What chambering would you all go with? I’m thinking .243 possibly. Also, barrel length? Any good or bad upper and lowers I need to know about when building an AR10? Plan is to set this rifle up with thermal optics and shots will most likely be kept 350yds and under.

A .243 would be my choice for coyotes in an AR10 platform.

But for coyotes, I much prefer an AR15 in .223 with V-Max bullets. It's hard to beat on killing coyotes. In fact, I think it kills coyotes better than most .243 applications. And you can load/buy ammo cheaper.

I'm setting up a night vision AR10 now. But mostly for hogs with coyotes as a secondary target. I'm setting up an 18" .308.

.243's are pretty loud as it is. I sure wouldn't like shooting any shorter than an 18", and would really want a 20" more.

i had Noreen firearms build me a AR10 243 Win. 24 inch barrel it shoots 80 grain bullets at 300 yards in very small groups with my Nightforce scope on it. this rifle is not light but its very accurate and plenty fast fire power !

Take some time and shoot the black rifle challenge here with that rifle. Sounds like a good one. We don't have too many AR10's in that challenge that shoot sub moa. Generally the ar15's tend to shoot better. For yotes, I'd probably just shoot an AR15 223/556/Wyled, if it were me. I'd run the 77gr sierra TMK and not look back.. However, since I have a 6WOA, that's what I use... It treads on the heels of the 243, but it's an ar15... The main downfall of the AR10 platform is the extra weight over the AR15. If you can handle the extra weight, rock on...

I would never use an AR10 when a 15 would do the job just as well.

If I was dead set on it, I'd use a .22 Creed.

Within your parameters, yes, I'd build a .243.

With that said, I really have to agree with Tyrone due to all handling and weight benefits and better parts commonality of the with the AR15 platform.

If you like the idea of a 6mm bullet, you can splint the difference and barrel an AR15 in 6x45.

Interesting comments. I have an awesome ar-15 that I’ve built and never even considered using ... lol. Not sure why? Sounds like I should be good to go with it. 1 in 7 twist barrel and it shoots great. Maybe I’ll try putting it through the paces 1st before I go building the AR10.

I'm curious as to why you'd recommend a bullet at the top of the weight scale for .223, and more built for deer sized game for coyotes?

I have punched holes through coyotes with heavier, sturdier constructed bullets, and had them run like winged Pegasus more times than not.

From years of killing 300 plus coyotes a year, I'm in very good company when I say that probably the best coyote killer out there is a 55 or 60 grain V-Max. Usually no exit on a coyotes as well. Vast majority of them fall right where you shoot them.

In my opinion, using a heavy bullet in a .223 would be defeating the purpose.

I used to live in Nevada. I've killed truckloads of yotes with a 22lr, shotgun, and even bow and arrow. I chose the 77TMK for its longrange effectiveness on yotes. Even though you can call them in close enough to sniff you hand at times. Thats where a shotgun comes in handy.... If you really want to get down to brass tacks, I'd chose a 22 magnum with 50gr federal JHP for quick kills and saving the pelts for my friends. In nevada, I would not save the pelts. Here my friend takes them to the fur trader in Burns or Idaho. He stretches pelts. I don't mess with them... To answer your question, damn near anything works on yotes. I've killed them with my 338wm. Did I get a complete pass thru? Hell yes... Did I save the pelt? Hell no... Hope that helps..

That 77 TMK is a wicked little demon though on animals.

I'd love to hunt someplace where coyotes are so big a 223 won't work.

it's important to know if you want to save pelts or not.

LOL.

Okay...

If you say so.

Nothing that sits on an AR10 platform is known as being very fur-friendly.

I don’t save fur

Thanks for the tip. I thought maybe you could get away with a .22 of some sort, even a .473" case head, if you use the right bullet. (What I don't know)

I hunted with a buddy that used a .243 with 75gr V Max bullets.

They were good at longer range, and really put the stop on coyotes.

Not fur friendly though.

I never tried to be fur friendly with coyotes. Lots of guys skin them. I never messed with it because I'd have had a full time job skinning coyotes... And would not skin one for what they bring in today's market.

I did shoot quite a few bobcats though, while calling coyotes, and am more prone to skinning them.

I sure couldn't argue with my buddy's choice of a coyote killer, or how effective he was with his .243.

I’ve been eyeing up this rifle ....


https://shop2.gzanders.com/firearms...er-20-4-shot-magpul-moe-rifle-stock.html

I buildt a 20" AR10 in 6.5 creed, but it was so heavy and awkward that I ended up swapping barrels to a 16" fluted lightweight 308 (wilson combat ranger barrel).
Honestly I'd not bother with any AR10 in a barrel longer than 16 inches
For hunting big game, Sierra 165 grain game changers will expand out to about 450 yards with a 16, and I can't really see needing more than that for my purposes.

If it's your first time around on a large frame, sticking with aero m5 parts will save you lots of headaches.

I would not build an AR-10 for a coyote gun. The weight and size is just not needed. But if I were to build an AR-10, I'd look at the 22 Creedmoore. I have a 22-250ai and the Creed is basically the same or better without fire forming. Though a bolt gun would be a better choice.

I've killed a lot of coyotes with a 223 using 40, 50, 55 and 77 grain bullets, they are not hard to kill. If you're gonna snipe one instead of calling them in closer, I'd go with the 77 gr bullets for less wind drift. I shot 600 yards last week with a 55 grain NBT and had to hold a mil and a little more windage with what I considered a slight to moderate wind. The 77's kill just fine.

223 is probably the best for coyotes but I really like my .204 Ruger AR15.

Several years ago I had Armalite make me an AR10 in 243Win, I thought it would be the perfect coyote rifle .....long story short, I was wrong.
I could never get the accuracy out of it that I expected no where close to a bolt gun, too big and bulky for quick shots and too loud!!! I don’t wear hearing protection when calling.
I very seldom ever sell a rifle but have never missed this one.
I have several custom AR15’s in dirty old 223 that work much better for coyotes

The 204 is one of the best coyote rounds out there with 40 grain bullets.

Can’t hardly argue that! I’ve had great success with it in a bolt gun.

for an ar10 go with 6 creedmoor rather than 243

I would be curious about a 22 creed.......as well

if you decide on 243, be forewarned, the velocity loss from the gas gun can cause you fits, whatever twist you think you want or need, go faster. I am dealing with a 243 AR 10 twist that will shoot T90 holes with 58gr, but with 95gr + it shoots 8" and larger patterns because of loss in stability. My next one will be a 1 in 8" twist or faster

PSA has a 6.5 creedmoor for 899.99

If you're set on an AR10 spend the money for top quality or you'll likely be disappointed.

As for coyotes I've killed a lot both for fun & fur with a .223, 22-250, .257 Roberts, and the .25-06 and bigger. I have tried about everything for saving pelts but the best I found was a .224" Speer 52gr HP. It had a big open tip and rarely exited near or far. I had mixed results with Ballistic tips, Blitz, TSX, Varmint Grenade, etc. I'm curious about the Valkerey (SP?) for long range in .224".

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/6mm_PPC

6 WOA

CDNN sports have ar-10 243 barrels 1-9 twist on sale right now. Mine is supposed to be here Thursday

Jeezus Keerist...the Fhuqktards are thick on this one too. Hint. Congratulations?!?

Pass the 224 Grendel,Rifle Gas and 20" is plenty. Have 'em set up for 75 ELD's and 88 ELD's both. Easy to arrange a magfed Smooch with both and the 88 ELD's .545 BC,made my herd of 243 Grendels rather sad(for good reason). Hint.




I shoot High RPM Big Frame 243's(BHW and X-Caliber) and they of course hammer schit with 105's at 3K fps,but for any kind of schlepping around,they suck in comparison to smaller frames.




Pass the Slash there and make it HEAVY. Hint.



Nobody LOVES a 223 more than I,but the 224 Grendel is for real and a whole 'nother animal. I've zero qualm gunning Lapooey hulls,for most thangs,but Starline ain't too horrid. Hornady and Norma suck heavy ass and are absolute Dog Schit Fhuqking JUNK. Hint.




Drool on. Hint.

Bless your hearts for trying though.

Hint.

Laughing!..................

Stick,

What’s the advantage of 22grendel over the 224 Valkyrie? Is it in velocity?

Logistics,superior brass quality,greater case capacity,shorter case length and obviously performance...that follows suit. If only for starters. Hint.(grin)

I need to toss a coupla 224 Grendel 1-7" RPM bolt guns together,to sip from AR mags. The Gassers are just simply STUPID fhuqking accurate.

Hint.................

Thanks stick! Appreciate the info

I'm really liking the 20 Tac I built recently, which is ballistically very similar to the 204. Almost no recoil and very flat shooting with 40gr VMax @ 3900. (I have also worked up the 24gr NTX to 4800 fps just for grins, but ~4700 fps is a more reasonable load with better brass life.)


I'm currently building a "walking varminter" type AR for the type of use you're talking about; 243 LBC in a 20" barrel. That's not as powerful as a 243 Win of course, but fits the AR15 frame and is plenty for coyotes, even at extended ranges. This one is getting an octagon barrel, just to be different.

The 204 and I started out on a sour note. The first one I had did not like 40 grain Hornady's at all so I tried the 32's that SHOT great but I lost too many coyotes. Then the 39 gr blitz king came out and it shot well but again, I lost coyotes. I sold the gun and declared it unfit for a coyote round. Then Berger brought out the 35 gr bullet that proved to be a good coyote bullet and worked great on cats so I bought a Contender barrel and it worked ok but lacked speed. Again I got out.

Then my cousin built an AR that seemed to work pretty good and I was able to pick up a Kimber Montana in 204. It liked the 40 gr Hornady's and they killed coyotes just as well as my 22-250. It also likes the 40 grain Bergers and Noslers which both kill better than I ever expected. If I didn't have the Montana, I'd build a 20" 204 and never look back. Hide damage is minimal and I don't recall a cat or coyote that ran anywhere.

It's not as versatile as bigger calibers but for what I do, it works just fine.

I just finished putting a 20” BHW barrel chambered in 6mm Creedmoor on a Palmetto PA10 rifle. Used an Odin adjustable gas block JP high pressure bolt and Larue MBT trigger. The factory Hornady Black,Match and Precision Hunter Ammo all have shot under MOA consistently as well as handloads with Sierra 107’s and 108 ELD’s with H4350. I agree something on the AR15 platform will be lighter and quicker handling but if you want an AR10 by all means go for it.

You probably won’t like how much it’s going to weight.

the DMPS oracle was one of the lightest ones I found when thinking about doing the same 5 plus years ago, and it was still heavier than I wanted.

243’s REALLY anchor a yote so I finally got a 243 Stalker BAR

Shot a ton of coyotes with my 15 using the 55 Vmax, an awesome round. Thought I needed a 10 in 6.5 creed. When I had it all built and scoped it was the heaviest gun I owned. Never even shot it, parted it out and sold it off. Now I am back to my 20" AR15 and happy as a lark killing yotes. Use to skin back when we were getting $100 a pelt but now there is no market so leave them where they lay. My first coyote gun was a Ruger 77 in 220 swift, now that was a killing machine.