The modern coyote rifle has changed a lot in a short time, and in a recent Vortex Nation discussion, hosts Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn argued that today’s cartridge choices give predator hunters more specialized options than ever before.
Boardman opened the conversation after a recent hound hunt for bobcats, saying the experience had him thinking again about predator hunting more broadly, especially coyotes. That led him back to a question he and Muckenhirn had discussed before: what is the best coyote cartridge?
The answer, as both men explained, is not as simple as naming one old standby and being done with it. The traditional choices still work, but newer cartridges now offer different advantages depending on whether a hunter is using a bolt gun or an AR, hunting during the day or at night, shooting tight cover or open country, and caring about fur damage or just putting a coyote down quickly.
The Modern Take On A Familiar Problem
Boardman framed the conversation around “modern centerfire solutions” for predator hunting, making clear that they were not trying to declare older cartridges obsolete.
Instead, he said the cartridges on the table represented newer answers to the same old problem: how to hit a fast-moving, wary animal with enough accuracy and energy to end the hunt cleanly.
Muckenhirn agreed, adding that several cartridges now available commercially either did not exist or were not common options the last time they tackled the topic. That matters because a good coyote cartridge is not only about raw speed; it is also about bullet design, recoil, platform compatibility, and how forgiving the round is when distance estimation is imperfect.
Boardman made that point while talking about night hunting with thermal optics. Judging distance in the dark can be harder, he said, and a flatter-shooting cartridge gives a hunter a little more room for error when a coyote is moving, hanging up, or coming in fast enough that there is no time to range it.
That is a practical way to look at cartridge selection. In the field, especially at night, the best round is not always the one with the most impressive number on paper; it is the one that buys a hunter time, forgiveness, and confidence when the shot window is short.
6mm Creedmoor: The Modern Gentleman’s .243
The first cartridge Boardman and Muckenhirn discussed was the 6mm Creedmoor, which they described as a modern replacement for the .243 Winchester in this role.
Muckenhirn said the 6mm Creedmoor is a great cartridge, especially with modern bullets like Hornady’s 80-grain ELD-VT. He explained that the bullet has an exterior profile similar to a slippery match-style projectile, but with construction meant for varmint and predator performance rather than simply punching paper or steel.
The basic idea, as Muckenhirn laid it out, is to keep the ballistic advantage of a sleek bullet while creating the kind of terminal effect predator hunters want. He described the ELD-VT as a bullet built to stop and break apart efficiently, rather than pass through in a way that might be less effective or cause unpredictable results.
Boardman noted that the 80-grain ELD-VT in 6mm Creedmoor has a posted muzzle velocity of about 3,300 feet per second from a 24-inch barrel and a G1 ballistic coefficient of .410, which he called impressive for an 80-grain bullet.
Both hosts liked the 6mm Creedmoor not only as a coyote cartridge, but also because it can do more than one job. Boardman pointed out that it doubles as a capable medium-game cartridge, while Muckenhirn added that it can also serve in a match rifle role with the right load.
That versatility is the real selling point. For someone who wants one rifle that can handle coyotes, steel, and deer-sized game with load changes, the 6mm Creedmoor makes a strong case.
6mm ARC: A Gas-Gun Favorite With Real Reach
From there, Boardman moved to the 6mm ARC, a cartridge that drew a lot of attention because of how well it fits into the AR-15 platform.
Boardman called it a “petite” cartridge, but he and Muckenhirn both emphasized that it has more than enough performance for coyotes. With the same 80-grain ELD-VT bullet, Boardman cited a listed muzzle velocity of about 3,020 feet per second, noting that it gives up speed compared with the 6mm Creedmoor but brings something else to the table.
For Muckenhirn, the main advantage is platform. If he were choosing the 6mm ARC over the 6mm Creedmoor for predator hunting, he said, it would be because he was shooting a gas gun.
That matters because coyote hunting is not always a one-shot, one-animal situation. Muckenhirn talked about calling in doubles and even triples, especially in more open country, and said an AR-style rifle can be very useful when a fast follow-up shot is needed.
A bolt gun can work, of course, and skilled shooters can make it happen. But in a predator stand where a second coyote is leaving fast or the first shot needs to be corrected quickly, a semi-auto can be an advantage.
Muckenhirn also pointed out that the 6mm ARC is more versatile than some people assume. He mentioned big-game-style bullet options, including Hornady’s ELD-X and CX loads, and said he has used the cartridge on deer and pronghorn with good results.
For coyotes, though, the appeal is simple: it brings more frontal diameter and bullet weight than a typical .223 Remington, better trajectory and wind performance with modern bullets, and very manageable recoil in an AR-15-sized rifle.
22 Creedmoor: Speed, BC, And A Serious Bolt-Gun Case
The 22 Creedmoor drew some of the most enthusiastic discussion from both hosts, though especially from Boardman.
Muckenhirn explained that the 22 Creedmoor began as a wildcat soon after the 6.5 Creedmoor became popular, with shooters necking the case down to .22 caliber and pushing heavy .22-caliber bullets at very high speeds. Now that it has become a factory offering, he said, more shooters are paying attention to what it can do.
The key difference between the 22 Creedmoor and older fast .22s, especially the .22-250 Remington, comes down to bullet design and barrel twist. Muckenhirn said most traditional .22-250 rifles were optimized for lighter bullets in the 50- to 55-grain range, often with slower twist rates, while the 22 Creedmoor is designed around heavier, high-BC bullets.
That changes the equation. Rather than simply chasing 4,000 feet per second with a light varmint bullet, the 22 Creedmoor can drive heavier, sleeker projectiles that hold velocity better and fight wind more effectively.
Boardman cited Hornady’s 69-grain ELD-VT load at about 3,550 feet per second from a 24-inch barrel, with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .424. Muckenhirn said that kind of combination gives hunters something closer to 6mm or even 6.5mm-style trajectory from a .22-caliber centerfire.
For a dedicated bolt-action coyote rifle, Boardman said the 22 Creedmoor would likely be his pick. He likes ARs and sees their practical advantage, but he also admitted he simply enjoys shooting bolt guns, and the 22 Creedmoor gives him the speed and flat trajectory he wants in that platform.
It is hard to argue with that reasoning. For open-country coyotes, especially where wind and distance can complicate things, a fast .22-caliber cartridge with a high-BC bullet is a very modern solution to a very old predator-hunting problem.
22 ARC: The New AR Contender
The 22 ARC came next, and both hosts treated it as one of the more intriguing new options for hunters who want an AR-15 predator rifle.
Muckenhirn said he had started hearing about 22 ARC from people who were already strong 6mm ARC fans, with some saying the .22 version might be even better for their use. The reasoning is similar to the 22 Creedmoor versus 6mm Creedmoor discussion: if the hunter is focused mostly on predators and varmints, a heavy .22-caliber bullet at strong velocity may be the sweet spot.
Boardman cited the 62-grain ELD-VT load at about 3,300 feet per second from a 24-inch test barrel, while Muckenhirn said its G1 ballistic coefficient is around .395, getting close to the 80-grain ELD-VT in the 6mm ARC.
Muckenhirn said that for hunting predators and varmints inside about 600 yards with a gas gun, the 22 ARC would be his pick. He described it as having very little recoil, strong performance, and a lot of appeal for someone building a dedicated AR-style coyote rifle.
He did note one concern, which is the bolt face used by the ARC cartridges, explaining that the issue is not really the cartridge itself but the way bolts have historically held up with that case head size. Still, he said manufacturers are getting better, and he seemed to view that concern as less of a dealbreaker than it might have been years ago.
The 22 ARC’s role is probably easiest to understand this way: if the 6mm ARC is the more versatile AR-15 cartridge, the 22 ARC may be the more specialized predator option.
Don’t Forget The 6.5 Creedmoor Already In The Safe
Near the end of the discussion, Boardman brought up a cartridge many hunters already own: the 6.5 Creedmoor.
It may not be the most exciting choice in a conversation about newer predator cartridges, but it might be the most accessible. Boardman said there are a lot of 6.5 Creedmoor rifles in circulation, and for hunters who already have one, turning it into a capable coyote rifle may be as simple as buying a different box of ammunition.
He pointed to Hornady’s 100-grain ELD-VT load, which he said runs around 3,200 feet per second from a 24-inch barrel with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .448. That makes it a serious long-range coyote option, even if it may not be the most fur-friendly.
Muckenhirn and Boardman both seemed to recognize that the 6.5 Creedmoor is not the sexiest answer for a dedicated predator hunter, but it is a practical one. If a hunter already has a rifle that shoots well, the cartridge has more than enough authority for coyotes, and the right bullet can make it better suited to the job.
That may be the most realistic advice in the entire discussion. Not everyone needs a new rifle just because a new cartridge exists.
Which One Would They Pick?
When Boardman forced Muckenhirn to choose only one cartridge from the list, Muckenhirn picked the 6mm ARC.
His reasoning was based on how he actually hunts. Most coyotes he calls are inside 100 yards, he said, though he has taken longer shots when coyotes hang up or bust a setup. Since he already has a 6mm ARC and a lot of brass for it, the cartridge fits his needs without requiring him to build an entirely new system.
Boardman said he would choose the 22 Creedmoor, calling it his modern gentleman’s coyote cartridge. His pick came from a preference for bolt guns and a clear attraction to speed, flat trajectory, and the performance of modern heavy .22-caliber bullets.
That split between the two hosts is useful because it mirrors the decision many hunters face. The “best” cartridge depends on the rifle platform, the terrain, the expected distance, and whether the hunter values versatility or specialization.
For an AR-15, the 6mm ARC and 22 ARC both make strong arguments. For a bolt gun, the 6mm Creedmoor and 22 Creedmoor stand out, with the 22 Creedmoor looking especially sharp for a dedicated coyote rifle.
And for the hunter who already owns a 6.5 Creedmoor, the answer might be even simpler: buy the right load, confirm the zero, and go call coyotes while the fur is still prime.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
