Cartridge for 22 inch ar coyote upper

[BforByron]

For my next project I want to make a 22 inch dedicated coyote upper for my ar with something better and flatter than a 223.

Been thinking about a 20 grendel/lbc running only 55 or a 17-223 running 30 or 32.

Biggest issues are... I can't source a 20 grendel/lbc and can't source any heavy 17 bullets.

Any suggestions on the above?

Thanks

 

[GLShooter]

22 NXS.

 

[B23]

Bullet selection definitely favors the 22 caliber so keep that in mind before ordering a barrel.

If you want a 20 cal a 204 Ruger upper or barrel would make for a pretty easy swap on an existing AR15 platform.

The 22 Nosler or 20-22Nosler could be a fun one if the brass is decent. Nosler teased us with a true 20 Nosler a few years ago and looking at the reamer specs it had a little more case capacity than what a necked down 22 Nosler would have but then Nosler never did anything with it so unfortunately its kind of been forgot about but if the brass was decent it could have been a screamer. Case capacity equal to or slightly more than a 20BR and feeds/runs in an AR15 platform, what's not to like.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

20p 35 or 40 gr Bergers, would be easy. And available.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

20 valkyrie or 20 practical

 

[Aeon]

6woa or any of the 6x6.8spc variants. The case is made to rip 65gr vmax's @3400fps on top of benchmark or n133 powder. just make sure you throat it for the smaller 65gr pills. Some of the reamers are for 80gr and you will have to jump the lil 65gr bullets a lot. It might be the perfect ar15 round. lil more hp then a 556 and bcg's are proven and strong. You can shoot bigger bullets but why i have taken yotes out to 600 yards with this rig
http://www.dtechuppers.com/ builds some good stuff!!!!!!!!!!!

a close second for fun is a 20, either 20practial or 204. ruger. shoot the 35gr burger varmints. unless you want the fur then do NOT shoot them they leave grapefruit size holes on exit if you are keeping fur the 32gr vmax's are rad

 

[Carbide]

204 Ruger with appropriate twist for 40g factory loads. Bullet is to 300 yds in blink of eye and not too wind sensitive.

 

[JB10]

20p, 204r, or 6×45

 

[RegionRat]

For yotes and pdogs, the 204 Ruger with 40 VMax or 39 Sierra is an awesome recipe in an AR platform.

 

[BforByron]

20 valkyrie or 20 practical

Do you know where to get a barrel in 20 valkyrie?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Do you know where to get a barrel in 20 valkyrie?

I wouldnt know where to get a completed barrel in any caliber but i suspect the usual folks that make pre-fit barrels will make one

 

[Sandstorm]

Im thinking X-Caliber can make one for you if you call them...they make a lot of AR barrels.

 

[1lessdog]

6MM BRX and would be a easy 500 yd gun. Shoot Sierra 107 gr MTHP.

And yes on a AR platform. Or maybe a 243 or 25 WSSM

 

[alf]

22 NXS.

This is the easy button for the performance oriented......

I was going to go this way until I grabbed a ready to go barrel off the classifieds in 22 DTI, which is no slouch in it's own right. It's basically a 6.8 SPC necked to 22 with a 30* shoulder. Currently running 52/53's at 3550 in a 20" tube.

Latest toy is a 20" 12" twist 6 Hagar running 70's in the 3300's.

Coyote season can't get here fast enough......

 

[Knifeman]

i went with a Dtech. 6mm DTI. Run 65gr Bergers at 3450 fps. Coyote nightmare

 

[AWS]

Curious as to why you feel the need to build this rig? A 223 with a 52gr HP will kill coyotes out to 300 with ease and little need to turn turrets. Run a 40gr NBT and you can hold fur to 300.

Coyote hunting isn't a long-range game unless you want it to be, if I have a coyote beyond 300 yards I figure, I did something wrong. If I were looking to shoot long-range coyotes, I'd be looking at something bigger and better than an AR-15

That said any cartridge with more capacity than the 223 will move a bullet faster and flatter. The list is almost endless. The only limitation is how much money you want to put into it. A gunsmith can chamber a barrel blank for any cartridge and a die company will make you any custom die you want. If it doesn't work out, you can always stuff a different barrel into it

In WA, both east and west of the mountains one of my longtime favorite coyote cartridges was the 222 Rem for saving fur, and have killed coyotes in WA and across most of the west with 22 Mag, 22H, 218 Bee, 20 Practical, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-204, 5.6x50R Mag, 22-250, 22 Sav HP, 6x45mm, 6mm-204, 243 Win and 6.5x58R Sauer. These were all intentionally called coyotes and all killed coyotes just fine..

 

[alf]

i went with a Dtech. 6mm DTI. Run 65gr Bergers at 3450 fps. Coyote nightmare

What's your barrel length?

I considered the 6 DTI, but went with the Hagar because of it's bigger boiler room.
Unfortunately, anything approaching 3400 the groups went kaput.

Any feedback on the Bergers on coyotes?
I just worked up a really good load with those at low 3300 speeds. I've shot a lot of coyotes with other 22 & 6mm Bergers, but none with the 65's. I ain't worried though.....

 

[BforByron]

Curious as to why you feel the need to build this rig? A 223 with a 52gr HP will kill coyotes out to 300 with ease and little need to turn turrets. Run a 40gr NBT and you can hold fur to 300.

Coyote hunting isn't a long-range game unless you want it to be, if I have a coyote beyond 300 yards I figure, I did something wrong. If I were looking to shoot long-range coyotes, I'd be looking at something bigger and better than an AR-15

That said any cartridge with more capacity than the 223 will move a bullet faster and flatter. The list is almost endless. The only limitation is how much money you want to put into it. A gunsmith can chamber a barrel blank for any cartridge and a die company will make you any custom die you want. If it doesn't work out, you can always stuff a different barrel into it

In WA, both east and west of the mountains one of my longtime favorite coyote cartridges was the 222 Rem for saving fur, and have killed coyotes in WA and across most of the west with 22 Mag, 22H, 218 Bee, 20 Practical, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-204, 5.6x50R Mag, 22-250, 22 Sav HP, 6x45mm, 6mm-204, 243 Win and 6.5x58R Sauer. These were all intentionally called coyotes and all killed coyotes just fine..

Mostly just cause I can't leave things well enough alone

 

[AWS]

Best answer. I can relate to that.

I see so many people with 223 AR's that complain about runners, spinners and lost coyotes. I firmly believe they are using the wrong bullets OR more concerned about shot 2-20 than the first one. Interestingly bolt-action 223 shooters don't seem to have the same problems.

I won it with a long 20P barrel and swapped in a 16" 223 so it handles better. It kills coyotes but it doesn't go out very often, to noise, to clumsy, just doesn't feel right in my hands.

 

[BforByron]

For those with a 20 practical, what speeds are you getting with the 39/40 grain bullets?

I've read here of getting up to 3800 but running the data in Gordon's reloading tool it says 3650 is about the best I could expect.

Theory vs practical (pun intended)