Need advice, lightweight calling ar

[aer212]

I am in the market for a calling rifle. Looking for something lightweight for packing from stand to stand on a all day hunt. Also looking for recommendations on caliber. I would like something with the ability to reach out a bit, say 400-500 easily for those hung up coyotes. I really hate to pass a hung up coyote. Something that is fur friendly also. Is that a tall enough order?

[carpsniperg2]

6.5 grendel would be a great choice. I am building one right now and it is great for deer as well. As far as light weight most ar-15's will range in the 7-8lb range with loaded mag and optics, and many more a lot more then that.

[marlin]

Ive picked up and handled several of the lightweight OLYMPIC ARMS Gamestalker and lightweight tactical rifles, and theyre really light. The Gamestalker ones run about 1400 bucks, I think the lightweight tactical ones are less money and even lighter, because their barrels arent as long.
 My dpms oracle 5.56 is pretty light though, and plenty accurate. It was about $650. Depends how much you want to spend I guess. 

[carpsniperg2]

I have shot a few yotes at past the 400 yard mark with a 223. 90% of them have been runners and I have found very very few of them.

Marlin: Your oracle has got to be in the 8lb range with optics and rings and loaded, right?
I also think the oracle is 16" barrel right? Not the best for the extended range shots.

Aaron if you want any help building one to your specs, I would be happy to show you the rings and help you out.

[sleepingin]

6.5 grendel would be a great choice. I am building one right now and it is great for deer as well. As far as light weight most ar-15's will range in the 7-8lb range with loaded mag and optics, and many more a lot more then that.

+1 for Grendel. Hands down the best for a long range, lightweight AR cartridge.

[FALFire]

6.5 grendel would be a great choice. I am building one right now and it is great for deer as well. As far as light weight most ar-15's will range in the 7-8lb range with loaded mag and optics, and many more a lot more then that.

+1 for Grendel. Hands down the best for a long range, lightweight AR cartridge.

Weeeell, not necessarily the case. Without getting into the Wildcat chamberings, the 243WSSM or even the 25WSSM will give you about 500 to 600 fps velocity over the Grendel depending on bullet weights. Comparatively speaking, the 243WSSM will shoot an 85gr bullet somewhere around 3400 fps and a Grendel will give you around 2800 fps. Now the Grendel may likely have the edge on accuracy but no way will it shoot flatter then the WSSM round and more than likely not enough accuracy to make a difference in the field, scoring groups size on paper?? Possibly, but the WSSM will deliver a 55gr bullet from a 24 inch barrel right around the 4000 fps range and that is plenty to take a coyote out to 600 yards very accurately, a Grendel will never get you there with that velocity. Will a 2800 fps bullet kill a dog at 500 to 600 yards? Oh yeah, but bullet terminal effects at that distance may not be much good so you may end up with some runners. A Grendel is no doubt a good paper puncher, it has proven that time after time, but when it comes to bullet impact velocities on game, it can't compare.

Now that being said, you can shoot some nice bullets from the grendel but there sure isn't anything wrong with a tight twist 243WSSM and 105's or 108's and Oly Arms now has an AR15 with a bit longer mag well that will permit the use of the longer VLD's so you can make full use of the powder column.

[JohnVH]

another for the 6.5 Grendel, mine weighs just over 7lbs, its lighter than my tikka!

www.65grendel.com

[sleepingin]

6.5 grendel would be a great choice. I am building one right now and it is great for deer as well. As far as light weight most ar-15's will range in the 7-8lb range with loaded mag and optics, and many more a lot more then that.

+1 for Grendel. Hands down the best for a long range, lightweight AR cartridge.

Weeeell, not necessarily the case. Without getting into the Wildcat chamberings, the 243WSSM or even the 25WSSM will give you about 500 to 600 fps velocity over the Grendel depending on bullet weights. Comparatively speaking, the 243WSSM will shoot an 85gr bullet somewhere around 3400 fps and a Grendel will give you around 2800 fps. Now the Grendel may likely have the edge on accuracy but no way will it shoot flatter then the WSSM round and more than likely not enough accuracy to make a difference in the field, scoring groups size on paper?? Possibly, but the WSSM will deliver a 55gr bullet from a 24 inch barrel right around the 4000 fps range and that is plenty to take a coyote out to 600 yards very accurately, a Grendel will never get you there with that velocity. Will a 2800 fps bullet kill a dog at 500 to 600 yards? Oh yeah, but bullet terminal effects at that distance may not be much good so you may end up with some runners. A Grendel is no doubt a good paper puncher, it has proven that time after time, but when it comes to bullet impact velocities on game, it can't compare.

Now that being said, you can shoot some nice bullets from the grendel but there sure isn't anything wrong with a tight twist 243WSSM and 105's or 108's and Oly Arms now has an AR15 with a bit longer mag well that will permit the use of the longer VLD's so you can make full use of the powder column.

The WSSM family also has some nice offerings.  IMO, the Grendel is best for the OP because of accuracy and he can get away with a shorter barrel lending to his light weight needs.

[FALFire]

And....one other thing that is certainly worth mentioning is the 6.5WSSM. It is the brainchild of Mike Milli from Dedicated Technologies. Better powder capacity yet not as much overbore to contend with for longer barrel life and ya get to use those sexy 6.5 boolits.

Remember, velocity is your friend when hunting coyotes at long range. You can adjust for elevation on any caliber but the longer that bullet is in flight, the more it is affected by the wind and the wind is your enemy. At paper, you can shoot all day at known distances and the paper stays there the whole time so corrections for windage is an easy task. Coyotes on the other hand tend to like to un-ass the area right after that first round going by them so bullet flight time is critical when shooting long range in the wind. Pump up the speed, reduce flight time, all the while maintaining accuracy and kill dogs way out there. I've yet to get many dogs stay put at 500 yards waiting for number 5 or 6 to pass by so I can dial in my windage. Now, if we always hunted in calm wind conditions then the effects of wind are a moot point.

I do have to agree however, the (lightweight) part kind of just went out the window  Plus lightweight guns just don't seem to settle very well for real long range stuff but the older I get, the more I appreciate the lightweight aspect.

[carpsniperg2]

The wssm's are great but they also do have there down fall in my mind. That is why I have never got into them much. One the ammo can be a lot more expensive to shoot unless you reload. Even still some supplies are harder to find. We all remember when they first came out there was several companies that had to recall a lot of guns in the wssm because the are barrel eatting sob's 3900-4000 fps will do that! Looking at the ballistics of the 6.5 I don't think I should have to many runners at around 500 yards. The KE and velocity is still great enough for light skinned big game animals at that range. I think they are great but not the ideal choice for the avg joe that wants a longer range ar-15.