Torn on what to make for a calling rifle

champ198

champ198

Member
So as most here saw in the past I have a 350L that I was not happy at all with.
So I built a nice lower setup for this rifle but the upper wont feed so Im done with it.
Now here is my question
I was going to do a barrel swap and go to a 6Arc. But I do have a 243 in the safe that is a nice rifle and shoots well so not a huge need for another 6mm gun. At least at this point.

But what I dont have is a smaller caliber rifle that could be my specific calling rifle.
So here is where my confusion comes in.

What would be a good caliber to rebarrel this upper to that would work well for all Predators, Coyotes, Fox and bobcats.
Is there one?
As far as keeping fur I dont think ill be worried about keeping a coyote pelt but Fox and Bobcat I might.
What would be a good round to Barrel this thing that would work for all?

Kind of thinking a 204
 
Honestly, you cannot go wrong with the 6mmARC, but I've seen success with lots of em on the AR platform. 224 Valkyrie previous to the 22 ARC, 6.5 Grendel works well (not fur friendly with factory ammo), 22 Nosler has been decent, 223 still works well, and even the 6.8SPC. If I were to make a dedicated calling rifle for predators in my area, I'd pick the 224valkyrie or 22 ARC to use the heavier bullets that i cannot do well with on the .223. And still load some of the lighter bullets a tad faster than that of my 223.
 
22 ARC or KAK 17-5.56

If you want to get into 6.8SPC2 I have an excellent shooting ARP barrel, bolt, two PRI magazines and FL dies, I'd make you a deal on.
 
I know it's kinda ho hum these days, but there's nothing wrong with a good 223.

I built a new one last year with a X-Caliber 20" 12" twist chambered in the 223 Rem, not the Wylde chamber. The Rem has .025" freebore, better for the lighter bullets for seating them into or close to the lands & still fit proper in the mag.

I have fantastic loads with either the 40 Ballistic Tips, 52 Bergers, or the 53 V-Max.

The 53's I tested out to 400 & kept them under 1/2 MOA.
 
I like and use the boring old .223. Works on coyotes. Can be a little rough on bobcats depending on shot placement. Can be a lot rough on foxes, again depending on shot placement. Straight no shots work best as bullets don't typically exit. Of course, getting that kind of shot each time is not possible.
 
Listen to alf.

204 with 40gr NBTs or 223 with 40gr NBTs hard to tell them apart other than the AR was designed around the 223 case.

Others to look at on an AR platform 20 Practical, 6x45 or 25-45. I have them all except the 25-45 but do shoot a 25-204 all work just fine but the 6mm and .257 can get a little heavy handed on fur.

All but one of the rifles I use for calling are bolts or combo guns. I do have an AR with two uppers, 20P and 223. While I've killed preds with both uppers it is my least favorite platform for calling, it just feels awkward for me.
 
champ198 said:
So as most here saw in the past I have a 350L that I was not happy at all with.
So I built a nice lower setup for this rifle but the upper wont feed so Im done with it.
Now here is my question
I was going to do a barrel swap and go to a 6Arc. But I do have a 243 in the safe that is a nice rifle and shoots well so not a huge need for another 6mm gun. At least at this point.

But what I dont have is a smaller caliber rifle that could be my specific calling rifle.
So here is where my confusion comes in.

What would be a good caliber to rebarrel this upper to that would work well for all Predators, Coyotes, Fox and bobcats.
Is there one?
As far as keeping fur I dont think ill be worried about keeping a coyote pelt but Fox and Bobcat I might.
What would be a good round to Barrel this thing that would work for all?

Kind of thinking a 204
Click to expand...
22Arc gets my vote. I retired my 22-250 after shooting the arc for one day. I used to like the 204 but I had issues with knocking yotes down. I’d recover them with my dogs but prefer not to have to do that. Most of those were center chest hits.
 
champ198 said:
So as most here saw in the past I have a 350L that I was not happy at all with.
So I built a nice lower setup for this rifle but the upper wont feed so Im done with it.
Now here is my question
I was going to do a barrel swap and go to a 6Arc. But I do have a 243 in the safe that is a nice rifle and shoots well so not a huge need for another 6mm gun. At least at this point.

But what I dont have is a smaller caliber rifle that could be my specific calling rifle.
So here is where my confusion comes in.

What would be a good caliber to rebarrel this upper to that would work well for all Predators, Coyotes, Fox and bobcats.
Is there one?
As far as keeping fur I dont think ill be worried about keeping a coyote pelt but Fox and Bobcat I might.
What would be a good round to Barrel this thing that would work for all?

Kind of thinking a 204
Click to expand...

If you already have a shortaction 6mm . To fill the gap your looking for I would have said go .223AI . But after seeing a few dogs hit 1st hand this year with a 204. I am now pretty torn between the two . But after I watching the hits down range on dogs at night with a (.204 cal. ) , it does Hit them with some respectable authority.
..and also, if you dont hand load ? the 204 factory box ammo offerings are Primo performance and very accurate.
.
 
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6x45 if you reload.
Uses your 6mm bullets and 223 cases and mags and feeds well. I would go 18 or 20". 8 or 10 twist seems to be the norm but I think a 9 would be ideal.
I've got 7.5 a couple 8's and 10. For 250 yards and under it would be tough to get a more mild mannered bang for the buck
 
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varminter .223 said:
6x45 if you reload.
Uses your 6mm bullets and 223 cases and mags and feeds well. I would go 18 or 20". 8 or 10 twist seems to be the norm but I think a 9 would be ideal.
I've got 7.5 a couple 8's and 10. For 250 yards and under it would be tough to get a more mild mannered bang for the buck
Click to expand...
That sounds like a good combo.
 
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