Not sold on the 204?

VaPredHunter

How well do you think that photo would be received on the Coyotegods site? LOL

With that said, put me in the fur friendly camp. I'd rather not blow them apart if at all possible.

Landrum
 
I agree with those who stress that you use a bullet that holds together. The plastic tipped bullets are NOT the best choice for coyotes. They will work a lot of the time but the chances of hitting a rib or the shoulder and getting surface splashing with little or no penetration is much greater. They were designed for small varmints. Just ask the manufacturers. Both Hornady and Sierra have stated that the plastic tipped bullets were never intended for larger game like coyotes. Although we haven't shot hundreds, my hunting buddys and I have shot several with our .204's using the Berger 35's. So far we haven't lost a single one and I personally have never had one the Berger's exit. This can be good and bad. Good when you get a DRT but bad if you do get a runner. That tiny .20 calibre hole doesn't leak a lot of blood and trailing is going to be a problem. Several dogs that I've shot I couldn't even find the entrance hole. But, like I said before, I have yet to get a runner, (knock on wood). I know it will happen eventually, but so far, all have been DRT. I hunt with several calibers including .223, 22-250 and .243. The biggest problem I've seen with the .204 is wind. The Berger 35 HP has a lousy BC and wind will blow it around. When it's windy I leave the .204 in the truck and the .243 with a higher BC bullet becomes my gun of choice. Just my $.02 worth.
 

Call-M-All
Here in VA it’s against the law to shoot deer with .204 the smallest caliber we can use is a .243.


that mite be true in your state but her in SD we go by foot lbs there are some calibers that has the foot lbs but not Leger and the 204 is not on the lest.(yet)
but they where Dow's and he shoot them in the head
 
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I want to start off saying I love my .204. I would not give it up it’s great gun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif. But I shot a coyote with it last March he was moving when I shot and quartering a little towards me not the best shot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gifbut the only one I thought I was going to get. The best I could tell the 45 grain Hornady bullet hit just behind his front leg exited behind rib on the other side. His intestines were strung in brush lots of blood lost must have split him like a watermelon. I never found him blood ended after a few hundred yards /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif. I have decided the .204 will now become my fox, bobcat and groundhog gun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gifand my new .243 is now my coyote gun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif. I only had a few weekends to hunt last winter after deer season ended /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif. I made about 20 stands and first good shot on a coyote was blown because my shot placement was two inches off or the coyotes angle being a little off just crushed me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif. So I picked up a CZ 550 .243 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif this past summer to help insure that this don’t happen again. I know it’s not a guarantee but can’t hurt. Sled Dog tried to tell me last year but I didn’t listen he said he didn’t like his .204 for coyote hunting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif so I’m taking his advise this year I’m even using the Sierra .85 grain BTHP Gamekings he was toldith to use /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif. The next one I shoot is just going to expload /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gifwhen the bullet hits or I'm going to PM Sled dog /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. After we down a few I might consider trying other guns. Coyotes are just to few and far between in our neck of the woods. On the other hand the .204 is almost to much gun of grey fox blows them up pretty good /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif. Good Luck Chris,



And the award for most Graemlins in a post goes to... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
dimecovers3,

Those N.C coyotes must be tough buggers huh...lol

I've been shooting the .204 ruger for around 3 years now.And like I have said many times,I am very impressed with the .204 Ruger/35 grain berger combination.I am using 28 grains of H4895 powder it is chronoed at between 3850-3900 fps and it has proven very lethal on coyotes,with very little pelt damage,for me atleast.It's not magic,but I have had VERY good luck with this bullet from 0-300 yards.And make no mistake if either the gun or the bullet was not doing what I expected, it or they would be gone tommorrow.

And as far as not being able to match my shot/kill ratio,how do you know you couldn't match it,I have never told what my shot/kill ratio was.lol

As far as the MEF/NON-MEF thing goes none of the 20 caliber bullets are listed as MEF.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=614060&t=11082005 (NONMEF).17 caliber

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=192981&t=11082005 (MEF) .17 caliber

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=796980&t=11082005 (NONMEF) .20 caliber

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=584073&t=11082005 (NONMEF) .20 caliber

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=339016&t=11082005 (NONMEF) .20 caliber

Good Luck on those tough N.C coyotes. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Good Hunting Chad
 
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VaPredHunter

How well do you think that photo would be received on the Coyotegods site? LOL

With that said, put me in the fur friendly camp. I'd rather not blow them apart if at all possible.

Landrum



About coyote gods.. I think they might actually WORSHIP the coyote.. I was kicked off because someone posted a 17hmr thread.. and all i said was if I had the rifle in my hands I wouldnt heitate to take a shot at the yote. With proper shot placement it could do it. Then that was that. I was told I didnt have repect for the animal. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Whatever
 
I have not spent much time at coyotes gods I did sign up a few months ago made one or two posts. It seems like they only have a couple of members sometimes two weeks between new threads. I guess I can't go back again now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Appriciate the input guys thanks. I still will see if this fits my needs. I just wish it was a drop kick when lead and flesh meet.
 
Need silverfox to chime in here. If you dont like a 204 then dont use it. Ive used one for about 3 years now for all my fun time and would not trade it for the world. If I use my hat rack for something other than that and know my limits it does just as good as any.
 
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About coyote gods.. I think they might actually WORSHIP the coyote.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Whatever



Those guys over there are some whack-a-doos!! I never even heard of the site until i read it here, so i had to go check it out. What a bunch of A-Holes!! The one thread where they flat-out say that a 22-250 IS NOT a coyote caliber. Not an opinion, a FACT, and if you disagree, you are not welcome in their "house". Jerks.

I wish I knew as much about coyotes as they do!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif

Whatever... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I think I like this site and the members here.
 
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I have a CZ in a 204, and so far, coyotes, and a few small hogs in Texas, don't know it won't knock them down ...coyotes using over the counter Winchester 34 grain, and the hogs with loads from Montana, The Hunting Shack , in a 32 grain V max. maybe I got lucky, but trying to compare that 17 my friend has , with the knock down power I experienced with the 204, well, to me , it was not a comparison.. There's no way I would have shot a hog at 150 yards with that 17.....seems it would be like a tick on it's shoulder...the 204 , went in , and out.....ran a bit, and the little pig dropped. Maybe I went between ribs , and got lucky...I like the caliber, and it is incredibly accurate....just my opinion .
 
The .204 is a fine coyote round with the right bullet, and there are several of those. If you do your part the .204 will do it's part,that simple. There may still be that occasional unstoppable coyote that a .308 wouldn't stop.(Some of them rascals are tough.) But I haven't had one yet.
I've killed several 30+ pound coyotes including a 40lb female and a 45lb male all with one shot. The 40lb female did a short lap,the 45lb male spun twice, but the rest were "bang flops".

So I don't have to edit my slide show; My first and my son's first were with shotgun shooting Hevi Shot "Dead Coyote" but the rest (and a couple others) were taken with my .204. Click on the pic'.


Dan,
Thanks for your previous post. Silverfox had some good info in it.
GAJoe
 
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I dont see what all the fuss is about.. Any Coyote within 100 yds has dropped.. using 40 Grn V-Max.. I want to start reloading to see if a different bullet will change things. But Like they talk about on " that other website" quoating Weatherby... speed kills... My idea is.. a well placed shot does the job. Its easier to blame a caliber than the results of a misaligned shot ?
 
I too have had the same experience with my 204. I have shot 4 dogs with it and lost two of them. All the coyotes were shot under 100 yards(It's the game for me) Of the 4 2 were hard runners last seen about a mile away the third ran 200 to 300 yards before tumbling and the fourth was shot what I thought was DRT so I kept calling. 45 minutes I went out to recover him and he growled at me. It took a second shot. All of them were (should have been) mortal hits with the 32 gr VMax.I bought some 40 gr Berger HPBT after a friend recommended I try them. He also said to slow them down for efficency.I have yet to try them.
I went back to shooting my 22-250 and haven't touched the 204 since. I just don't think it has what it takes for our big western coyotes with an "okay" hit. Yeah you head shoot them they will be DRT. But they also will be at that range with a 17 hmr. In four years of shooting them with the ol' two fity I haven't lost one yet and to put it lightly it knocks their **** stiff.
For PD's I believe this will be the perfect medicine. So I will keep it around for that but a coyote gun... it's not.(IMO) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
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Well, I'm pushing 30 coyotes this winter with my .204 now, these BIG western coyotes that is, and I've only lost one. So, go figure!
For what it's worth, a friend that I hunted with last weekend shot a coyote with his 22-250 and it dropped hard, other coyotes on the stand took our attention away from the first one he shot, and what do you know, when we went to pick up the dead one, it was gone and we never found it, only a baseball size pool of blood. SO, it can happen with any caliber.
8 coyotes with 35 bergers and the rest with the 40 gr. bergers. I AM sold on the .204. Must be my shooting skills!
 
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Appriciate the input guys thanks. I still will see if this fits my needs. I just wish it was a drop kick when lead and flesh meet.



bboyd you can always bring that nasty .204 here to CO. I'll show you how to put it to use but you'll have to bring alot of ammo.
 
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