The Spirit of the .204

Ok EDP you just mentioned the "250" in your post, I was saying that the .204 does everything better than the .223... NOT the 22-250. I agree that the 22-250 has somewhat of a range advantage.. no doubt. But in comparison to the .223 specifically, I cannot find one thing that the .204 will not do better. Now for the 22-250, it still does not shoot as flat as the .204 regardless of bullet choice, and still yet has more recoil/muzzle jump and noise. Here is what I am saying about the .204..... a factory .204 with factory ammo is a mediocre rifle at best when it comes to killing predators, some of them are going to run off. But if you load it right, get it humming around 4100-4200 fps and grouping tight, I would bet that you will be very surprised at the results on a coyote from 50-350 yds.
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: kyotekiller25

Why not just buy a 250 or Swift, shoot 40g bullets at 4100-4400fps and have the same trajectory with more power?

That's not exactly true. Run a ballistics program comparing that 40grainer (or any bullet weight for that matter) and you'll see that the 204 out preforms it. I'm not ripping on the .224 calibers, or saying that the 204's some mystical killing machine (because it isn't). Just pointing out that it has an awful lot going for it ballistically at distance.

To the OP, I think you're not giving near enough credit to the 223. It really is an all around Work Horse, and can be just as accurate as any with the right stuff. As a matter of fact, I sold a 223 to Old Turtle that I'd put up against your 204 out to 300. Only difference would be that the 223 would need a few more elevation clicks.
I do hope you're right about the 204's "Spirit" though because I just bought my first 204 last week. Yea I know, I'm late to the party as usual but I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I found one of the older CZ Varmints with the 25.5" barrels NIB for 525.00. Haven't shot it yet, but I'm hoping to whack a few Rock Chucks with her next spring.

As far as the "Fur Friendly" thing goes,,, I personally like the 17Rem, but that's just me. I've also seen pix of Fox with huge holes from a raking shot with a 22Mag, and heard stories of guys using FMJ's in a 7Mag for Coyotes, but the truth is, the only sure fire way to save fur are traps and/or snares like Turtle said.
Oh BTW,,,, I don't Skin Rock Chucks, so I'll be using the 39BK due to their high BC.
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Edit; borkon, you might try the 35gr Bergers. A lot of the "Fur Friendly" crowd seem to like it.







+1.............especially about the 17Rem.
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Velly intellesting. I have a 204 I bought a few months back.. I am still working loads up and speermintin, but I haven't reached any advertised velocity through my chrono, either with handloads or factory ammo.. Right now I have 26 grainers to test and see if they will break the speed of sound/light or smell.

Looking at the ballistics charts the 39-40 grain bullets are right there together at 4-500 yds compared the 32's.. And according to the charts the 204 seems to hang with the 22 cals at longer ranges.... I bought mine to ruin a few p-dawgs days, as well as other small vermin.. Yotes?? I have as AR in 223 for them..


FWIW I did see a video somewhere of a guy in Canada making a confirmed kill with a 204 at 500+ yds, with a 204..
 
Isnt there a berger 35 gr HP? What about the dogtown /midsouth 34 gr hp?

I shoot a 700 24" sps sporter weight. I get 5 shot cloverleafs with the hornady 45 gr softpoint at 3500 fps.

I went that route as I was looking for a 223 when I got too good of a deal to pass up on this one. However I have been less than impressed with this bullets performance on dogs I need something more explosive.

Most of teh dogs I have shot have been inside 100 yards and I am not getting the flop I want.

I am debating on which berger to try first the 35 or 40. If I am shooting dogs past 250+ I am taking my 25.06or 257 bee
 
Originally Posted By: nitisIsnt there a berger 35 gr HP? What about the dogtown /midsouth 34 gr hp?



The Midsouth .204 34 grain HP shoots half inch 5 shot clusters in my .204 Savage. Better than any other bullet that I have tried. Considering their price this is fine and dandy with me. When I order them I always get at least 1000 of them at a time just so I will have plenty of them on hand.
 
I picked up some 33gr. Calhoon "double" hollow points loaded by HMS (Bright Orange box) at Cabelas as I'm not yet set up for reloading the 204 Ruger cartridge. While I have not yet had the chance to try 'em on coyotes they do shoot some fine tight groups out of my CZ 527. Think 1 U.S. Dime size groups.
These projectiles are available from Calhoon. Do a Search for the .19 Calhoon or the .19 Badger and you will find his web site....
cheers,

D.
 
Originally Posted By: borkoni would love to own a .204 cal but probably won't untill someone comes up with a mid 30's bullet that is tough enough every time for coyotes. i;ve called sierra about making a gameking but so far have fallen on deff ears. i hope everyone wanting the same thing would call them and voice your concerns. it can be done
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Originally Posted By: medic889I like the 204. If some one would come up with a 35 or 39 grn bullet that was not a polymer tip that explodes on impact we would have a winner. The major problem I have found on getting into the bigger animals-mainly coyote-is lack of penetration. A good jacketed core or SP bullet would solve that.

Berger 35 gr. I have not lost a coyote yet when used within its potential. Long range use a bigger gun or let the coyote come closer.
 
Kyotekiller25: You said "Why not just buy a 250 or Swift, shoot 40g bullets at 4100-4400fps and have the same trajectory with more power?".... There is no way on this earth that you are going to get 4100-4400 out of a 22-250. Well, let me rephrase that... you may somehow reach that velocity if you put the time and research in, and used a small enough bullet, but I would bet my paycheck that it would not punch a tight group. So if you are going to use a light bullet and try to get hyper velocities, you are much better off starting with the .204 in the first place. You will loose all of your accuracy pushing a 22-250 that hard. Now the 220 swift, I cannot say because I don't know much about them. As far as your 4400 number, I would challenge you to get anything to fly that fast that would group. I am pushing 4150-4200 with a 32gr bullet, (through a chrono) and it took going through every powder combination possible to finally get there. I am certainly no expert, but to hit a true 4150 was not easy (while keeping a tight group). By the way I think it is comical that Hornady advertises 4,225fps with their 32gr V-max... HAHAHAHAHA..... try 3900. They are advertising 325fps higher than true velocity! that is HUGE! Anyhow... I am sorry guys if I am rambling... haha. I just love talkin about this stuff.
 
Reb8600... that's what I am talking about! I have had the same experience as you (except with the 32gr sierra). When shooting within it's intended range, I have not had one run off yet. They all take an instant dirt nap. It seems like most guys beef with the .204 is that it may not do well out at 4-500 yds. But it's not intended for that. If you like the long range stuff, I think a .243 fits the bill nice. But I wanted this topic to be about the .204, and also how it compares to the .223. Now that I have my .204, I will most likely never own a .223 again. I see no reason. I do most of my coyote shooting at circa 200 yds. The .204 fits the bill perfectly. And for those who own a .204, you know how fun that cartridge is!! It's like a grenade when it hits!!
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Originally Posted By: braddsnOk EDP you just mentioned the "250" in your post, I was saying that the .204 does everything better than the .223... NOT the 22-250. I agree that the 22-250 has somewhat of a range advantage.. no doubt. But in comparison to the .223 specifically, I cannot find one thing that the .204 will not do better. Now for the 22-250, it still does not shoot as flat as the .204 regardless of bullet choice, and still yet has more recoil/muzzle jump and noise. Here is what I am saying about the .204..... a factory .204 with factory ammo is a mediocre rifle at best when it comes to killing predators, some of them are going to run off. But if you load it right, get it humming around 4100-4200 fps and grouping tight, I would bet that you will be very surprised at the results on a coyote from 50-350 yds.

I'm not arguing, just want to know were you are getting your data that the 204 shoots flatter than a 22-250?
I don't see how a 32 gr bullet mv at 4100 can be flatter?
 
I had a 223 and I gave it to my grandson after buying a 204. Many people have hit well over 300 yds with no holdover with a 204, I never did that with a 223. I have hit coyotes with a 223 and they ran off but I have not had one run off with my 204 yet.
 
Many cartridges have their niche, I have felt that the 204 would be the bomb for PD's.

As far as shooting longer with a 204, I thought the 40 did better & had thought of getting an upper with a 1-10 for that.
If both are loaded to the max & with the right twist when using a 40, don't they pass the lghter bullets by at 400 or so?
For the above question I am talking about smaller Varmits, I am not sure I would want to go beyond 300 or so for Coyotes with any wt, but feel about the same with 223. But wouldn't using ths 40gr in 204 allow you to shoot Coyotes a little further?
 
I was thinking about a 204 and talked with a buddy who has one about it.He is a truthfull fellow and he said that he did not think I would like it to well because the wind was so hard on that light bullet.Do you fellows that shoot 204s have any problems with wind?
 
EDP I know you are not arguing
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. No arguing here, just fun discussion! As far as what I was saying about flat shooting, no there is no 22-250 that will shoot as flat as a .204. There are other cartridges that come much closer to the flatness of the .204 than the 22-250, but still none match the .204's flatness. Unless there are some ballistics charts out there that I have overlooked. I believe the 220 swift comes closer than the 22-250 when loaded right, but it still will not rival the .204. Now some folks don't think flatness is that important, to each their own. Personally I love it because I can hold dead on from 50yds out to 300. Takes some of the guesswork out of it. This cannot be done with the .223.
 
rnream.... you are getting the same results as I am. This is the reason I fell in love with the .204. And by the way, it's nice to get this performance with virtually ZERO recoil and muzzle flip. It makes it a pleasure to do some real precision shooting!
 
tnshootist, the wind is no more a factor with the .204 than any other small round in my opinion. Wind has never been a negative factor for me when shooting the .204. I don't compensate for wind any more with it than I would a .223 or 22-250. But compensating for wind becomes a whole other subject that would start a whole new thread. It's instinctive to me to correct for wind, but that's a whole science in itself. bottom line,, it's no different than any other round. The wind really plays [beeep] on my .17HMR but I absolutely LOVE that rifle.
 
I liked the idea of the .204 but first off it does not meet one of the minimums for predator hunting here by the game dept.
I have a few friends who have them but don't use them as much now because of runners here in the open country.
The .223 is popular and always will be, but the .22-250 by far the most common herefor coyotes.
The .22-250 can be loaded fairly hot with small bullets. I still prefer the 50 gr ballistic tip which now hornady offers as superformance at 4000 fps factory load.

Here are some charts with .22-250 & AI loads that far exceed your .204, and they have very respectable groups too.

http://www.accuratereloading.com/22-250rem.html
http://www.accuratereloading.com/22250ai.html
 
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