What is a good ar for coyotes and lightweight.

.204 is fine, as is many calibers. Now, AR and thermal is not synominous with light weight. Thermals are heavy optics in comparison. The AR can be/is heavy in comparison to most bolt guns. Also, the mag, and pistol grip on an AR can make them awkward to shoulder for long walks. I hunt with both and love the AR platform. Just be prepared to be heavier than most calling rifles.
As far as brands, I am a Rock River fan for production AR rifles. There are many other brands out there that are great also. Having said that, most, if not all, production .204's that I have seen are going to be a heavy varmint barrel, adding even more to the weight.
Others will chime in, but this has been my experience.
 
I had a custom AR in 204, it was a tank. Shot great but heavy. Sold it to a friend and he sold it to his son. Great shooting rifle but man it was heavy.
 
Do you reload or only run factory. That's the biggest determination of what I would recommend. . .

I agree, but have no first hand experience, that the .22 Nosler is the best .224" cartridge out there for Coyotes.

I love the .204, I don't have it in an AR platform, however, but I would love one. But to get the most out of the cartridge I'd recommend no less than a 20" barrel which would add weight.

My overall recommendation if you reload is Mad Dog Weapon Systems 6mm Mongoose. I've been incredibly impressed with that cartridge. It's based on a slightly shortened .223 with basically an Ackley improved shoulder. I'm getting 3450fps with a 55gr Sierra Blitzking and 2800 fps with 87gr Vmax's.

It's a 1:8, so if I wanted to bump up to a 105gr match bullet I can shoot to 1000 yds at 2650fps.

For deer 95gr SST or 80gr GMX will put them down just fine. I took a 375lb Hog in texas with 80gr GMX.

Either Way, Mad Dog weapon Systems will make an AR that will fit your needs in whatever cartridge you want.
 
A 204 is an excellent Coyote gun. Its a super fast flat shooting cartridge. Built my 204 with a Lilja AR740 barrel which is 20" long. Used Seekin's billet upper and lower and handguard. It has a Bering Optics Super Hogster thermal mounted on it. Gun is light weight, thermal is light weight. Its a Coyote, Fox killing dream gun and I love it. Plan on building a second one because I dont want to take off the thermal and I love the caliber for Chuck hunting too. This one will be built when parts are easily available again and it will be a cheaper build.

Ive had the gun for roughly 8 years and it never gets old. I reload for it but only 32gr bullets because when I bought the barrel Lilja was only making them in 12 twist,,,now they are 11 twist.

My 32gr Sierra reloads come out of my barrel at 4050fps,,,using 29gr of 8208.
 
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+1 on the 18" 223 AR. I have 2 with Thermal and 2 with day scopes. Get the Hornady superformance loads or what I'm shooting is a guy that loads the 55 gr. Vmax even a little hotter. 1 1/2" high at 100 and you can hold on fur pretty much out to 300. One is the older R15 and has the Hogster on it.
 
I would get a 223/5.56, it's hard enough to find ammo for these, but you can.
Some of these other rounds, good luck.
I tend to like my 16" Bull SS for winter time. Ar's with 16's carry pretty nice. I strap on top side
& run it over my head, rifle is in upright position ready to go in a second.
Get a wide charging handle. No need to hang all kinds of crap on the rifle and just go hunting
when the moon's right.
 
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