New 204 Ruger and Hornady Vmax bullets

Me ,I shoot em with any dam thing I have in my hand a.22 pistol,300mag ,.223 .17 and I get a few I have my best luck with a .25/06 on the long ones but Im not fussy,Please dont start slammin me with ethics save it for big game cause I wont change any way.
 
Adding to the comments of Silverfox, I believe that the transfer of energy is also important, in other words, a solid projectile, of the same weight and shape as a hollow-point, at the same velocity, will have very nearly the same energy numbers down-range, but NOT the same terminal effect. The solid will "drill a hole" , while the hollow-point will destruct, the results depending upon the thickness, density, and angle of impact upon the critter.
Mark
 
Silverfox,
I understand and agree with that thought, but, while a coyote might be tenatious to life, it is not a big boned or thick skinned animal.

I believe from what I have read of the Hornady bullet that its terminal performance has proven itself many times over in other calibers. Yes it is new but listen the the experiences of guys with the 20 cal bench rest wildcats rounds and they never seem to be dissappointed at any range.

At closer ranges the bullet totally destroys itself, at longer ranges it still expands rapidly producing a clean quick kill.
 
here is a couple pictures of coyotes shot with a 20 tac using a 32 gr vmax at 4150 fps. this is tyhe male shot at 55 yards, the exit hole is about .40 caliber.
095417.jpg

this is the exit hole on the female shot at 110 yds. the exit hole is about the size of a silver dollar.
159764.jpg

i must report that ihad no such experiance with the 33 gr vmaxes. now foxes are a diffrent story. i posted a picture of a fox here with a soft ball sized exit hole from a 33 gr vmax. i won't post it here due to the firestorm it caused last time but i will post a link for those who are intrested in the terminal effect for fur gathering purposes,other wise don't go there.

warning,very bloody http://www.hunt101.com/img/056408.jpg
 
I'm having some trouble finding reloading data for the .204 & the wssm, any ideas??? I looking at the .204 in a heavy 26" barrel in a Savage - any opinions???
 
I'm not much of a poster, but this is sure an interesting thread, so I thought I'd say a few words. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I'm not as old as joetuc and probably not as old as Silverfox,but I'm close /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif . What I was looking to hear was how the .204 does on fur. I'm not interested in exit holes, there are lots of cal. that do that quite well. I really like the reports of the .204, but is it as fur friendly as the .17Rem.? I doubt if it's been out long enough for any accurate conclusions.

After 30 plus years of fur hunting I'm almost back where I started from. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif The .17Rem. still seems to be the most consistant fur friendly round out there. Maybe even a little boring. A Rem. case, your choice of primer and powder, topped off with a 25gr. Berger non mef bullet gives you about a 95% plus success rate on Coyotes with no exit wound. For pelt hunters, that's hard to argue with. One of the greatest improvements in pelt hunting since I started is the electonic callers. Beats the heck out of toting around a JS record player. Now those were the days. Heck, I used a .22 rimfire back then, but always had to have a 16 or 12ga. for back up.

I said all of that just to say this. If you want a sure thing in a nonexit wound pelt rifle with a fairly established load, then the .17 is the one. But if you like experimenting or just drop kicking Coyotes, then the field is wide open in the cal. choices. I personally hope that the .204 acts like the .17 in that it hammers Coyotes without exit holes. I have my doubts though.

One last note. Blaine Eddy has used the Genco bullets, as have I, and they also do a great job on pelts. Blaine's experience in pelt hunting exceeds mine and I would highly recommending getting his video. Like someone else posted, Blaine's cal. of choice is the .17 and the .14.

Jim/K22
 
The first one I shot was broadside at 100 yds, it did not make it to the other side in the liver area. This was a v-max. The Berger bullet seemed to do better so far.T.20
 
I just set up my new .204 ruger M77. I can wait to take it for a test drive and develope my own opinion after reading all your postings.
 
I know nobody asked me but I think I'll putin my 2 cents worth! I'm new here but I rememeber 30 years ago when I started to hunt coyotes. Then it was the 22-250 with 50gr bullets. They said that it was too small. We used to night hunt in Nevada and I've shot coyotes with a 25.06, 30 Herret pistol, 30.06 and .243 all with 100gr or 125gr bullets. And....they've gotten up and halled ass. No matter what you use it's bullet placement. Skip the 300 or 400yd shots, call'em in close and pick the shot. I use a .243 with a 55gr Nosler and it never fails. I'd use a .204 with a 32gr if I had the money. Besides, I like to see the whites of their eyes. Just a thought. Thanks, Don
 
Holy Hefferdust Shotgun Willy! That sure as hell is depressing. Think I'll try loading down! Looks like my .243 hit em
 
All I know is when ya hit a yote in the chest at 175yrds he is DRT, and when ya get one that slips in and turns to hightail it out of here and ya get a bad shot at 50 yrds, alittle far back, he is DRT too....with a full gainer in the pike position may I add. Now I don't know what it will do out 250 + yrds...but there isn't many of them shots over 200 in my neck of the woods. The .204 in my opinion...but yall all know what opinions are like...but I think it is a yote smak'n sum gun.
Father-In-Law has the 204 barrel on his T/C Encore...and after seeing this 204 in action...I'm gett'n me one for my Encore. Just my thoughts...their my thoughts....I can think what I want...warped or not /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif . But I have seen it LIVE and in person!!!

PS. DRT stand for Dead Right Thar!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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