There was a previous thread on that subject. I've been able to watch hits through the scope in the four .204 sporters I've owned, which I'd never been able to do with any .223 sporters, even with 40-grain bullets. Some other people disputed this, and the thread ended up as a poll, with about 2/3 saying they could see hits through .204's better.
Ah yes! The magical cartridge - 204 Ruger, the only cartridge to defy the law of physics.
Well it must be the onset of winter already because we are back to old subjects and once again I will bite.
First let me address the �poll� - since 2/3 of the people saying they could see their hits with the 204 better it is a fairly safe assumption that they own 204�s. And since they own 204�s they are more than likely predisposed to believe that they can see their hits better with a 204 and not as well with a 223. After all they have been told for years by the gunwriters that the 204 is easier to see hits with and since they now have one it must be true.
Let me be clear that I like the 204. If the only thing I shot was gophers and PD's I would own another one. What I do not like is the misconception that somehow the law of physics can be repealed for that particular cartridge. There are many factors involved into recoil including stock design and how the shooter holds the rifle, so the only way to look at it objectively is mathematical. Doing so removes any preconceived bias from the equation.
I will qualify myself by saying that I have owned numerous 223�s and 204�s, I have listed a few of them below. The list is only to show that I have experience with both calibers and generally they all weighed the same with the Cooper Varminters being the closest since they were with one ounce of each other. If there is any difference in recoil and the ability to see hits between the 204 or 223 with either of the loads listed I cannot tell it and the JBM ballistics computations would seem to agree.
204 - Cooper Varminter - 8-1/2#
204 - Tikka T-3 sporter - 7# (2 ea.)
204 - Remington LVSF - 8-1/2 #
Recoil energy
223 - Cooper Varminter - 8-1/2#
223 - Cooper sporter - 7#
223 - Remington LVST - 7-1/2#
223 - Stevens - 7-1/2#
223 - Remington 700 SPS BDL - 7-1/2#
All rifle weights were with scope mounted.
If someone can kindly explain how the law of physics has been repealed for the 204 I will be very interested. Take a look at the charts listed below - they were all generated by JBM Ballistics using the on-line Hodgdon reloading data, and only data listed in PSI was used so that it is an "apples to apples� comparison.
204 Hornady
32 gr. avg max load - 28.49 grs32 gr. avg max pressure - 54110
32 gr. avg max vel - 4016
Recoil energy - 3.1 ft-lbsRecoil
Input Data
Charge Weight: - 28.5 grs.
Muzzle Velocity: - 4016.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: - 7.0 lb
Bullet Weight: - 32.0 gr.
Output Data
Recoil Velocity: - 5.4 ft/s
Recoil Energy: - 3.1 ft�lbs
Recoil Impulse: - 1.2 lb�s
204 Hornady
40 gr. avg max load - 27.3 grs.40 gr. avg max pressure 40 gr. - 55718
40 gr. avg max vel - 3701
Recoil energy - 3.5 lft-lbsRecoil
Input Data
Charge Weight: - 27.3 grs.
Muzzle Velocity: - 3701.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: - 7.0 lb
Bullet Weight: - 40.0 gr
Output Data
Recoil Velocity: - 5.6 ft/s
Recoil Energy: - 3.5 ft�lbs
Recoil Impulse: - 1.2 lb�s
223 Remington
40 gr. avg max load - 26.2 grs.40 gr. avg max pressure - 48550
40 gr. avg max vel - 3553
Recoil energy 3.2 ft-lbsRecoil
Input Data
Charge Weight: - 26.2 grs.
Muzzle Velocity: - 3553.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: - 7.0 lb
Bullet Weight: - 40.0 gr.
Output Data
Recoil Velocity: - 5.4 ft/s
Recoil Energy: - 3.2 ft�lbs
Recoil Impulse: - 1.2 lb�s