AR Coyote Caliber

[OmegaRed]

Doing some reading on the options out there.

I'm not 100% sure on an AR platform, but would love the ability for multiple follow up shots. This will be shot with a suppressor and thermal, but I'd love to not use ballistics or ABL rangefinder if possible. Set a 200 yard zero and shoot holder over.

Shots limited to 500 yds, most will be below 300. Brass will be policed but I dont want to cry for the ones that get lost, so that's a small consideration.

Reading a bit on 6.5 grendel and .224 valk. What kind of accuracy can you expect on these with handloads? I shoot benchrest, so have become spoiled with tight groups. I realize we wont be there, but is half MOA out of the realm of possibility from an AR platform?

Looking for some real world experience...thanks.

 

[Mark M.]

With the right set up half moa is very reasonable, I have the grendel and is excellent on coyotes

 

[Bc'z]

I'm doing load work with a 6x45 currently.
Shot 80gr Bart's with 2 different powders
Standard 100 yard OCW supported with a 200 yard ladder.
I think I'm going to like this bullet.
I windowed the front of my magazine so I can load long @2.37" w748, going to start with 27gr and seating test
Vhit135, I'll start seating at 24.2

 

[std7mag]

25-45 Sharps...

Load up with 90gr Sierra BlitzKings.

 

[AWS]

As always you have to compromise if you are going to save pelts. If you are calling coyotes a vast majority of your shots will be under 200 yards. If you are just shooting targets of opportunity many will be long.

Opportunities, and not saving pelts, I'd look into a something in a 243, 260, 6.5 CM, 308 either in an AR-10 or bolt anything big and flat shooting .
saving pelts 22-250, 223 Wssm or 220 Swift, 22 Nosler, even the 223 but your running out of HP at 500.

Called, Not saving pelts anything goes but I'd like a scope with at least a 40' FOV on the bottom end
saving pelts 17 Rem, 223, 22 Nosler and keep your shots under 300.

My favorite called coyote pelt hunting rigs are a Rem 222 Leupold 2-7 Compact scope, 22-204 with a 1.5-6x40mm scope. I have a 20 Practical bolt action in the works that will wear a 1.5-6x40mm and a 16" barreled 223 AR wearing a 1.5-4x20mm scope. The last two are still on probation, the AR just got finished last week and the 20 Practical is on the brown truck due here tomorrow.

 

[OKyote73]

AR configuration I would say 6.5 Grendel but holdover to 500 might be asking a lot! I've shot lots with 223 but you will have some runners with it. 6,5 grendel normally is drt!

 

[AWS]

What's the deal with the 223 and runners? I kill a number of coyotes with 22 WMR, 218 Bee, 222 Rem and the 223 and have a hard time remembering a runner and that was not much more than 10 yards. My only runner this year was with the 6.5 Grendel because I gut shot him and he only went 20 yards. Then I call them and haven't shot one over 100 yards in a couple of years.

Quit shooting V-max in the shoulders. Save the V-max in the 223 for PD's and GS's.

 

[5spd]

My best coyote calibers are the 6x6.8, 6x45 and .223. I shoot suppressed and thermal. I load a 55g bullet in those calibers and don't have run offs.
Other calibers I'd build a coyote rig in would be the 6.5 Grendel, 6mm Grendel, 224 Valkyrie with 60 g bullets (I've assembled 2 of those for others)

 

[30378]

I shoot a 6mm Grendel with 70gr Ballistic Tips. Works quite well on coyotes and medium size critters. Love it!!

 

[johnfred1965]

+1 on the 6mm Grendel, aka 6mmAR

 

[bluealtered]

I live in an area that your shot can be 25' to infinity and beyond. I once shot a coyote at 20-25' with your basic 5.56/.223 AR 55gr v-max and it just went straight threw him and it took another round at about 50yds as he was running away to bring him down. If i had gotten up and moved around the tree i was leaning against to keep my back covered it would have been a 250-300yd shot for something coming from that direction and that same bullet would have worked as intended.

 

[searcher]

I shoot lots of coyotes with various A/R's in .20 Practical (39 SBK), 6.5 Grendel, .223, and .22 Nosler. I think the ideal one of these four for coyotes is the .22 Nosler. I passed over the Valkyrie for the .22 Nosler as the .22 Nosler is better suited for varmint-weight bullets due to the throating. The Valkyrie is better for the real heavy bullets - which tend to not be varmint bullets. I chose the .22 Nosler as best because you can load up something like a 50 Varmint Grenade and shoot it 10% faster than a .223 which creates super flat shooting - especially in the zone you will be shooting. A little flatter with a higher B/C bullet like the 55 SBK works real well too. The .22 Nosler recoils ever so slightly more than a .223 while shooting a great coyote bullet fast enough to not need to hold over within 250- 300 yards. While I usually build my own uppers, I bought three heavy-barreled 24" braked (as a request) uppers from White Oak and put them on my rifle and two buddies rifles. I did the load development on all three - which all resulted in WELL UNDER 1/2" M.O.A.. I think the .20 Practical would be my #2, then the .223, then the Grendel. While I chose the Grendel last - mine is a self-build with a 26" braked Krieger heavy barrel. It is probably more accurate than the others - though the added recoil and muzzle blast are enough to not choose it. It is not that the recoil is high - just enough more that is not as nice when shooting at a running coyote. The recoil is just enough (even with a good brake) that is moves you slightly off the running animal as you are following him. The .20 Practical is probably the best in regard to following and laying down follow-up shots on running coyotes (or squirrels?) The .22 Nosler is the best compromise of speed, low recoil and heavy enough bullet to whack them good. Lastly - and I'm not exaggerating when I say this - if you buy a QUALITY heavy-barreled, braked, minimum 24" upper and utilize a good trigger that pulls no more than 2 1/2 pounds and top it with a good scope with decent magnification and put your bench-rest loading skills to use (though .002" neck setback on a fully-sized case and more neck tension like .004" - though no crimp), you should have no problem getting under 1/2 MOA groups if you do a bit of load development.

 

[people]

I just use 223 in my setup like yours. Falls in to the category of if I never pick up brass it is cheap enough. It is a cost thing. Lower costs means you can shoot more

A 6mmAr or 6.5 Grendel are both nice, I would lean more toward the 6mm or coyotes between these two.

 

[Knifeman]

Get yourself a Dtech 6mmDTI. It’s a 6.8spc necked Down to 6mm. Dtech builds insane accurate upper. I run Berger’s 65 gr. Bullets for yotes. It’s fantastic for dogs.