Setting up an AR-15 for Coyote Hunting

Setting up an AR-15 for coyote hunting including mounting a scope and zeroing the rifle.

[@Pyle81]

Jeff, Very solid information on the part about heating up the barrel. Im also a AR-15 coyote hunter. Except the vast majority of my hunting is at night with my Pulsar Thermal XQ-50-LFR and the Pulsar AxionXQ-38 Thermal scanner for the 2nd hunter to film with or just a extra pair of eyes. And hunting mostly here in NE,Ohio we typically don't have to take shots out past 200 yrds. Matter of fact, its hard to find places today to hunt where we can actually get 200 yrd shots to take. So fare this season ive only killed 3 past 100 yrds. Most are 40-75 yrds. They just come in closer at night. And don't get hung up like they tend to in the day light.

[@gamedinnah]

I MPBR my 243 for a 4” vital. I was shooting the sig varmint rinds, but they were just too devastating- learned to sew fur pretty well though. I’ve switched to Barnes copper rounds and they seem to be working well so far. Still 2 holes- just a lot smaller.

[@RobertWilliams-um8cv]

Great video, straight forward and to the point. Love your comments on waiting for the barrel to cool before verifying sight changes. Tough to get some to understand that when helping them to set a consistent zero. 🤯

[@md3280]

As a rule of thumb most factory ammo is tested with a 24” barrel, and you can find that info on they’re website. You subtract the difference of your barrel length from that and apply this general rule, which for me has been damn close when you can’t chronograph. 2500-3000 subtract 20 fps off box velocity for every inch shorter than 24”, 3000-3500 sub 30 fps, 3500-4000 sub 40 fps. There are also ballistic apps that can true velocity but those and chronographs cost $ where this simple rule can suffice.

[@klo910]

Not sure if you reload but I have a load for the 53gr V-Max that’s 3345fps and very accurate if your interested. Mine is also out of a 18in barrel AR.

[@Howlin23]

What’s the load?

[@caseychadwell3274]

3345 out of a 18” barrel is hot as hell…

[@kodybracken518]

There goes the neighborhood , and the ol Red dot trick

[@willhorting5317]

I wish I had a range like that. And I am an "oddball" (and very aware of it 😁). Every .223 and .243 that I have owned since the 1980s..... regardless of rifle style.....I have always intentionally sighted in 3" high at 100 yards. But I have very rarely taken head shots, unless it was the only one presented to me.

[@rondetorres3842]

I'm a southpaw so its nice see AR15 left handed shooters post! Granted, where I live coyote hunting is few and far between but needless to say I like your setup and breakdown. Just curious, are your optics MOA or MRAD? BTW, the popcorn rear bag is a great idea! Going to make a couple tomorrow morning. Thanks for posing!

[@Velcro_Ninja]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Ray-tz4jk]

You say you have a 1/7 twist and you are shooting 53 gr bullets, how far does that stabilize out to in yards?? I’ve been told 1/7 will stabilize 55 gr but it’s suppose to be limited on distance. Thanks Ray

[@hotchihuahua1546]

All good advise .

[@kaceyweaver8073]

Good information man. I’m brand new to coyote hunting… definitely going to rezero my rifles and give that cool down period. I’d like to see some videos of how to hunt smaller areas and wooded areas with a rifle. I’m in Georgia and have a hard time finding places to hunt that have wide open fields like y’all got in the Midwest and other areas of the US

[@GeoffNemnich]

Grab the shotguns and get in tight!!!

[@douglaszetlaw366]

Geoff, nice video, thanks! What model Gemtech and adapter did you use? Would like to add one to my Springfield Saint.

[@GeoffNemnich]

Thx man!! I'm running a thread-on Gemtech Sandstorm. Then I just picked up a thread adapter to mount to the 1/2 threads on my barrel since the suppressor is 30 cal and 5/8.

[@Propman203]

Awesome video thank you

[@GeoffNemnich]

👊

[@jasonsilva8183]

Have an acog because I used it in the army. What do you think about an acog for coyote hunting? It’s the NSN with crosshair reticle.

[@GeoffNemnich]

It would work...Im guessing you're gonna want something with a bit more magnification tho!

[@Jason.123rson]

Question about the swagger.....if you have a mlok rail do you need buy two of the pic rail adaptors? I picture it with two of the mlok to pic rail adaptors in order to get the required pic rail length to even mount the bipod.....then one of the swagger adaptors on each of the new pic rail sections? It's just a 16in bcm/mlok

[@GeoffNemnich]

You would need to buy several 3" sections of pic rail that mount onto your mlok rail. Then buy the 2 piece pic rail adapter from swagger.

[@tracea06]

@@GeoffNemnich I am looking at placing one on my mlok as well. It looks like you only need one three inch and then attach the adapter. Is there a reason you used several? Does the adapter come with the swagger bipod? Thanks!

[@GeoffNemnich]

@@tracea06 the adapter for picatinny is separate, u can buy it thru their website. You could make one 3" piece work but if it was me I would put another 3" piece on the back where the 2nd rubber shim piece on the swagger is at

[@tracea06]

@@GeoffNemnich I purchased the adapter and two pic rail segments. Mine doesn't seem to sit as flush or close as yours does. Also your screws look more spaced than mine. You only used one adapter right?

[@GeoffNemnich]

@@tracea06 my AR already has the pic rail on the gun so I didn't need to buy pieces, that's why it fits closer. Then I used the 2-piece swagger pic adapter instead of the 1-piece

[@davidsprigg2669]

Solid info

[@clintmeyer4764]

Any particular reason you stick with a RH ar being lefty? I'm lefty and switched to a LH and it's been way more pleasant to shoot.

[@GeoffNemnich]

I've shot RH ar since '04 and even earlier if you count my time in the Marines. So I guess I've just stuck with what works for me. I looked once awhile back but very limited manufacturers of LH so didn't want to cut my options short!

[@clintmeyer4764]

@@GeoffNemnich odd coincidence I was just watching TPH podcast when I got this notification. Stagg arms in cheyenne makes a really good LH. I just bought one specifically for coyote hunting. Getting a chance to make it back to wyo this September. Love your guys show keep up the good work 👍

[@GeoffNemnich]

@@clintmeyer4764 thx man!! Have a good trip out to WY in Sept, hope you pile them up!!

[@dannoe1047]

Do you think those swaggers are better than running a tripod ? Really tempted to try the swagger

[@GeoffNemnich]

Probably not quite as steady as a tripod but way less bulky carrying in and out of stands plus way easier to pick up and move if coyotes are hard left or hard right

[@dannoe1047]

@@GeoffNemnich thanks for the reply love y’all’s video

[@dannoe1047]

@@GeoffNemnich ordered both the Hunter 42 and the qd 42. Love both

[@twoguncorcoran4733]

In the county I hunt we often see shots under 100 yards so I prefer a riflescope in the 3-9x range..Way better field of view...(I also prefer Leupold duplex firedot reticles, VX 3HD, VXR) Unless I'm dialing a turret, I zero at 200, which seems to be 1.25" high at 100yrds with my rifle, then adjust for 300yrd shots etc.. we have made several 300 yard kills by just holding over, but 300yrds just doesn't happen very often... With that said, I have a couple friends that hunt another county where the land is open and flat, They use .243, 22-250, 6.5 etc.. and also use higher powered optics 4-16x 6-20x, etc... I think it's best to choose your rifle and optic for it's application..Personally, I can not stand high powered optics where I hunt, Narrow field of view, tight eyeboxes, and unnecessary weight. For open ground, that's a whole different ball game. Great video! nice rifle, love my V7

[@shaneott2874]

How do you go about racking one in the chamber before a stand without letting every coyote know your there?

[@GeoffNemnich]

Option 1...leave rifle loaded going from stand to stand Option 2...rack the rifle inside your truck before you step out to make the stand Option 3...right the bolt home and then use the forward assist

[@tygriffin9757]

What was the shorter AR you have? 300BLK ?

[@GeoffNemnich]

223 SBR

[@alexrinard90]

Im surprised you get that good of groups with 53 gr out of a 1-7 twist. I had to jump to 62 gr in my 1-8 because I wasnt grouping good. My go to is still the 32gr v max out of my 204

[@tracea06]

I had some issues too. Zerod today at 200 yards then shot at 100 and 7 inches high. Not sure why. Varmint express 55gr

[@andrewcoil5544]

Great video Geoff! I just received my first AR and it's a DDMK12. I added a 30 caliber suppressor and it shoots well. I do notice, however, how dirty the spent brass is as well as the first couple of rounds that are left in the magazine. Is this normal for an AR or is it because I'm using the rifle suppressed? I've not shot the rifle w/o the suppressor, yet. Thanks again for the great videos!

[@GeoffNemnich]

Yep man that's normal, mine does the same thing shooting suppressed

[@andrewcoil5544]

@@GeoffNemnich Thanks for your reply.

[@Propman203]

Have you ever tried a 300 blk out

[@GeoffNemnich]

I used to have one, but the bullet was too big and slow for coyotes. More suited for pigs IMO.

[@marcgiddy6295]

Hey Jeff . Did the Burris come with the side mount ? If not what’s the info on it . Btw. Love your setup !

[@GeoffNemnich]

No I just had to but a 45 degree pic mount

[@RayRay-zc2ed]

@@GeoffNemnich do you recall what manufacturer the 45 degree pic mount is?

[@GeoffNemnich]

@@RayRay-zc2ed weaver

[@RayRay-zc2ed]

@@GeoffNemnich thank you

[@RayRay-zc2ed]

@@GeoffNemnich so my weaver 45 degree mount in fde arrived. It sits really nice and tight with the red dot. It looks really nice and sits at a really nice position. Can’t wait until the next coyote that pops up in front of me, just like the one in November. It popped up about 20 yards away and it was pretty much a point shooting situation, and he dropped. When I saw him we both had that “Oh shit” look on our faces. I just had time to turn point and squeeze as he began to turn to run! Thanks again for the information.

[@bettycocker2226]

how do you travel constantly with NFA items? isnt that a huge pain in the ass?

[@GeoffNemnich]

I've never had any issues

[@josephmast4614]

Scope info ?

[@GeoffNemnich]

I was running a leupold vx3i in the vid but have since switched to a sig sauer optics sierra6 bdx 5-30×56

[@BAMA-1986]

Jesus Christ … How much was this build ??!!! “Coyote build”.. 🤣🤦‍♂️🤫💀

[@BAMA-1986]

If you have more money that capability or common sense ….buy this rifle for your first 👍🤣