Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 204 Ruger or what for Coyotes/Bobcats

I currently have a 7mm-08 that could be used as a dual purpose deer & coyote/bobcat rifle, but no doubt it would be extremely fur destructive. I'm not that concerned about coyote fur but wouldn't want to destroy the possibility of a good bobcat mount by blowing it into pieces. So....I've have been thinking seriously about picking up a dedicated rifle for these two preditors. I'm hunting NW Arkansas & SW Missouri where shots could be anywhere from up close & personal out to 300/350 Yds or so. None of the western varments (Pdog etc.) around here so we're primarilly talking about coyotes & bobcat.

I'm open to the 223, 22-250, 220 Swift and between these would probably be leaning a little closer to the 223; however, I've been reading a lot of good reports on the 204 Ruger. Most of these reports have related to accuracy, ballistics, etc. with not really that many reporting on actual "on-game" field performance (especially on coyotes/bobcats). I can easily see the 204 as an excellent performer on the smaller varments, but I'm just a little bit concerned about the 204's performance on the bigger critters like coyotes.

Does anyone have any firsthand experience with the 204 Ruger on Coyotes and/or bobcats? If so, could you please share load/ammo used, shot distances, shot placement and how they performed. How many drop dead vs get up and run off?

If NOT the 204, then which caliber do you see at the top of the list for the hunting situation I've described and why?

Edit: PS, I do reload.

Thanks

firstshot
-------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

I've seen turkeys, small pigs, and large Axis deer killed with the 204, though it wouldn't have been my choice for any but the turkey. I gotta believe that the wrong angle on a shoulder might lose a coyote. A 223 AI would make a nice platform with enough bullet choices to suit any reasonable species and some more for those not so reasonable.

I grew up on a farm in southeastern Arkansas. We shot bobcats, coyotes, beavers, turkeys, and other varmints & I found that I was always most impressed with the 22-250. I found that the 22-250 was the best all around coyote round. Whether he was 20 or 400 yards the 22-250 worked. I currently own two 22-250's. One custom with a #4 Lilja & a old Remington heavy barrel varmint master. Reloading the 22-250 is a snap & bullets choices are almost endless. I have a young daughter that wants to kill a deer next season. She will be carrying a 22-250 with 60 grain nosler partitions. The 22-250 is my go to caliber foy coyotes & cats.

The 223 was ok for most shots, but when they are way out there the 22-250 made the shots easier. The only advantage IMHO to the 223 is the availability of cheap ammo for plinking.

I have no experience with the 204. I have been tempted to buy one, then I say what will it do that the 22-250 will not????

How did the 22-250 do on Bobcats? I would think it would be a bit rough on the fur.

As far as the 223 goes, I will definitely be putting a bullet drop compensating scope, Burris Ballistic Plex or Leupold Boon & Crocket, on what ever I wind up with. These scopes help a lot when making those long shots.

firstshot
---------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

I have killed a ton of coyotes and bobcats with the 220 Swift. It is not hard on hides and you won't loose any criters you hit with it. The 22-250 performs just as well, from what I have seen.

I killed this kitty and 15 others during the winter of 1983 with a mouth blown call and the Swift.

Nice looking cat!!!! Your comment about the 22-250 not being hard on hides is very interesting and thought provoking as I've read on other forums just the opposite being said. However, I don't know how much "hands on experience" those folks have actually had using the 22-250 or 220 Swift on bobcat.

If you look at the load manuals, the 22-250 and the 220 Swift can push a 40 Grn bullet to 4200 FPS. The 204 Ruger can push 40Grn Hornady's to about 3800 FPS for a max difference of 400 FPS and 244 Ft Lbs at 100 Yds. (From there on the differences decrease)

As long as you are using the same "appropriate for the job" bullet for all 3 calibers, can a max of 400 FPS and 240 Ft Lbs really make the 204 Ruger that much more "fur friendly" than the 22-250/220 Swift?

firstshot
-----------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

Doubtful.

I'd go with the .22-250 and never look back.

The .204's better BC really starts to shine at the longer distances. You can buy 200 rounds of Hornady V-Max for 130 dollars through Cabelas. This isn't a bad deal and while it says bulk, the bin is packed with 10 boxes of regular hornady ammunition....it's not all thrown in there like some of the bulk ammo pics might suggest...

Anyway, the .204 lives up to the hype in my mind. It's a great lil round, and plenty lethal on varmints.

Better BC with the 40 gr. loads. Move the .22-250 into 50, 55, or heavier, and the BCs go back up.

I mostly shot winchester power points--hence not bad pelt damage. We had several mounted. BT's are harder on pelts. IMHO

The question is.....is the 22-250 more unfriendly to fur than the 204? Given the same bullet in both the 204 and 22-250, could the 22-250's additional 400 FPS (or less) make it that much more destructive to fur?

firstshot
---------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

The 55gr. WW PP's make a mess of fox at 223 velocites.
The 22-250 certainly has the potential to be much more destructive on fur than the 204. I used this on another board but I think comparing the 204 to the 22-250 is like comparing the cow/sheep boys of Brokeback mountain to real cowboys trajectory be damned.
What is more important than the cartridge though is the bullet.
If you go for super fragile hoping for it to not pass through there will be times it will anyway, particularly on broadside,through the ribcage shots, leaving a impressive exit hole. And then expecting same results from up close to 400 yards isn't realistic either.
I'd go with a hard Barnes. I have had good luck with 45 gr. XLC XBT's in 223/223AI. As they say in big game talk you can eat right up to the hole. I'd probally go with the 53 gr. version in a 22-250. Plan on an exit knowing it will be small and require minor needle work works for me. Pretty sure that would leave out 204 though.

I'm going to go with the 204 Ruger. Now to figure out which rifle.

firstshot
---------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

This one looks pretty sweet to me!
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/713386/an/0/page/0#713386

I've got a Light Varmint Remington in 22-250 that I love! I see where they make it in a .204 now. Might be something to look at....

I spent years doing the high speed super explosive thing with 6mms and 22 centerfires and settled on making the bullet exit every time with minimal damage as the best route. I have no experience with the .204 but it looks like with the bullets I see provided that it might POP the balloon on occasion. I prefer the .22s but would dern sure like to play with the .204 a while...

Beautiful bobcat Praire Dog Shooter. Your mount is giving me ideas for my mounts. I just returned from a bobcat hunt & the distance has a lot to do with caliber & pelt damage. My shots were 15-50 yards & the guide felt anything over a 223 for the close shots could result in pelt damage. I used a shotgun & a 223. Thanks.

Well guys, I've finally made up my mind. It's going to be a Bushmaster "Preditor" AR in .223 Rem. They just came out with this rifle and it's a 20" version of their 24" Varminter. I think the Preditor is going to be perfict for my needs.

Thanks to all for your input.

firstshot
-------------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

This is what the .204 with a 32v-max does to a yote . These were shot between 250 and 300 yards neither tried to run off .I have lost several with my .223 bushy varminter .The 204 just shoots flatter hits harder and has less recoil .I am really impressed with it.[img]"http://www.hunt101.com/?p=365969&c=500&z=1"[/image] [img]"http://www.hunt101.com/?p=381795&c=500&z=1"[/image]

Nice pictures... Looks like the .204 will make it as a yote stopper..