The Ultimate 22 ARC Coyote Rifle

While working on my Ultimate Coyote Rifle series, I started comparing a budget build to a premium build. At the same time, I found myself putting together a rifle that’s honestly become one of my favorite projects. I began with a Ruger American Prairie chambered in .22 ARC and paired it with a B&T Blue Line 5.56 suppressor. I ran several different ammo groups, tweaking as I went. I also modified the trigger slightly to make it a little lighter and crisper. For the next stage, I planned a no-expense-spared custom .22 ARC build. The base was the Falkor LW7 lightweight action, fitted with a 20-inch carbon fiber barrel. I used the B&T RBS flow-through suppressor, which performed beautifully.

I wanted a lightweight chassis for this build, but couldn’t find the exact one I had in mind right away. So, I dropped it into a J. Allen (JAE) Gen 5 chassis by MDT. I loaded it with every accessory I could think of — a bag rider, extended Arca rail, night vision bridge, and internal and external weights for balance. The result was a lightweight rifle with a carbon barrel that handled incredibly well.

After putting everything together, I caught some coverage of SHOT Show 2026 and noticed that MDT is releasing a lightweight magnesium DRT chassis. The new MDT DRT chassis system is built for hunters, and it’s one of those dream chassis I’ve had in my head for a long time. They’re not the first manufacturer to build a magnesium chassis, but they’re the first to build one like this, truly dedicated to the hunting market — something designed with the thermal industry in mind and hunters who want to stay ultra lightweight. The magnesium base keeps the weight down, the aluminum rail provides a solid mounting solution for a thermal clip-on with adjustability, and they top it off with a built-in folding stock.

This is ridiculous in the best way. If you saw my article on the .22 ARC when it was first released, I said one of my dream builds would be a lightweight action, a carbon barrel, and the HNT26 chassis because of the carbon fiber and low weight. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the design, though. I run and love the aesthetics of the ACC Elite. The DRT has a very similar look, with adjustability for length of pull and comb height, but with a built-in folder that doesn’t add length. This is awesome. I love all the M-LOK on the handguard. The only thing I think I might do is add some M-LOK rubber guards or a handguard to make all the touchpoints a little warmer when you’re hunting coyotes in the winter. Besides that, this is the chassis that this Falkor action will end up in if all the stars align and it becomes available. Thanks, MDT, for going above and beyond and engineering this phenomenal chassis.

This combination would be the ultimate night-hunting rifle — light enough to carry all night, stable on a two-legged tripod, and equally at home on a PRS-style barricade. I’ll keep a triple-pole Ckye-pod up front, just in case I want a tripod at the rear too. Together, that setup would be unstoppable for coyotes out to 800 yards. I’ve been running the 75-grain ELD-M rounds at impressive speeds, along with the 62-grain ELD-VT. Either way, both loads are devastating on coyotes and other predators at long range. With the reduced chassis weight and the addition of the Vortex rail-mounted rangefinder, this rifle truly rounds out into what I’d call the ultimate predator hunting setup. Unfortunately, it’s not available yet, so for now, I’ll stick with the JAE — which, honestly, is one of the nicest chassis out there anyway. Sometimes, things just work out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have 20+ years in the automotive industry- first managing shops in the northwest for over 13 years and now as a factory rep for Hunter Engineering. I love my family, my faith, and my firearms. I've shot competitively in the PRS Southwest Region for two years. I also compete in long-range AR-15 competitions at least once a month and am an avid reloader. I have written for Ballistic Magazine's 'Ballistic Best' precision rifle edition for two years. My other hobbies include photography, videography, woodworking, and knife-making. You can find me on Instagram @davidinthesun