UMAR 22-250 last winter and decided to give it a try. I recontoured the barrel and changed out the buttstock and free float tube to something of my liking and am shooting factory hornady 50gr vmax at 4000fps from that 24" bbl. I really wish hornady offered a factory load with their 53gr vmax but until then I'll keep working with the 50s. Im anxious to see how well this setup works at 350yds....

 

[7mmmag]

OK that is something to look in to that was the other thing was the weight of the gun . Thank You sounds like what I need to try !!

 

[Liven The Dream]

I am getting parts together for a AR Dog Rifle.
My Idea is 20" Service Rifle 1-8 Barrel in .223 .
Sierra 55 Blitz and 60 Hollow Points are my way of thinking.
I am thinking 300 yard Max ???
Update Barrel will be White Oak 24” 1-8
Scope Rifle Match . Midwest M -Lock 15 “ Hand Guard

 

[bullseyeshtr]

I use a 204 AR-15 for my night/fur rig. 32gr bullet weight. I'm not worried about bc out to 200yds. I figure at night a person should be able to get them in 200yds or less.

 

[7mmmag]

I will try one of my Grendel but also did look into a Christian 243 .Thanks

 

[spencerhenry]

I run a 700LTR in 223 for night, and a 17-223 AR for daytime. Furbuyer was complaining about bullet holes, the 17 holes are hard to find.

 

[Knifeman]

Look at Dtech uppers. I just built a 6mmDTI. 6.8 spc necked down to 6mm. I’m pushing 70 gr BK’s 3350 FPS. Crushes yotes at any distance.

 

[Bc'z]

I put together a 6x45 gas gun with a BHW 24"
barrel pushing 70 grain bullets just under 3000fps. Might have to try something lighter and go for that 200 yard zero.

 

[370bc]

I just got done building 'something flat as possible' myself. Granted, its not an AR, but it works just the same. I did a 6-284 with a 55 grain ballistic tip @ 4320 fps. With a 300 yard zero, Im 2.6'' high @ 175 yards, and 7.1'' low @ 400 yards. I got it up to 4400, but i backed off for barrel life.
Seriously, I wanted to do just what you are wanting to do. I rebarreld a Tikka 270 win LITE to a 6-284 w/28'' 1-13. It's the bees-knees! Zero recoil. I use to use a BAR in 270 win. The low velocity limits was the deal killer. Good Luck!!