which should i get ? .204 or 22-250?

chubbs

chubbs

New member
Recently, I've had my eye on the 22-250 caliber. But then, the .204 appears. seems to be a decent little bullet. If any one could, please give me suggestions. Which caliber would you prefer? I know the 22-250 can put a coyote down when he's still way out there, but what about the 204? what would its approximate maximum effective range (AMER) be on a coyote? any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

Todd
 
Sorry Chubs, I may be alone on this, but I am no fan of the 204 (or 17's) & their scrawny bullets for coyotes. Sure it will kill them no doubt, but so will a 22. (ok, an exageration, but you get my drift).

The 204 is too new for me to jump in (yet).

Bottom line: The 204 "might" be controversial for yotes (especially at longer range), where as the 22-250 is not. It hammers yotes like Thor. BIG difference!

If your looking for something "in between" those 2 calibers, a 223 may be a thought?!. Despite what some will say, it slays yotes like lightning. Bad hits and improper bullets are the reasons if it doesn't.

Good Luck in your decission & Happy Hunting
 
Chubbs
Don't belive it for a second, The 204 will do any thing you want it to as far as varmints. I don't know where some people get the idea that it will not do as well as any thing out there. Dead is Dead period.some people jump in with what they think is the only gun in the world,PLUMB SILLY.
hAVE A GOOD DAY Chubbs...Joe AKA oso45-70
 
Are you adding to the arsenal or is this a one and only predator gun? What do you hunt and ranges?
For a all round predator rifle I think the 22-250 a better choice. of those two. I think 223 might be the best one gun predator rig.
Carl
 
I agree with the last post.... it depends a lot on what you want to do with it (what animals) and what kind of terrain you will hunt. I love my .22-250 for turning a prarie dog inside out a good distance. What do you want to shoot and it what kind of terrain?

I've not shot the .204 or spoke with anyone who has, but the info I've read about it makes it sound like a promising little round. Encore is going to make a .204 available soon!
 
I would go for the 204. I am looking into a new rifle now and the 204 is at the top of the list.
 
chubbs,
I own a Savage .22-250 and it will drop 'em in their tracks. Also, there's no questions about this caliber for knock down, long range accuracy and popularity for rifle brand and ammo brand choices. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

The .223 is another choice. I'm about to purchase an AR-15 in .223 caliber and I would have every confidence in this caliber choice for effectivly taking coyotes.

Good luck with your choices!
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
more that likely, it will be my main calling gun. coyote, and if i see a groundhog, I'll be bustin his hide with it too. Id like to step down from a 270. Ranges are from in your face to, in some rare instances 350-400 yds. and thats a little of a stretch. common shots would probably be 150-200 mabey. does anyone know the AMER on a coyote for the 204?
 
I have used my Tactical .20 for three years now. I am pleased with it, it is the most accurate rifle I have had yet. It is the flattest shooting one also. If you use the .20 on yotes stay away from the Hornady V-max. Try the Berger 35 gr, it is not as explosive. I had one come out on a crony at 4420 something, I was shooting at 4350 -4370fps. This was with the v-max 33gr. I went to the Berger 36gr and it shot at 4115 with the same powder that I shot 4225fps with the v-max. At 42-4300 ft ps I found it dropped 2.5" at 300yds. This was sighted at 1.5" high at 100yds and it hit dead on or 1" low at 300yds. I shot a pair of yotes at 300 and 270 this winter, they did not get back up. Another one was running straight away at 300 and it was hit low between the legs, there was a medium sized hole, and he did not get away, it was a smart 6 or so year old male. The rifle has a couple groups at 100 yds with all three in the same hole, and several more shot at 300 with a 1" group, and several more than that with a 1.5" group at 300yds. It is a Browning Medallian, with a 25" Douglas ss barrel.T.20
 
Chubbs, I shot a prairie dog with a v-max at about a 100yds. It was laying down and I aimed at the ground at the edge of the chest. The bullet hit about an inch off of the ground. There was a 2-4" channel cut out of the vermin's body all the way to the top. It was quite a site, looked like a bomb took the material out. I shot a couple yotes as they jumped up and ran straight away, close range les than 70 yds or 15 yds. I hit them in the butt as it was the only thing visable. The v-max blew an orange size crater, stopping the yote there. I hit one on the shoulder with the v-max and that it why I decided I had better look for a better bullet. I am having trouble getting the new 35 gr Berger. The 36 gr was supposed to be explosive, but it was much better than the v-max. It worked good on the two red fox I shot with it. I will report how thw 35 gr Berger does when I get them in. What is AMER on a coyote?T.20
 
OK OK.....I hear ya man! The .204 & 17 cal can shoot flies off of barn doors at a 100 yards, that is great. How about killing a coyote at 325 yards? Yes, those little bitty pill calibers are awsome on Pdogs, rats, mice and groundhogs under 150 yards but don't go betting the farm on shooting way out younder for varmints or predators. Now when the wind is up a mite, you just may as well not head out the house, with those little 34 grain bullets.

You want to own the best all around varmint/predator rig in the county? Then go purchase yourself a 22-250 and you will thank those that said so. Another thing guys! I only been doing this now for close to a half century.
:rolleyes: You need to buy brass, loaded ammo, no problem with getting it for a 22-250.....try that Ruger .204 at the stores? I doubt if that caliber will be around in the next 4 or 5 years. :eek:
 
Ok,Tonk,there ya go again putting logic into all this. Man, what have we told you about that?

Those anemic pills will also cause nasty splash wounds(at close range)... and a splash wound is a splash wound, just as watching a (splashed)wounded coyote runing off is a wounded coyote running off... Sorta like "dead is dead"!

S-O-R-T-A !!
 
If you don't have a 22-250 I would choose to get one of them first.And then save up for a 204 and when Savage starts putting them out with a laminated stock grab one of those.No predator hunter should be without a 22-250. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Tonk and assasin, if you read the posts above you have your answer. The v-max does splash somewhat. I recomend the Berger because of that. It is a 35 gr bullet not a 34gr. If you haven't shot more than a couple yotes with it you don't have enough experience to make statements like that.T.20
 
Yeah, I did catch that in your note, Tac20. I also admire you for saying so.

I also agree the Vmax's are extremely volatile and is why I do not use them (in any caliber). The Nosler Ballitic tips (& some others)are a much better choice with their heavy base. I am sure you are correct about the Bergers and take your word for it.

Pls do not misunderstand me as I do like the 204.

However, a 22-250 is a better choice (especialy for a FIRST time buyer) due to it's wider range of light to heavier bullet choices & high velocity. The 22-250 definitely has the advantage over the 204 beyond 350 or so yards. Even trajectory is extremely close / no practical difference. My 22-250 gets 4100fps with 40gr bullets and 3900 fps with 50gr.

Actually for most yote work a 223 is excellent for many folks. Extremely accurate and L-O-N-G barrel life. Not so with the other 2 calibers.

Since you stated your accuracy results, I will state that my factory off the shelf 223, has put "5" (NOT 3) shots in ONE hole UNDER 1/4" at 100 yards. The majority of ALL my groups have 3 & 4 shots in one hole @ 100yds. Over-All Avg runs 5 shots in 5/8".

Yes, I still have one 22-250 and would never leave home without it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Happy Hunting
 
I'm sorry guys, your all wrong. The greatest varmint-predator caliber ever made was ans is the....................................next page.
 
I think the standard 22-250 is a dying caliber, with the new short mags and the 204 22-250 brass will become more scarce and factory ammo follows new trends,As far as the short mag goes why did they call that a 22-250 short mag any way??Or that .223 short mag there not even close.Sorry guys but that 22-250 drifts in the wind and just about as much as a .17 check your charts,Unless your shootin a howitzer they all drift.Maybe even howitzers.Those chosen varmit calibers are awful close in drift and drop,check the charts you might be surprised what a couple hundred fps can do.
 
Back
Top