AR build for coyotes

I was just wondering what you ar guys prefer on your coyote guns? I want to do a full custom build, not buy a complete gun. Most of my shots will be 50-200 yards. But I would like the capability to shoot out to 500 and be fairly accurate. Weight isn't too much of an issue as I have lots of private land I can hunt and you can get a 4wheeler close to most stands and still have dogs come in. Just wondering good makers and any other things you guys would recommend. Thanks in advance!

I used to shoot a .223 both from a bolt gun and an AR15.

I only use a 22-250 now. Rarely does a dog do anything other than collapse on impact.

Bullets fly faster and have the trajectory of a laser out to 300 yards. My furthest dog is 529 so far. Although I prefer to have them under a 100 yards.

Nothing wrong with a .223 but the 22-250 is a superior caliber. Pick a good bullet and it won't tear the hides up either.

I agree with everything said about the 22-250. A 250 is my preference as well, but ya can't build a 22-250 AR. If you want to save the hides a .223, if hides are not an issue a 6.5 Grendel will get ya to 500 yards and beyond. I've built a couple AR's and I don't think they are worth the trouble. The cost savings isn't all that much. If I was set on building an AR, I would build a lower to my specs install a sweet trigger and buy a complete upper or uppers. For the standard 300 and under shot, I'm not sure I would go with anything other than a .223 unless your a reloader. A 500-yard shot isn't really doable on a consistent basis with a standard 3x9x40 or 44mm AR scope in a real hunting situation. I'm not saying it can't be done, but to be consistent with 500 yards pokes your going to need a quality rifle scope and a .243, .243 wsm, or a Gendel. The G would be the easiest to build out of the bunch.

.....you can certainly build an AR10 in 22-250....

I have a 22-250 bolt as of now and have really wanted a 17 cal AR and put a can on it for some pred shooting.17 Complete Uppers are a bit pricey, so I need to save a bit.Olympic Arms makes a 22-250 in a AR platform for around 1400 MSRP.

I recently built an AR-15 specifically for a coyote gun. I had mine chambered in .223 Wylde with a 1:8 twist, 18 inch barrel. I chose that caliber because I have a ton of .223 brass and I am reloading for it. You can load .223 Wylde a little hotter than .223 Rem, but still use standard AR-15 parts. I put a light, crisp, CMC trigger on it, which I love. That's probably the 2 most important pieces of the build, the barrel and the trigger. For optics I put a 4-12x50 Vortex on it. The reasoning for that scope is for a wide field of view, with just enough magnification to reach out to ~500 yards. I wanted to be able to quickly find a running yote in the scope. I also opted to get a Tegra Arms carbon fiber lower receiver for this build, as it doesn't get near as cold to the touch in the winter.

If you have any inclination to suppress it, I would recommend a .300 Blackout shooting subsonic ammo. Ballistics aren't near as good, but you gain so much by having it suppressed when hunting coyotes.

As far as makes and models, there are a ton of good options. Primary arms is a good source with good prices. If you are new to building them, Brownells has a paper you can download that shows you exactly what you need to buy, whether it be by individual piece, or by subassembly (ie BCG vs bolt + bolt carrier, etc.). Palmetto State armory is another good website for AR parts.

I realize I'm a little late to the conversation, but that's my 2 cents anyway. Good luck!

I'd just get a complete lower and upper of your choice, and just swap out a good trigger. For quality parts, it usually comes out to be about the same cost.

This is am LMT lower with Geissele trigger, a BCM upper with 16" SS barrel in 5.56mm; able to attach a suppressor. (only thing I'd do different on this one is a different handguard). And it can consistently ring 10" steel at 600yds. So if I have a solid rest a coyote at 500 is not an issue. I use an offset red dot for close "where did he come from" shots. 500 yd shots aren't ideal, but if a dog hangs up at that distance I don't consider it an issue. All of my dogs with this gun have been under 300 so far.

>.....you can certainly build an AR10
>in 22-250....

Might as well go .243 if ur going for an AR10.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I ended up finding a real good deal on a rock river predator pursuit and did a few minor changes to it and added a vortex diamondback hp 3-12x42 on it. It's a sweet gun so far. Way more accurate than I expected an ar to be and it's done the job so far on every dog. Hey 2stamp what's the best way you've found to mount your red dot? And how accurate is it? I've never really messed with red dots.

bertha, sorry for the delay.

It depends a lot on how your turrets interact with the offset red dot. I started with an Aimpoint H1 in a Larue 45degree offset mount. The turrets on the scope got in the way. Currently using this with a micro red dot (MRD).
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/577394/weaver-tactical-offset-picatinny-accessory-rail-matte

It works well with the Burris MRD on it now. Plan is to switch the Burris to a Trijicon RMR. I'll see if I can get a picture of the other side for you.

Bertha, here you go. You can see the MRD mounted forward on the handguard.