.20 cal on coyote

S

scottkr

New member
I have a friend that is really into the .20 cal; .204, .20 Bobcat, .20 Vartarg, .20 BR. He's trying to get me into .20 cal. He says the .20's will do the same job very easily with less powder and less recoil I currently shoot a .22-250 for coyote calling. What do you all think about switching to the .20's?
 
I went from a 20 two fiddy to my .204 and haven't been dissapointed. BUT, if you want to reach out at longer range, then the 20 two fiddy probably is the better choice.
 
The 20 cal is somewhat specialized, they don't have the versatility or power of the 22-250 when it comes to big, tough coyotes.

If your looking for an excuse to buy another rifle, go for it, but don't trade in your 22-250 thinking your getting something better.
 
Here's my experience for the last 3 years
I went from a 22-250 that I have used for 20+ years to a .204 shooting a 32grVmax at 4032 fps 3 yrs ago. Last year I probably shot about 20 coyotes with the .204 and about 30 with a .243 65grVmax at 3780 fps. I had one runner with the .204 and one with the .243. The one .204 runner I ended up hitting a little far back but was recovered, the other runner with the .243 I never found so was definitely poor shot placement. This year I'm retrying the .20 cal by setting up a .20 Tac barrel from Mike. We tested some loads last weekend and was able to shoot a 39gr sierra at 4094 fps with no pressure signs using X-Terminator. If you are interested I'll let you know in a few months. I believe the 22-250 and the .243 are hard to beat for long range coyote hunting but I'm thinking the 39 or 40 gr bullet will be the cats meow at this velocity and could be the equal of the 22-250 or actually slightly outperform the 22-250 ballistically. Our shot ranges vary from 10 yrds out to 400 yrds here in central wa, with last years total shots averaged 179 yds. Of course when comparing this caliber vs another caliber it really boils down to hitting them in the right spot to begin with. Hope this helps
 
I have a 20 Practical AR and like it for coyotes and fox. I shoot 40 grain Bergers and have heard the 35 grain Bergers are good too. Shot 2 coyotes at 275 yards and they both went down like a box of rocks. I wouldn't use plastics tipped bullets on coyotes, maybe fox. I shoot the plastic tipped bullets on the prairie dogs and it turns them inside out. I like having hardly any recoil keeping my sight picture the whole time.
 
Again, I agree with Kelly.

I do like the 20 cals. I have only taken a few cats with it. But I still use a 17 Rem occasionally 'cause I save fur, and I just like it. The 204 seems to have more authority on coyotes.

If you've got a 22-250 you are set up pretty good. I had a 22-250 AI built and really like it, going to give it a go this winter. I think for most people, it is really hard to beat a good 22-250.
 
I believe that ones that think the .20 isn't enough gun haven't tried the Berger 35 or 40 gr bullets, the Nosler 40 gr I like even better. I have been shooting this .20 cal now for about 8 yrs. The only problems I had were with the V-max bullet, splash hits and crater entry holes, one run off, blew shoulder off, but he went anyway. It was a 200yd broadside shot, if I had a Berger or Nosler then it would not have ran off. I have shot more than a 100 with the .20, my next one will be a X-Bolt Browning modified to a Tactical.20
Last winter I snuck out on a coyote, it was two coyotes, at the top of the hill where I planned to shoot the one, I could shoot both of them. I took the less wind one first at 300yds, the other was nearly full broadside wind at 15-20 mph, shot him at 320yds, both one shot kills. I like the fact that I shoot it 1.5" high at 100yds, and it is dead on at 300yds, or 1" low depending on air. As long as it is under 350yds, I don't need to worry about how far it is.
 
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I really like the 204s, they out perform the 223 and give the 22-250 a run for the money as it has a better BC. The 40 grain V-Max in 204 has 363 ft-lbs of energy at 500 yards and the 22-250 50 grain V-Max has 372 ft-lbs of energy. You can see the hits in the scope with a 204. I am happy with my 204s. The 6mm AI will pick up the slack for the longer shots. I was making 575 yard kills on prairie dogs with my 20 VarTarg in Montana a few weeks ago. Don't count out the 20s.
 
Sidewinder,, you should try a Nosler 40gr on coyote. Even if it all explodes, the thick plate in the back of the bullet keeps going. With my .223/55gr Noslers, the plate would be against the skin on the other side, or gone through.
 
I have a .17 Rem and a 22-250 and thought the .204 just might be the best of both worlds. I started with 32 grain vmax because the 40's didn't shoot well for me, and splashed entry wounds on a large % of my coyotes. Switched to 35 grain Bergers, and it helped but my .17 Rem and 22-250 both did their jobs as good or better, so the .204 was sold. If you don't reload and want to shoot coyotes, there really wasn't much for options but the same can be said for the .17 Rem. I wouldn't trade the 22-250 for a .204. If you have the time and like to tinker with finding the right load, the .204 may be a good option, but don't sell your 22-250.
 
I've always felt the same way with .223 being the minimum. But, I've had clients with .204s that really knock the coyotes for a loop. One shot 19 coyotes in a day without a single spinner or runner. Also, I had a client with a Tac-20 that flat layed coyotes out. I now think the .204 is a fine coyote gun and the Tac-20 is something to really look at more.

Here is a video of Kirk's Tac-20 on a coyote. Every coyote, same story....DRT.



Tony
 
I am going to be trying the 35 grain bergers out of my 204 this fall. I hope it flatens them but I don't think it is close to the smackdown that a 250 delivers.
 


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