Not sold on the 204?

Guys, this really sound like more of a bullet problem than a cartridge problem.

The current trend in manufacturers is to make bullets highly explosive, and when combined with the speed in this cartrige, the bullet is just not holding together.

Sounds like a old fashion spitzer is needed in this cartriges in the longest bullet that the common twist will allow.
 
I never bought a 204, or into the hype. I guess I never thought it was a needed caliber in my safe. Speed isnt everything, I'll take the bullet weight in the 223 even though its slower. If I want fast I'll grab my 6mm with the 55gr. ballistic tips. I may not be able to see the hits but the evidence will be laying right where I shot them.
 
[beeep], I must of got one of the good ones I guess.lol I've shot around 100 coyotes with mine so far and it puts them down very well with the 35 grain bergers with VERY little damage to the fur. Knock on Wood..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Good Hunting Chad
 
Bullet construction is definitely an issue with the DRT killing ability of the 20 caliber rifles and factory bullets.

Most of the 32 and 39-40 grain factory offerings are varmint bullets designed to expand quickly and aren't the best choices for coyotes. With a good strong bullet, the 20 caliber rifles will kill with the best of the .224" varmint rounds.

JMO - BCB
 
Although I have yet to shoot anything with my Savage 204 Ruger, I am excited about Barnes coming out with 26 Grain Varmint Grenade. I think this bullet should mirror the performance of the 17 Remington.
 
I'm with BCB.It's all about bullet constuction.You shoot a good bullet like the 35 bergers they will do the job.At least they have worked great for me.

What I find funny,is that alot of the same guys that are complaining about runners,and not putting coyotes down with the 35 grain bergers are the same ones that are praising the .17 remington with there LIGHTER grain bullets as being very effective.(a 35 grain berger running at 3900 fps is struggling to keep coyotes down,but a 25 grain bullet running at 4000 fps is the ticket to putting them down.)COME ON NOW.....LOL

And yes,I do have both..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Good Hunting Chad
 
Quote:
Although I have yet to shoot anything with my Savage 204 Ruger, I am excited about Barnes coming out with 26 Grain Varmint Grenade. I think this bullet should mirror the performance of the 17 Remington.



That bullet is specifically designed for rapid expansion on SMALL critters like PD's and such...

Most likely, especially if a 26 grain VG hits bone, the coyote will verbally complain quite loudly, spin a few times, and then run away at full warp speed because the bullet splashed on the outside when it hit, and it did not penetrate inside where it can kill...

A 17 caliber bullet designed for larger game kills very well.

JMO - BCB
 
I was thinking the same as Utahcaller. I just purchased a .17 fireball but have not got it set up as yet. I wanted a small cal because I have wanted to start putting up the fur. I was in limbo between the .17 and the .204......Hope I wont be disappointed.
 
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What I find funny,is that alot of the same guys that are complaining about runners,and not putting coyotes down with the 35 grain bergers are the same ones that are praising the .17 remington with there LIGHTER grain bullets as being very effective.(a 35 grain berger running at 3900 fps is struggling to keep coyotes down,but a 25 grain bullet running at 4000 fps is the ticket to putting them down.)COME ON NOW.....LOL

And yes,I do have both..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Good Hunting Chad


If it works for ya great by all means use it maybe you found a load that works...I have not!!!! I dont slam you or criticize you for the gun you like.. DONT ME!!!!! It does have all to do with bullet construction.. Till they find a bullet that will hold together with the 204 ill stick with the 17.. and the 22-250.. laugh all you want. Id say a few thousand coyotes would disagree with ya.. and yes I have them both and several others /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Kerry
 
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[beeep], I must of got one of the good ones I guess.lol I've shot around 100 coyotes with mine so far and it puts them down very well with the 35 grain bergers with VERY little damage to the fur. Knock on Wood..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Good Hunting Chad



Are you using the old Berger match non-mef bullet or the Berger varmint mef bullet?

That's pretty impressive results with a .270 let alone a little 35 grain pill.

What speed are you loading to? Seems like you have hit another deadly combo like the 17 Remington running the 25 grain non-mef at about 3850 fps /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Mine friend bought a .204 a bolt dropped a coyote in his tracks. So I went out and bought oe (predator hunter). Made some loads up and a few weeks later we went out. Now before I bought the gun I was never really sold on the .204 for yotes. I mainly shoot .243 and .223. Well we go to the first stand and a coyote comes within 80 yrds and my buddy hits him. We tracked him for awhile good blood trail no yote. We then proceed to hunt all day and at the last stand 10hrs later we call in 2. One stops maybe a 100 yrds out and my buddy drops him in his tracks. The yote dropped like a sack of potatoes. When then proceed to try and call the other that was still out there about 300 yrds. He would not respond so we got up and went to retrieve the other yote and he was gone. No blood trail and no yote. We looked for ever and there was not to may places to hide within 300 yrds. My .204 will not go out with me again even though I didn't shoot anything yet with it. By the way I had to send back to savage. It will not load right with the hollow points. They jam on the barrel. It didn't matter how long or short I made them. I tried everything from the clip to a little polishing. Blitz kings worked fine though. By the way my buddy was using 39 gr blitz kings.
 
This seems to be a hot issue. I have spent countless hours with the .204 and to be honest, love the way it shoots. This gun is a tack driver. I have been very disappointed with the way the gun has failed to put down coyotes. I still have high hopes in finding that bullet in .204 cartridge that proves itself as being a true predator bullet. I wouldn't say that it's the calibers fault , but the bullet manufacturer fault as they have failed to produce a true bullet for the .204. I have tried nearly all the bullets and most recent the 35 grain berger. I must say that the berger is a very accurate bullet, but seems to pierce through the coyote doing no damage. Most of the time it I can't even find where I hit the coyote. For now I think that I will stick to the 22-250 shooting a nosler 52 gr. hollow point. That bullet seems to never fail me as I have never had a coyote get away to date.
If any of you have a load for the .204 please pm me , as I would love to try it. I still have high hopes for the .204, but it is fading fast.
 
I have killed 51 yotes with my 204. About 35 were killed with 39 grain blitz kings and the rest killed with 32 grainers. Various yards, mostly at the 250 to 450 yard range. Performed flawlessly, no runoffs. I feel that it is more shooters behind the 204 screwwing up than the cartrige itself. I have had more run offs with my 270 than any other caliber, but thats because I don't shoot the rifle that much or that well for that matter.



Lucas
 
Got out tonight for the first time with my new toy...Savage Predator in .204 Ruger...I plan on shooting the 40 gr. Bergers but haven't had a chance to load any yet...I sighted in the 32 gr. VMax (factory loads) and off I went...My first shot out of the gun was at a yote at 278 yards trotting...Hit him high shoulder and put him straight down. DRT I was impressed. The end.
 
dimecovers3:Are you using the old Berger match non-mef bullet or the Berger varmint mef bullet?

That's pretty impressive results with a .270 let alone a little 35 grain pill.

What speed are you loading to? Seems like you have hit another deadly combo like the 17 Remington running the 25 grain non-mef at about 3850 fps





The 35 grain bergers are MATCH bullets,just like the 25 grain berger match bullets.They are non-MEF.The Old bergers were 36 grain MEF and I do have a box of them too(Not a coyote bullet).

Impressive results?I guess I don't understand..It is a good caliber,good bullet,and I've shot a few coyotes with it.Why is that supposed to be as impressive as a .270.lol

I'm running the 35 grain(non-mef)bullets at around 3850 fps.


carvercalls,

I'm not critizing you for your choice of caliber.I own and love my .204 ruger,I also love my .17 remington,and my .22-250,not to mention a few others.Used them all and killed lots of coyotes with all of them.What I thought was funny was that some are dogging on the .204 35 grain berger match as not effective at killing coyotes.When the bullet is dang near the same construction as most if not all of the .17 caliber 25/30 grain match hollowpoints at very close to the same speeds,but the .17 is the cats meow.Go Figure....As far as the numbers of coyotes killed goes,i've shot a few coyotes in the last 20+ years myself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gifAnd the .204 in the last couple seasons is off to a good start. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Good Hunting Chad
 
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wow !! it's sure interesting hearing everyone's viewpoint's..i was really under the impression the 204 was the cat's meo..with a 35 grain berger..good thread.



I hear ya on that one
I thought so to
 
Smith just curious as to why U would say it is the shooters fault? I by no means make the perfect shot every time but if that is what it takes for the .204 to do the job then I guess I will stick with the bigger calibers. This is how I see it. I am a accomplished target archer and bow hunter. Could I kill a deer with a field point probably but why. I want to use the most logical equipment for the job. which is a broad head of some sort. I'm not knocking the .204 and I'm sure there are people loving the results and that is what it is all about. I know around here coyote hunting has become somewhat tough and there is no way I'm going calling all day to have a coyote run off. Does it happen yes but i will be using a round that will assure me that the mistake was due to my shot placement and I don't feel the .204 will guarantee that.
 
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