I want to put together a 223 wylde upper in an AR platform. I am building this gun for coyote hunting at night.

I dont think my current AR47 hog gun (12 inch barrel shooting 762x39) is a good set up for coyotes. I am a cheap guy when it comes to bullets (hence the 762x39) so a 223 wylde upper is what I am going to look at. I am thinking a 223/556 is the perfect round as it is super cheap and it will kill a coyote a long way out. Bingo my criteria met. If cost of bullets were not a factor I would go with a grendel or valkyrie even but the 223 is the cheapest ammo around except for 762 of course.

I have never coyote hunted before so I just want to know what you guys recommend for a barrel length? I do have an SBR lower so I could get a shorter barrel but I am thinking I need some fast bullets for even faster coyotes.

I prefer a 14.5 inch barrel as I am suppressing it but would go to a 16 or 18 inch barrel if that will make much of a difference in my hunting.

What say the THF as recommendations for barrel length????

Thanks
BIG

I have a 16” barrel on the AR and a 22” inch on the bolt gun. Both work just fine on coyotes. A 14.5” barrel, compared to the 16” will lose a little velocity - 40 or 50 fps, but should work just fine. Go with the 14.5” and be happy…and suppressed.

I agree, a 14.5" barrel can work, but you might be wise to determine several other parameters before you settle on barrel length alone. What distance do you plan on shooting? What bullet and what bullet weight? Your chosen barrel length and twist rate may depend on these variable to some degree.

My typical setup for night calling is a suppressed 10.5" .223 shooting 55gr SPs for coyotes. I try and take all my shots within 100 yards. I've never had a problem putting down a coyote with one shot. I've had multiple 10.5" setups. New setup is a 12.5."