My top 10 AR predator cartridges
This list is a personal opinion, that I formulated through my experience over the last 20 years of hunting and building these rifles. These are for predator hunting. Here we go!
10. 17rem: A very fast, short range caliber, primarily used for fox and bobcats. Although a properly placed bullet will kill a coyote, its just too light to be any higher on the list.
9. 20 Practical: My favorite short range caliber. I personally use this round for targeting fox and bobcat. Its a 223 case necked down to 20 caliber. Easy to reload for and brass is readily available. If used for coyotes, select a faster twist barrel to shoot heavier bullets.
8. 6.8 SPC: I refer to this cartridge as "THE ROCK", its .277 caliber bullets hit hard, really hard, but they're ballistic-ly challenged for distance. Those who don't shoot past 300 yards will find this to be a great hunting round.
7. 300blk: The blackout is a sawed off 223 necked up to a .30 caliber. It gained a lot of attention a few years back and killed a bunch of coyotes. Its fizzling out some, but a great sub-sonic round for hogs/coyotes.
6. 308: 7.62x51, a long time military and deer cartridge, one you can't overlook, deer hunters who have turned predator hunters and have one multi-purpose rifle can't be wrong. Some say its over-kill, but with the introduction of lighter bullets to make it go 243 type speed, its made a name for itself for being so versatile.
5. 204 Ruger: Before the onslaught of wildcat cartridges, the 204 was the answer to the fast, lightweight caliber for predators. Faster than the 20 Practical due to the longer case and more case capacity, I still think one should should the 40gr bullets for coyotes.
4. 22 Nosler: A mini 22-250? Its close but a couple hundred feet per second slower. Knocks coyotes down like a 6.5 Grendel, but the speed of the faster cartridges. Factory ammo being readily available and reloading supplies present its hard to beat. Nosler used a rebated rim, which helps with pressure concerns, makes this round easier to run a bit hotter than those wildcats that use a Grendel or 6.8 bolt. The only reason its not higher on this list is because of how new it is.
3. 6.5 Grendel: If you want knockdown power and ballistics of a 308 in a small framed AR, then this is the best cartridge in the small(AR15) platform. For a fur friendly bullet, try the 95gr vmax and for long range and knock-em in the dirt power, try the 123gr Amax or SST. This is our #1 selling cartridge.
2. 223: Why is this higher than the Grendel? Because of the price of ammo, longevity, availability in any store and the millions of predators hung on the barn by the 223. Bullet selection is so great, it can get confusing. Everyone should own at least one 223 AR-15.
1. 243: The only downside to the 243 is the lack of versatility on smaller predators. Its ideal for coyotes and the ability to go from a light bullet to a heavier one (depending on twist rate). Knock down power and long range shots are right up its alley, as well as low recoil from the AR10 platform of cartridges. Another reason why its tops is the availability of ammunition anywhere you go.
10. 17rem: A very fast, short range caliber, primarily used for fox and bobcats. Although a properly placed bullet will kill a coyote, its just too light to be any higher on the list.
9. 20 Practical: My favorite short range caliber. I personally use this round for targeting fox and bobcat. Its a 223 case necked down to 20 caliber. Easy to reload for and brass is readily available. If used for coyotes, select a faster twist barrel to shoot heavier bullets.
8. 6.8 SPC: I refer to this cartridge as "THE ROCK", its .277 caliber bullets hit hard, really hard, but they're ballistic-ly challenged for distance. Those who don't shoot past 300 yards will find this to be a great hunting round.
7. 300blk: The blackout is a sawed off 223 necked up to a .30 caliber. It gained a lot of attention a few years back and killed a bunch of coyotes. Its fizzling out some, but a great sub-sonic round for hogs/coyotes.
6. 308: 7.62x51, a long time military and deer cartridge, one you can't overlook, deer hunters who have turned predator hunters and have one multi-purpose rifle can't be wrong. Some say its over-kill, but with the introduction of lighter bullets to make it go 243 type speed, its made a name for itself for being so versatile.
5. 204 Ruger: Before the onslaught of wildcat cartridges, the 204 was the answer to the fast, lightweight caliber for predators. Faster than the 20 Practical due to the longer case and more case capacity, I still think one should should the 40gr bullets for coyotes.
4. 22 Nosler: A mini 22-250? Its close but a couple hundred feet per second slower. Knocks coyotes down like a 6.5 Grendel, but the speed of the faster cartridges. Factory ammo being readily available and reloading supplies present its hard to beat. Nosler used a rebated rim, which helps with pressure concerns, makes this round easier to run a bit hotter than those wildcats that use a Grendel or 6.8 bolt. The only reason its not higher on this list is because of how new it is.
3. 6.5 Grendel: If you want knockdown power and ballistics of a 308 in a small framed AR, then this is the best cartridge in the small(AR15) platform. For a fur friendly bullet, try the 95gr vmax and for long range and knock-em in the dirt power, try the 123gr Amax or SST. This is our #1 selling cartridge.
2. 223: Why is this higher than the Grendel? Because of the price of ammo, longevity, availability in any store and the millions of predators hung on the barn by the 223. Bullet selection is so great, it can get confusing. Everyone should own at least one 223 AR-15.
1. 243: The only downside to the 243 is the lack of versatility on smaller predators. Its ideal for coyotes and the ability to go from a light bullet to a heavier one (depending on twist rate). Knock down power and long range shots are right up its alley, as well as low recoil from the AR10 platform of cartridges. Another reason why its tops is the availability of ammunition anywhere you go.
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