Weigh in on my next coyote rifle build

Leveraction35 · Feb 10, 2024

I’m in the beginning stages of building/assembling my next coyote specific rifle. I do prefer bolt action rifles, but I would surely consider an AR platform, the weight was always what turned me off to ARs for hunting. 95% of my hunting is done at night so a “dead right there” caliber would be preferred. Where I hunt, I seriously doubt I will ever shoot more than 250 yards, its just not possible. I also need a threaded barrel… lastly, I’d prefer not to blow them into smithereens, I like to keep the nicer furs

Currently in shoot a 223 savage axis, VERY accurate, but it’s isn’t threaded, I hate the Oryx chassis and there isn’t much aftermarket accessories available for the Axis line. With the 223 I’ve had a handful of coyotes make it 150 yards before dying which was a pain in the rear at night to find in tall grass.

Let me know what you guys are shooting.

redneckbmxer24 · Feb 10, 2024

6ARC gasser with a Proof CF barrel will be light and stupid accurate. You could put something together much lighter than your rifle with that heavy ass oryx.

Grim's Reapers · Feb 10, 2024

22-250 hands down. 4000 fps and 55gr VMax make song dogs go boom.

Pappasniper · Feb 10, 2024

Tikka makes great lightweight rifles, but I think tactical ones come threaded and are heaver but are still not super heavy.

PB

Leveraction35 · Feb 10, 2024

Grim's Reapers said:
22-250 hands down. 4000 fps and 55gr VMax make song dogs go boom.

I’ve heard vmax can do some serious fur damage. I was thinking hollow points or soft points

Grim's Reapers · Feb 10, 2024

Leveraction35 said:
I’ve heard vmax can do some serious fur damage. I was thinking hollow points or soft points

Ahhh you are correct. I forgot you mentioned you save the hides. My apologies.

Namekagon · Feb 10, 2024

I built an AR-15 in 224 Valkyrie exactly for this purpose. With 60 grain bullets hits hard without completely wrecking fur, so they drop right there. Semi auto for easy follow ups with thermal scopes and not having to run a bolt. Mines heavy, but that was done on purpose because I used a 20” JP heavy barrel. You could also build a light one, carbon fiber would be interesting. Suppressor for sure. Shoots about 5/8” with factory ammo. I couldn’t be more pleased with it.

Grim's Reapers · Feb 10, 2024

Browning X-Bolt is a great lightweight 22-250 and I believe it comes threaded right out of the box. I think they weigh around 6 pounds. I run a Remington 700 action with a varmint barrel so it's heavy as hell.

supercorndogs · Feb 11, 2024

Leveraction35 said:
I’ve heard vmax can do some serious fur damage. I was thinking hollow points or soft points

In my experience the 55 v max is one of the most fur friendly bullets.

A 22-250 isn't going to shoot it 4000fps at safe pressure though.

Grim's Reapers · Feb 11, 2024

supercorndogs said:
In my experience the 55 v max is one of the most fur friendly bullets.

A 22-250 isn't going to shoot it 4000fps at safe pressure though.

I've definitely heard guys who keep hides say the VMax works. I've just personally seen them blow out hides now and then. I don't save hides, so I didn't give it much thought and just went "huh" and moved along to the next one.

I reload my 22-250's with Varget and 50 grain VMAX and see no pressure signs at 4000fps. I'm running a 1:14 twist though.

264win · Feb 11, 2024

The .204 ruger is perfect for the op. Very flat shooting and fur friendly. I run a factory tikka sporter with threaded barrel.

supercorndogs · Feb 11, 2024

Grim's Reapers said:
I've definitely heard guys who keep hides say the VMax works. I've just personally seen them blow out hides now and then. I don't save hides, so I didn't give it much thought and just went "huh" and moved along to the next one.

I reload my 22-250's with Varget and 50 grain VMAX and see no pressure signs at 4000fps. I'm running a 1:14 twist though.

How long is your barrel?

Grim's Reapers · Feb 11, 2024

supercorndogs said:
How long is your barrel?

22" I also have a Rem 700 in 22-250 with a 26" heavy varmint barrel.

Guns&WhiteWater · Feb 11, 2024

Leveraction35 said:
I’m in the beginning stages of building/assembling my next coyote specific rifle. I do prefer bolt action rifles, but I would surely consider an AR platform, the weight was always what turned me off to ARs for hunting. 95% of my hunting is done at night so a “dead right there” caliber would be preferred. Where I hunt, I seriously doubt I will ever shoot more than 250 yards, its just not possible. I also need a threaded barrel… lastly, I’d prefer not to blow them into smithereens, I like to keep the nicer furs

Currently in shoot a 223 savage axis, VERY accurate, but it’s isn’t threaded, I hate the Oryx chassis and there isn’t much aftermarket accessories available for the Axis line. With the 223 I’ve had a handful of coyotes make it 150 yards before dying which was a pain in the rear at night to find in tall grass.

Let me know what you guys are shooting.

Sounds like a mid-length carbon fiber barrel in any flavor of 22 centerfire with an HNT26 would be ideal. That’s what I am working on anyway. TL3 and a couple of prefits and you have a versatile setup.

Hecouldgoalltheway · Feb 11, 2024

"Fur friendly" is more a function of placement than the bullet itself in my experience. You. Blow up a shoulder with any bullet and it could go either way. I've seen 50gr bullets blow head sized exits, and 180gr bullets pencil right through. I've also seen the opposite.

Grim's Reapers · Feb 11, 2024

Grim's Reapers said:
22" I also have a Rem 700 in 22-250 with a 26" heavy varmint barrel.

Looked up my load development. 3995 fps out of the Remington 700 26" barrel using 38.0 grains of Varget and a 50gr VMax set .020 off of the lands. Clocked with a Garmin Xero C-1 doppler.

Rocketvapor · Feb 11, 2024

Really off the wall here

22 Nosler.
Complaints about gas related issues in an AR, are just that. Gas related.
In a bolt gun many barrel makers will make a barrel to your order.
Twist, length, profile, threading, and even chamber to your dummies, short or long.
Dogtown brass, currently on sale @ Midway, or 55 grain polymer tipped flat based factory ammo.
With the right barrel parameters light bullets moving fast or heavy bullets (correct twist).
Not quite a 22-250, but more like a 224V Big Brother. I don't do light bullets though. Heavies crossing the 600 yd line @ 2000fps, easily supersonic PAST a 1000.

Grim's Reapers · Feb 11, 2024

supercorndogs said:
How long is your barrel?

Sorry, replied to myself... LOL
Looked up my load development. 3995 fps out of the Remington 700 26" barrel using 38.0 grains of Varget and a 50gr VMax set .020 off of the lands. Clocked with a Garmin Xero C-1 doppler.

COAL is 2.46
Bottom of Case to Ogive is 2.062

supercorndogs · Feb 11, 2024

Yea. That's well over 60k psi.

R_A_W · Feb 11, 2024

can't believe no one has said 6 or 6.5 creed

availability and price of ammo & components is just too good for me to consider anything else

264win · Feb 11, 2024

There are lots of great shooting calibers and rifles suggested above, but the OP specified fur friendly and 250 yds max.
If those really are priorities he should look at 17 and 20 cal options. 17 fireball, 17 Remington, 204 ruger 20 practical, etc.

Look at what serious predator hunters use when fur hunting.

Alabusa · Feb 11, 2024

Grim's Reapers said:
22-250 hands down. 4000 fps and 55gr VMax make song dogs go boom.

This^^^^^

Grim's Reapers · Feb 11, 2024

supercorndogs said:
Yea. That's well over 60k psi.

When it blows up in my face I'll let ya know so you can tell me "I told ya so!" Safety glasses ON

mheimer_45 · Feb 11, 2024

Why not a 22arc. I’m currently rebarreling a Grendel howa mini to 22arc

Grim's Reapers · Feb 11, 2024

Check out my chronograph. 22-250... Need I say more?

Coyote777 · Feb 11, 2024

It’s hard to beat a shorty 16-18” 22creed or 6creed! Still plenty fast and flat for nighttime varmits. If you reload you can get really nasty with either one by running some lighter bullets and still have a short yet flat night rig.

supercorndogs · Feb 11, 2024

Fur friendly leans more toward the fast 22s and away from the 6mm. You can get a 40g 20 cal bullet screaming fast. I don't expect it would anchor them like the fast 22s. I haven't called at all for few years now and haven't ever shot a coyote with my 20 practical. It's plenty entertaining on p dogs.

Pat McGroin · Feb 11, 2024

Fur condition is more about shot placement than cartridge. You can blow them up with a 223 with poor placement. I’ve shot about 180 of them with a 6 creed shooting 87gr vmax in the past year and most have no exit wound at all, shoulder shots or square in the chest.

Coyote777 · Feb 11, 2024

supercorndogs said:
Fur friendly leans more toward the fast 22s and away from the 6mm. You can get a 40g 20 cal bullet screaming fast. I don't expect it would anchor them like the fast 22s. I haven't called at all for few years now and haven't ever shot a coyote with my 20 practical. It's plenty entertaining on p dogs.

Really it’s just shot placement and bullet selection. I have a 18” 6creed sending 70g Noslers @3280 and it’s not horrible on fur. Don’t recommend gut shooting it cause it will blow up.

supercorndogs · Feb 11, 2024

It's not really just shot placement. Yes you can rake and mess up the hide with anything. But some stuff is going mess up furs a lot more and lot more often. I say this as someone who has sewn up bullet holes and sold furs. I can say with certainty the 243 was always harder on furs than the 22-250. Even when we tried the 58 v max. It was worse than the 75g Seirra hp. At the end of the day in peak fur season it was worth taking a 223 instead of a 243 in case you got some good ones. Furs are only good in Oct and Nov around here. Then they start bluing. They haven't been worth messing with since about 1995.

solidwater · Jun 9, 2024

Don't have a dedicated coyote gun, but have taken a precision rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor coyote hunting in the past. Lots of fun, no complaints.

R_A_W · Jun 9, 2024

@solidwater start checking the dates on all of these threads my guy

ObiJohn · Jun 9, 2024

For an AR, hard to beat a 6 ARC upper for coyotes within 300 yards. What about a 22 ARC with a longer bullet, e.g., 72 to 77 grains?

msgriff · Jun 9, 2024

R_A_W said:
@solidwater start checking the dates on all of these threads my guy

Kind of hard to run up one's post count without a little necroposting.

Deathrowdave · Jun 9, 2024

I’m really showing my brains and age. I love my .22 Hornet

ObiJohn · Jun 9, 2024

Deathrowdave said:
I’m really showing my brains and age. I love my .22 Hornet

It's a great cartridge... I have 3 of them plus a .17 Hornet. Not great for nighttime hunting out to 250 yards.

Deathrowdave · Jun 9, 2024

I know there are much much better , I’m just old and stubborn . Where I live 100 yard is about the longest clear shot , I will ever be able to make . I make my shooting Buddies Shake there heads in disbelief at how well the old girl performs .

moosemeat · Jun 10, 2024

22-250 with a vmax was real popular around here with the fur hunters back when you could make money at it.

Potsy · Jun 10, 2024

It may be an old thread, but still entertaining.
It’s hard to kill a coyote wrong, but .223 for fur or .22-250 for DRT.
About 100 other cartridges work also, btw……

ObiJohn · Jun 10, 2024

Potsy said:
It may be an old thread, but still entertaining.
It’s hard to kill a coyote wrong, but .223 for fur or .22-250 for DRT.
About 100 other cartridges work also, btw……

Yep. I have a Kimber 84 (Oregon) in .17 Mach 4 that shoots Nosler factory .17 Fireball as well. It's a great rifle for coyotes within 300 yards if you want to save fur. The 6.71 Lazerroni has almost the same trajectory with 100 gr boat tails, but not good if you want the hides. It's completely unnecessary but lots of laughs... like shooting a prairie dog with a .22‐250.

Leveraction35 · Monday at 2:47 PM

Reviving this thread…. Once this predator season wraps up is when I will begin acquiring parts for the new gun if I build, or I’ll buy a factory rifle. Still partial to bolt guns but open to ARs….I’m intrigued by the 224Valk

I’m at a crossroads, do I build a “nice rifle” or do I get something proven like a Howa 1500, Ruger American or Tikka and drop it in a Bell and Carlson type stock? (or an AR for the same price point)…. As mentioned in my original post, 300 yards is the farthest I will ever have an opportunity to shoot so I don’t need something extravagant to accomplish that

Flat shooting, fur friendly and economical to shoot are my focuses

Aftermath · Monday at 3:01 PM

AR15 in 223. Shoot the 53 grain Vmax at about 3400 fps. Factory offerings from Federal and Hornady. Good for quick follow up shots or multiple dogs. Real fur friendly and never had one not just drop dead instantly.

Here is one at 25 yards. No visible entrance wound and the bullet did not exit. Coyote dropped instantly.

Here is another at 140 ish yards. 140 when I ranged it but moving away. Same deal, no visible entrance wound, no exit wound. Instant death.

Here is one at 250 yards with same results.

260284 · 2025-01-21T11:34:42-0500

Aftermath said:
AR15 in 223. Shoot the 53 grain Vmax at about 3400 fps. Factory offerings from Federal and Hornady. Good for quick follow up shots or multiple dogs. Real fur friendly and never had one not just drop dead instantly.

Here is one at 25 yards. No visible entrance wound and the bullet did not exit. Coyote dropped instantly.View attachment 8596803

Here is another at 140 ish yards. 140 when I ranged it but moving away. Same deal, no visible entrance wound, no exit wound. Instant death.
View attachment 8596805

Here is one at 250 yards with same results.
View attachment 8596806

I can only get them up to 3100 or so out of my 18" AR, same with the 50 gr V-Max. How are you getting 3400, 24" barrel?

steve123 · 2025-01-21T16:15:38-0500

260284 said:
I can only get them up to 3100 or so out of my 18" AR, same with the 50 gr V-Max. How are you getting 3400, 24" barrel?

I use these 53's in my AR too. It's a mid load of IMR 4198 at 2914 fps out of a 15"

Travis224 · 2025-01-21T18:04:31-0500

After a bit of trial and tribulations, I found my best and favorite setup. 22 GT, Hornady brass, H4895 pushing 60 VMAX at 3500fps flat in a 18" barrel. Running the Sico Sythe and the MDT CRBN stock (and also the XLR 4.0 Mag) make for a light hard hitting combo and I rarely ever damage fur.

6brshooter · 2025-01-21T18:45:42-0500

Grim's Reapers said:
22-250 hands down. 4000 fps and 55gr VMax make song dogs go boom.

That must be a hot load or really long barrel. The 22-250 I've had were really being flogged to get a 50gr vmax@3900, 26" barrels. 22-250, 22 creed, 243, or 6creed would be my choice.

Aftermath · 2025-01-21T19:06:34-0500

260284 said:
I can only get them up to 3100 or so out of my 18" AR, same with the 50 gr V-Max. How are you getting 3400, 24" barrel?

It's a 20" barrel. To be honest, I have not chrono'd them, just going by what's printed on the box. It must be close though because the ballistic app gives good info to 550 yards. I have not shot any farther. But now I'm going to have to get the Magnetospeed out.

XLR308 · 2025-01-21T19:19:10-0500

I you are a reloader I would personally opt for a 22 Creedmoor, tons of brass available given the 6mm CM popularity but also some factory offerings.
Fast, flat shooting and a modern case design.
The 22CM honestly better suited for some the heavier projectiles or the 22-250 if you only intend to run the varmint weight bullets.

Leveraction35 · 2025-01-21T19:32:43-0500

I should have mentioned I shoot factory ammo … maybe someday I’ll start loading though, and build a 20Practical

Matt_3479 · 2025-01-21T19:42:09-0500

For 300 and in a 20 cal would be my choice for sure. Im running a 20 tac with 39gr blitzkings at 4000fps and 35gr bergers at 4050fps. Super fast, super flat and hammers yotes. Inside that 450 yard range it’s lights out. A 204 would be the same. Here’s some 20 tac groups

Ballistic-X-Export-2023-09-20 15:36:18.427923.png

Ballistic-X-Export-2023-09-15 14:40:54.181773.png

I also love my 22bra. I’m running 85.5’s at 3100-3130fps but have pushed the 75gr eld’m’s to 3400 and could imagine the 60gr bullets would be 3500+

Ballistic-X-Export-2023-09-06 10:29:59.582560.png

Ballistic-X-Export-2023-06-29 19:07:32.581460.png

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