I have no experience with the .204, but I've been using a Ruger 77 in .223 and 55 gr Vmaxes handloaded to about 3000 fps for the last five years and can honestly say it's been quite fur friendly. Of course, most of my shots have been on called coyotes out to 200 yards, the majority of which have also been full frontal shots with no exit wounds.
By comparison, I've experienced devastating fur damage with Winchester white box 45 gr. hollow points and various other "hot" ballistic-tipped factory loads.
I'm still playing around with other bullets - Speer 40 gr, Sierra 52 gr. HPBT match, 40 & 50 gr V-max's etc. So far I like the 55 gr, V-max, mildy loaded.
