Has anyone shot a bobcat or a yote with the .204?? I'm wondering about how much sewing my wife will need to do. She hates my .220 Swift because of the sewing jobs. I hope the .204 doesn't exit on a bobcat, or at least not on a yote. Any experiences would be helpful. And no, my wife is not for sale!! lol
.204 Ruger and Fur Damage
- Thread starter DogDaze
- Start date
DogDaze-- The .204 Ruger is a great coyote round in my limited experience with it. I have only shot two coyotes with mine and I was using my prairie dog load--the 32 gr. V-Max leaving the muzzle at 4,255 fps. Both shots were pretty much with the coyotes facing me, so there was little or no fur damage. My coyote load is going to be the 35 gr. Berger FB HP bullet with a muzzle velocity of around 4,200 fps. We don't have too many red fox up in this country since the coyotes moved in.
I'm afraid that the .204 Ruger, with fullhouse loads is going to be real tough on fox hides though, unless you are lucky enough to shoot them looking dead straight at you. The skin on a fox is pretty darn thin and if you are shooting a 32 gr. V-Max at 4,200 fps or a 35 gr. Berger at 4,000+ fps, or a 40 gr. bullet at 3,800 or 3,900 fps, I'm afraid that broadside shots are going to make a hole that your wife won't be real pleased about.
Perhaps, if you loaded some .204 Ruger shells down to the 3,000 fps range, you might find they would work pretty good on fox. Trick is, though, to find a load that will shoot to a similar point of aim with the fullhouse load and the slower load. Maybe the solution is to carry two rifles LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I'm afraid that the .204 Ruger, with fullhouse loads is going to be real tough on fox hides though, unless you are lucky enough to shoot them looking dead straight at you. The skin on a fox is pretty darn thin and if you are shooting a 32 gr. V-Max at 4,200 fps or a 35 gr. Berger at 4,000+ fps, or a 40 gr. bullet at 3,800 or 3,900 fps, I'm afraid that broadside shots are going to make a hole that your wife won't be real pleased about.
Perhaps, if you loaded some .204 Ruger shells down to the 3,000 fps range, you might find they would work pretty good on fox. Trick is, though, to find a load that will shoot to a similar point of aim with the fullhouse load and the slower load. Maybe the solution is to carry two rifles LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Utahdogger
New member
I have seen 2 coyotes shot with the 204, one was one neat little hole in the chest, the other was one neat little hole on one side, and a hole half the size of my fist on the other ! Shot placement is everything if you want to minimize fur damage, no magic calibers out there, sorry !
Thanks everyone for the replies. Looks to me that the "chips aren't in" on this one yet. I'm sure as time goes on, we will see more people with experiences with the .204. With bobcats bringing in excess of $300, it makes one careful on what you are shooting if a cat decides to respond to the call. Cat skins are similiar to a fox, but a little more strength to them. Not near as strong as a yote skin though.
Maybe stick to the .17 HMR for close in stuff, then hit the .220 Swift for the long shots. Gonna need to hire another gun packer for me pretty soon! lol. Also need the shotgun for real close stuff and the crows.
Maybe stick to the .17 HMR for close in stuff, then hit the .220 Swift for the long shots. Gonna need to hire another gun packer for me pretty soon! lol. Also need the shotgun for real close stuff and the crows.
luv2shootatcrap
New member
Where can I get $300 for a bobcat? I've got a few I'd love to sell for that price...and I don't ever sell anything.
gil_wy
New member
I've shot 3 coyotes with my Savage 111 in 204 the last 2 weeks. All three were broadside. One perfectly behind the shoulder, one directly on the shoulder breaking it, and the other was mid body in the spine. We literally had to skin the coyotes to find the entrance holes.....none exited. When I walked up on the coyote shot in the shoulder and could see the leg flopped over, I was expecting a basketball size entrance....These were 32 gr. V-max going about 4,000 fps......BTW- all were "bang-flops" .......shots were 210 yards, 220 yards and 285 yards.
After spending the last 10 years shooting a 22-250, I would give the 204 2 thumbs up on being fur friendly.....much friendlier than the 22-250....
After spending the last 10 years shooting a 22-250, I would give the 204 2 thumbs up on being fur friendly.....much friendlier than the 22-250....
BillyTheKidd
New member
I don't think you're gonna get $300 for a Virginia gato.
Dogdaze-
There are a lot of different bullets out there that can help with fur damage. At the speed of a .204 you will really have to cycle different loads and and grains. I shoot a .223 and I have found that a 40 grain Hornady V-Max does very little damage to coyotes and fox. Ballistic tip bullets are made to fragment on impact leaving small exit holes if any. (Not always the case) however usually effective.
Just to give you an idea, I shot a coyote at 45 yards with my .223, same load as mentioned above. I shot at her at a 45 degree angle above me, and the bullet penetrated the roof of her mouth. I thought the top of her head was going to be ruined, however that bullet traveling 3600fps did not exit. Everything inside was mush, but no exit. That is effective!
Just a little recommendation- good luck.
There are a lot of different bullets out there that can help with fur damage. At the speed of a .204 you will really have to cycle different loads and and grains. I shoot a .223 and I have found that a 40 grain Hornady V-Max does very little damage to coyotes and fox. Ballistic tip bullets are made to fragment on impact leaving small exit holes if any. (Not always the case) however usually effective.
Just to give you an idea, I shot a coyote at 45 yards with my .223, same load as mentioned above. I shot at her at a 45 degree angle above me, and the bullet penetrated the roof of her mouth. I thought the top of her head was going to be ruined, however that bullet traveling 3600fps did not exit. Everything inside was mush, but no exit. That is effective!
Just a little recommendation- good luck.