Coyote rifle build suggestions

[Dentite]

I'm no expert and I haven't killed a million coyotes, but I started with a bolt action and found that 90% of the shots I had on coyotes were within 100 yards as most of my shot opportunities have been while calling.

Went from a bolt action with a 3.5-10x scope to an AR in 6.5 Grendel with a 3.5-10x scope and now the 6.5 Grendel wears a 2-10x42 with a 30mm tube for a larger field of view for close up action.

If I had to choose my ideal coyote calling rifle, it would be an AR in something like 6.5 Grendel, 6mm ARC, 22 ARC, etc. Wearing a 2x scope on the bottom of the magnification range, and a good trigger. I like the Geissele SSA-E.

The vertical grip of the AR also makes it more comfortable to sit with the rifle on tripod shooting sticks for 20 minutes at a time. Easier on the wrist etc for me.

 

[Cowboy_Crow]

So I'm building a new rifle and I have the worse time deciding between 22cm and a 6mm cm. I have a budget 6arc bolt gun setup with a rattler v2 but that was just to get me start and make sure I'd like hunting night time yotes. Well I do . Custom built bolt gun- carbon wrapped barrel for lighter weight, pulsar thermion HD 1024 thermal optic, MDT oryx Chassis, impact precision action, resilient "Jolene" suppressor, I decided on the 22cm because I hand load and getting ammo is not that big of a deal. The hardest choice I had to me was turning away from 6mm creed. Only reason I went with 22 creed is I'll be the only one in my group with one on the pod. Plus I like being the odd ball of the group lol. I'll always be the guy in the group with a weird gun but if it fails to perform I'll throw a 6mm creed together fast and quick!! Now I don't have a thing against the normal calibers 22-250 is a beast, .243 kills them dead! 220swift 204 ruger any of the older calibers with get it done but it's not 1999 anymore lol. These newer cartridges just have better performance plain and simple! People just love to hate them and I can totally understand why! It sucks a lot when your grandfathers beloved 22-250 caliber yote gun all of a sudden is not on top anymore. Or that .243 is just outdated due to the 6mm creedmoor being longer and just travels way better at longer distances. That being said I would do some serious thinking about budget first then decide where to go from there. If you plan on night hunting you need to have a very very good income (gets very pricey) and a very easy going and understanding wife lol. Just my thermal scope I think was close to $8,000 but that's the best pulsar has to offer at this time. You can go hunting for much cheaper optics. I think the infiray Bolt has a 1024 HD version for around $5,000 but there are plenty of budget optics with lower pixel count for $1,000 to $3500. I have a ruger American gen 2 in 6arc with an agm rattler v2 that I can kill dogs with and I have around $1700 in the entire setup. But if you decide you like it, trust me you will want to build a dedicated thermal coyote gun immediately. Good luck with everything

 

[338 dude]

So I'm building a new rifle and I have the worse time deciding between 22cm and a 6mm cm. I have a budget 6arc bolt gun setup with a rattler v2 but that was just to get me start and make sure I'd like hunting night time yotes. Well I do . Custom built bolt gun- carbon wrapped barrel for lighter weight, pulsar thermion HD 1024 thermal optic, MDT oryx Chassis, impact precision action, resilient "Jolene" suppressor, I decided on the 22cm because I hand load and getting ammo is not that big of a deal. The hardest choice I had to me was turning away from 6mm creed. Only reason I went with 22 creed is I'll be the only one in my group with one on the pod. Plus I like being the odd ball of the group lol. I'll always be the guy in the group with a weird gun but if it fails to perform I'll throw a 6mm creed together fast and quick!! Now I don't have a thing against the normal calibers 22-250 is a beast, .243 kills them dead! 220swift 204 ruger any of the older calibers with get it done but it's not 1999 anymore lol. These newer cartridges just have better performance plain and simple! People just love to hate them and I can totally understand why! It sucks a lot when your grandfathers beloved 22-250 caliber yote gun all of a sudden is not on top anymore. Or that .243 is just outdated due to the 6mm creedmoor being longer and just travels way better at longer distances. That being said I would do some serious thinking about budget first then decide where to go from there. If you plan on night hunting you need to have a very very good income (gets very pricey) and a very easy going and understanding wife lol. Just my thermal scope I think was close to $8,000 but that's the best pulsar has to offer at this time. You can go hunting for much cheaper optics. I think the infiray Bolt has a 1024 HD version for around $5,000 but there are plenty of budget optics with lower pixel count for $1,000 to $3500. I have a ruger American gen 2 in 6arc with an agm rattler v2 that I can kill dogs with and I have around $1700 in the entire setup. But if you decide you like it, trust me you will want to build a dedicated thermal coyote gun immediately. Good luck with everything

I like trying different caliber as well, but I'm not too sure about the next one. I feel it is too small but I built one to see how it performs. My latest caliber is a 17 -556 a 25 grain projectile traveling 3902 ft./s

 

[Cowboy_Crow]

That reminds me of that wicked little .17 wildcat round that the guys from Demolition ranch YouTube channel shot a while back. I think it was traveling over a mile per second lol. However they were pushing 12 grainers that fast. When they bumped up to 20-25 grainers it flew at just under 4k so basically same as yours. I'm excited about the newest arc. 338arc. I hope it is competitive with the 8.6 blackout and I think it will be interesting since they claim similar performance with an 8 twist barrel compared to the 8.6 extremely fast 3 twist barrel. I think people did the math on the 8.6 pushing heavy 300-400 grainers cartridges spinning at over 500,000 rpm and holding together on impact is pretty cool. Having terminal velocity at subsonic speeds is what most everyone desires but just can't have. Well I hope this 338 cartridge coming from the arc or the 8.6 will give us that opportunity

 

[IDHNTER]

.223 bolt gun with 55 gr sierra hpbt has been the most fur friendly for me. I've killed more doubles with a bolt gun because I'm not banking on semi auto. Gotta get the first one killed for a double. Federal used to make 223 tactical ammunition that claimed Sierra hpbt and was the best. Something about the bullet was different than off the shelf bullets though. I'd love to get some more of it.

 

[338 dude]

I should be able to get 4200 fps out of 20 grain bullets now that I have a load for the 25 I'll start load development for the 20 grains

 

[foxhunter]

the 17/223 will kill just like all the other 17"s, kind of like being hit by lightning while standing is a tub full of salt water. shot one until i shot the barrel out of it (4500) rounds)+ i have used 20,25, and 30 gr bullets with the same effect, drt. even shot a wounded antelope with it and it ran about 10 yards and fell over. by the way they look like they died of natural causes.

 

[Cowboy_Crow]

the 17/223 will kill just like all the other 17"s, kind of like being hit by lightning while standing is a tub full of salt water. shot one until i shot the barrel out of it (4500) rounds)+ i have used 20,25, and 30 gr bullets with the same effect, drt. even shot a wounded antelope with it and it ran about 10 yards and fell over. by the way they look like they died of natural causes.

That's Awesome lol.

 

[xsn10s]

the 17/223 will kill just like all the other 17"s, kind of like being hit by lightning while standing is a tub full of salt water. shot one until i shot the barrel out of it (4500) rounds)+ i have used 20,25, and 30 gr bullets with the same effect, drt. even shot a wounded antelope with it and it ran about 10 yards and fell over. by the way they look like they died of natural causes.

 

[Grizzhunt]

I'd stay away from 22 nosler I had bad luck in a gas gun with brass. I run a 16.5" 6 creed. A friend built a 22 creed and it hammers but to be different I would build a 6gt.

 

[foxhunter]

heck as long as i get to hunt them i would use a rock if i had nothing else. there are no bad choices from the 17 fireball on up. once shot a coyote at 325 yards with a 17 pee wee (17 30 carbine ) with a 20 gr vmax dumped him where he stood.

 

[xsn10s]

.223 bolt gun with 55 gr sierra hpbt has been the most fur friendly for me. I've killed more doubles with a bolt gun because I'm not banking on semi auto. Gotta get the first one killed for a double. Federal used to make 223 tactical ammunition that claimed Sierra hpbt and was the best. Something about the bullet was different than off the shelf bullets though. I'd love to get some more of it.

An AR15 has been my truck gun for decades. But I mainly use it for close in to mid range, a bolt rifle takes care of the rest. But I agree with you that you need to concentrate on the first shot. I picked up a Weatherby Obsidian in .223 a few months ago. I've been shooting 80gr ELDM's in it. I can't wait for elk season to finally end here next month.

 

[Cowboy_Crow]

heck as long as i get to hunt them i would use a rock if i had nothing else. there are no bad choices from the 17 fireball on up. once shot a coyote at 325 yards with a 17 pee wee (17 30 carbine ) with a 20 gr vmax dumped him where he stood.

I agree and the dang Vmax bullets are nasty !! I love them but I'm loading some of the new VT's for my 6arc and can't wait to see how that one performs. I'm only gonna put a couple of strings together just to try. I just can't wait to get my 22cm built. It'll be my first crazy small super fast caliber. I have seen a vt slung from a 6mm creedmoor disintegrate an opossum at 125yds. Talk about a wicked view through a thermal haha. Literally exploded the little fella. I've seen Vmax cartridges do the same to rabbits out to 150yds from the same rifle. Fun times

 

[338 dude]

heck as long as i get to hunt them i would use a rock if i had nothing else. there are no bad choices from the 17 fireball on up. once shot a coyote at 325 yards with a 17 pee wee (17 30 carbine ) with a 20 gr vmax dumped him where he stood.

That's good to hear. I've got a great load with the 25 Vmax in my 17 556 and now I'm going to start load development on the 20 grain.