Seeking wisdom

Thank you for all the great advice much to ponder! Weight is not a huge concern to me my go to backpacking everything rifle is almost tipping at 13 pounds…. Nice to shoot. Also to memtb no on the family there. I went to college with a couple of the boys from kemmer theirs is nielson great people!!

Tried the AR10 thing with a 260 a long time ago. Too bulky and just not for me for coyote or any hunting. Have a sig 716 now and it's good for shooting steel targets running and gunning but not a coyote rig. I found I always go back to bolt guns. Even considering moving my thermal from the AR15 platform. Best rifle I have found for multiple varmints/predators is the Tikka CTR platform (made In Your 6.5CM for around 1k) . I built a 6CM on one and it is light, fast and smooth to load from the 10 round mag. They come with a threaded 20 inch barrel. Took 3 Charley out with it today on one stand.

surprised nobody has mentioned 6mm arc yet.
I dont hunt coyotes, but have a lot of friends that do. I am an AR guy though and I was fascinated by 6mm arc's potential as a gas gun long range setup, to give my 6.5 creedmoor barrel some extra shelf life.

6mm arc gets the upper hand if you already own a smallframe ar (unlike 6.5) because you can just build yourself a 6mm arc upper and slap it onto your existing lower. You will need a new bolt (6.5 grendel bolt) for it, but the charging handle and carrier can be reused from your existing ar as well.

I built one for about $1,500, using a 18" SS Proof barrel as the base. It was very easy to ring steel with it at 500-600. Boringly accurate. The 80 grain hornadys seem to be the goto for coyote disposal. At 100 it groups sub-moa on 10 shot groups as well.

The benefit is, you can do the same with a 14.5" or a 12" arc barrel, from what I hear. Im considering building a shorter one for that same reason, and as long as you dont bolt a bunch of nonsense onto an AR, they can be reasonably light too.

Built the 6 arc too and immediately realized I still didn't like the AR platform for coyote and sold it to a coworker who loves it. Was not heavy and was crazy accurate but awkward. Side charge upper for reliability, BA 18 inch barrel, Aero/Magpul furniture. Built for around $1,600 at the time.

belldar said:

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Built the 6 arc too and immediately realized I still didn't like the AR platform for coyote and sold it to a coworker who loves it. Was not heavy and was crazy accurate but awkward. Side charge upper for reliability, BA 18 inch barrel, Aero/Magpul furniture. Built for around $1,600 at the time.

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Ive built a 10.3", a 14.5", a 16", and two 18" builds.

balance is trickier on an AR when you're playing a game of trying to balance the buttstock and buffer weight against the top rail mounted optics + handguard/barrel/muzzle device.

My 10.3" is a "michigan pistol", so it has a pistol brace on it (way too light compared to a real stock) even with a LAW folder, but still feels front heavy because I also have a flashlight on the front, along with a flow 556k..

If you have been a bolt guy, my advice is to stay a bolt guy. I am a bolt guy, and I built many AR's over the years. What I know is I am more accurate with the bolt gun as I know it is one shot. With the AR, I was prone to shoot when not 100% knowing I had more rounds to follow. Bolt guns are lighter, quieter to suppress and much more agile... plus they don't jamb, give issues with cycling, or worry about being outlawed in certain states. Just my $.02.

Build a 6.5 Grendel on an AR-15 platform with at least a 20" bbl. and you'll have a VERY capable wolf / yote rifle. I built mine with a 24" Alexander Arms upper it consistently shoots into the high .3's @ 100yds. Also a fine close range deer / antelope cartridge...

6 ARC or 6.5 Grendel

I've often started the desire to buy an auto loader in 308 or other more high power rounds than my AR 15. Then I remember my experience with BAR's. I reload, and recall the hassles of chasing spent brass as well as the dings and scars on the brass when I found it. My AR15 is fun to shoot and will and has taken down a few coyotes with the right bullet. I don't stress on finding all my spent brass when in the field. Just my two cents.

memtb said:

Cody, if I haven't done so already, I slept last night and may have forgotten……Welcome from North Central Wyoming!

I don't have any wisdom on this or any other topic, but can say Good Luck!


There were Nielsen in and around Kemmerer…..any chance of family there? memtb

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Any. Other topic

Check out the Ruger SFAR.

I have a 6.5 Grendel that sits at the front of my safe. When I go out after coyotes,I move the AR's to get to my .243 bolt gun. I'm just more comfortable with a bolt gun.

Just me!

JiggyIi said:

Any. Other topic

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Wisdom……highly unlikely! Opinions…..guaranteed! memtb