"Sam

If you were setting up an AR type platform for both fighting and hunting coyote how
would you set it up?

Is the NXS 3.5-15NP2 to bulky and slow for a defense optic?

What is your opinion of the new 6.8mm Remington SPR round? How about the LMT uppers?

For a LR rig for use on Elk, Coues deer, hogs, and coyote out to ~600yds what
action, chambering, and optic would you choose if you wanted to keep the total cost
under $2500?

I know you’re busy so I tried to keep it short and blunt. I appreciate and
respect your input and advice!"

Lets take this question first....

"If you were setting up an AR type platform for both fighting and hunting coyote how
would you set it up?

Is the NXS 3.5-15NP2 to bulky and slow for a defense optic?"


I would start with a 16 inch barrel and a 7 twist Lilja 3 groove. If you are serious about defense duties, then you place an irreversible demand on a sight that is day/night compatible, and can function with both eyes open, in a CQB environment. Leaning toward the close in work and Low price but functional, the Aimpoint CompM2 (Around $360.00) may be the best option under $400.00

Cost no option, I would Choose the 1x4 NXS with the FC-2 or the NP-R2 reticle depending on the terrain. Unfortunately, it is not available to civilians quite yet, but soon. 3.5 power, which is the minimum for the 15 power will get you killed indoors in a defensive situation, or outdoors when in between buildings that are in close proximity to eachother. It is however a great coyote hunting scope, maybe none better.

I like the JP trigger massaged to 2.2 lbs. and real crisp.

As far as upper and lower selection goes, go with forged rather than extruded or cast. Rock River, DPMS, and Armalite all offer options in forged aluminum.

I set up the tactical light to be 'Strong hand operated' with the momentary switch under the safety on a "Thumb Shelf". Very handy for opening doors, mirror work, and the like.

Trigger pins with e-clips are a very good idea for any Stoner design that may have to save a life (especially yours). I have seen 4 hammer pins walk out and dissable the weapon over the years.

Next...

"What is your opinion of the new 6.8mm Remington SPR round? How about the LMT uppers?"

I have no use for either one. If I am going to give up the volume of ammo, I would go to something a lot more useful through glass, or into vehicles. The right bullet technology in .223 (87 or 103 gr. powdered tungsten) will give you more capability than the 6.8 and more rounds for the same weight, and less muzzle flash with equal powder technology, not to mention better sound suppression potential.

Next Question....

"For a LR rig for use on Elk, Coues deer, hogs, and coyote out to ~600yds what
action, chambering, and optic would you choose if you wanted to keep the total cost
under $2500?"


Nightforce NXS 5.5 x 22 NP-R2 $1300.00

Nightforce Rings and Bases $ 240.00

Model 70 Coyote Stainless 300 WSM CRPF $ 700.00

Custom Crown and Bedding $ 240.00


You have a wide range of targets in mind, thus the 300 WSM.....enough power for Elk, and enough wind deflection for small targets at 600 yards. This same wide array of targets will be best served by the broadest range of Bullet Selection, 200 Accubond for Elk and Hogs, and a 155 A-max for Deer and other thin skinned stuff.

Sam thanks for the reply!

How many rounds can you expect out of the JP triggers? Will they start to "double" after a few thousand rounds?

What conventional (non blended metal) bullets would you recommend for social work in the 223 chambering?

What would a Winchester Coyote in 300WSM with NF scope/rings/base weight?

How many inches of penetration is needed to get the 155 A-Max to yaw and fragment?

Thanks again!!
Scott

"How many rounds can you expect out of the JP triggers? Will they start to "double" after a few thousand rounds?"


Any adjustable trigger will begin to double after a few thousand rounds, if you are "Greedy" on the set up, when the trigger is new. The edges of the sear and disconnector are usually ground, and very 'sharp' when brand new. The key to having a great AR trigger is to set them up a little on the conservative side, and let the trigger come your way. After about 600 rounds, you can readjust the trigger, and blueprint it to PERFECTION! It will then last a very long time.



"What conventional (non blended metal) bullets would you recommend for social work in the 223 chambering?"

I like two Hornady products..... The 60 grain V-Max, and the 52 Grain A-max. Depending on your case selection, and barrel length, one of these will integrate very well from 0 to 400 yards with any reticle system in MOA. Zero at 200 yards, and the main crosshair will work very well at close range, and 2 MOA spacing will give you a perfect tic mark at 300 yards, and your second tic will be almost dead on at 400 yards (4 MOA below the main zeroed at 200)



"What would a Winchester Coyote in 300WSM with NF scope/rings/base weight?

Right at 12 lbs total.

The 56 mm NXS weighs 2.3 lbs on my scale, the rings and bases together are about .7 lbs. The gun weighs about 9 lbs.



How many inches of penetration is needed to get the 155 A-Max to yaw and fragment?

This is a very difficult question to answer, because the truth is, it will vary by a large margin depending on these factors.

1) Bone or flesh hit first

2) Impact velocity (range of target)

3) Twist rate of the barrel (bullet RPM)

4) Recent food and water intake of the target

I wish I could be of more help here, I just can not get my 'Terminal ballistics Crystal Ball' to work right every time.

It seems that there are two philosophies when it comes to terminal ballistics. One group likes to shoot bullets that are relatively hard, and will overpenetrate, leaving an exit wound that will bleed, so they have a good blood trail to track the target down.

My experience puts me in the other category......I like to use bullets that will come apart inside the target, disrupt as much tissue as possible, and shut the target down immediately....I hate tracking targets. (I am quite skilled at it, and still hate it.)

The harder bullets that seem to work great at close range (0 to 500 yards) with high veloctiy cartridges, do not work as well at longer range for several reasons.

1) The bullet it so hard, it pokes a small hole at low impact velocity, and does not do enough tissue damage. Because it stays very close to its original diameter through the majority of its penetration depth, the hydraulic shock wave that proceeds around the permanent wound channel is relatively small. Thus the target runs a country mile

2) When a bullet flies a long distance, the skin (jacket) can get Very HOT! If the bullet then does not fragment or mushroom, it can cauterize a large percent of the permanent wound channel, and subsequent coagulation of the rest, can allow the target to live until infection takes over.

I have seen wound channels from 155 A-max bullets on whitetail doe shot from 80 yards out to 700 yards, and they all seemed to perform well. I had a 178 A-Max shot out of a 30 Wolf 3 years ago at 1,020 yards, that missed bone going in and coming out, and cauterized all the way through. She ran off (antelope) and we found her a couple of hours later being chased by a buck, and leading the pack of 8 other doe. We gut shot her so we could look closely at the original wound channel, and found that the path of the bullet was too low to hit spine and to high to hit lung (must have hit her on the exhale). There was almost no bleeding, on what appeared to be a shot 4 inches high of perfect, right behind the front shoulder.


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My friend and I have both been using TAP ammo for hunting for the last several years. I have been using the 155gr. out of my .308 PSS and by partner has been using the 178gr. out of his .300mag 700 Sendero setup. I have had excellent results at standard .308 velocity on several whitetail taken from 40-275 yards. All of my shots have been directed at the shoulder so heavy bone was hit in each occasion. Terminal ballistics were great. My friend took several trips out west for pronghorn using the 178's. He has video of broadside running goat, shot right behind the shoulder at 475 yards that flattened the pronghorn. Upon impact it gutted that thing on the run. Coolest dam homemade video I've ever seen.

GS---That a heck of a shot at 475 yards! I wish more guys would do the video thing, you can see some really unusual stuff. Last year in New Mexico we watched a cougar chow on a small cow elk through an NVD, had a camera, but no adapter for the NV.

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