Use of .204 Ruger caliber rifle for Coyotes

Quote:I want to have a rifle that I am sure will do the job on coyotes but I don't want to have to purchase another caliber rifle just for this purpose when I already have a perfectly good Remington brand .204 Ruger....In reality, a lot of Coyotes and smaller game have been killed over the years with everything from .22lr on up...The key is shot placement and a shooter that really knows his weapon...

Your .204 will do the job about as well as any other in the .224 calibers and under..
 
This coyote was the one that got me off the 204 I like the round and did kill some coyotes with it but it is not a 22-250 we found the coyote about 500 yards. this shot hit about 1" to the right of his nose, a 22-250 would have ripped his head off. A 243 as well. I'm sure bullets make a big dif with this little round. I may not be as good a shot as some of the guys on here and can't be sure I won't be 1" off so I'll stick with my 22-250 and 243

 
Originally Posted By: EDPThis coyote was the one that got me off the 204 I like the round and did kill some coyotes with it but it is not a 22-250 we found the coyote about 500 yards. this shot hit about 1" to the right of his nose, a 22-250 would have ripped his head off. A 243 as well. I'm sure bullets make a big dif with this little round. I may not be as good a shot as some of the guys on here and can't be sure I won't be 1" off so I'll stick with my 22-250 and 243


1" off!?! Odd,...even after watching the video,....I'm still pretty darn comfortable with the lil .204
 
Anyway,...moving right along wpshooter,..you can see with the majority of responses the .204 is more than capable of providing a much needed dirt nap for these fury rascals! Don't let poor shot placement send you down the wrong path. Shoot the heck outta that Remington,..learn what it can and can't do and knock the daylights out of em!!
 
I hate seeing this thread! It makes me want to skip time forward to when my 204 upper ships! Everything i read seems like the 204 will take them down no prob, a bad shot you may have to follow a blood trail a blind man can follow from what i hear (splashing) but good shots are DRT.
 
Actually, one of the only downsides to the .204 is there's rarely a blood trail. But, there is rarely a need for one at calling ranges. They are generally DRT. The splash may be the exception. Use the Bergers and you won't need to worry about that either.

I will agree with EDP that the .204 is not a 500 yard caliber but that wasn't the OP's question.
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Been hunting with mine for about 4 years usually a pile of fur laying there no blood trail needed my farthest shot with it was 425 yards no blood trail there either behind the shoulder or a faciing shot in the chest dog is done
 
My furthest coyote with my .204 was a lasered 512yds and he only made it 15yds before going down. If your .204 is not a 500 yd gun, then your not a 500yd shooter. Put it in the vitals and they will go down. Shot placement is key with this caliber (or any caliber) at that range.
 
Originally Posted By: dan brothersThe 204's are Sweeter than Linda Johnson in the sixth grade...

now I call her..... Sleazy...

I mean... CZy




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Take care, Willie
 
Originally Posted By: KTM300Shot placement is key with this caliber (or any caliber) at that range.

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They all run out of steam eventually....
 
Interesting, I always thought the 32gr blitzkings were too explosive for coyotes. I know some like the 39's, they shoot very nice groups from my rifles too.
 
I know this isn't an optics conversation, but I'm a new 204 owner trying to decide on an optic. I'm curious what setup guys are running that are shooting yotes past 300 yards. Mostly interested in the magnification range you are running. Thanks!
 
Originally Posted By: MatlockI know this isn't an optics conversation, but I'm a new 204 owner trying to decide on an optic. I'm curious what setup guys are running that are shooting yotes past 300 yards. Mostly interested in the magnification range you are running. Thanks!

For the longer range stuff I like my Swarovski Z5 3.5x18's. I'm also a big fan of the Zeiss Conquest HD5 in 3x15.

Now, back to the OP's topic: I've killed TONS of Coyotes with the .204, mostly using 35 grain Bergers and 39 gr. Blitzkings. I get my share of spinners and runners and have had a couple bad "splashes" the last few years, mostly all over 200 yards. This year I've shot a few with the 22-250 and have had nothing but "bang/flops". I like "seeing" the shot with the .204, but you can't argue the results of the 22-250. As much as I love the .204, in my opinion, it is not an optimal coyote gun, but certainly works. It will kill them all day like anything else in close, but start stretching the distance, and I've had some minor issues that just don't seem to happen with the 22-250.

If you have your heart set on a .204, go for it. The .204 is a fun little cartridge. If you want to put the HAMMER down on some coyotes at any range, go 22-250. If you want something in between, the .223 can also get it done and I prefer it to the .204 over 300 yards. All three of these are great guns for calling coyotes in close, but as the distance gets greater, two of these do much better than the other.
 
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