Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 222-223-204

Ok bored here so looking at another light caliber coyote gun
222,223 or 204
Give me a couple pros and cons

You need one (or more) of each......

222 in a bolt gun is my favorite, 223 in an AR covers a wide range of bullet weights. 204 is the flattest of the three but is better suited to varmints rather than predators IMO

Yeah..one of each.

Gotta admit I never shot a coyote with my .204.

Shot lots of them with a .222 and .223 and for calling, especially at night, I like the .222

I'd like to get another 222, I've been without one for a few years.

I need to see what my options are for a svelte little duece

I really want a 222. I have a 204 but my baby is 223. Its a ruger American rancher with a 4x12 diamondback. Sub moa with 53gr vmax and varget. The rifle is short and light. Easy to wear on my back when im dodging through trees on my snow machine. Its a wolf killer. I like having a little heavier bullet than the .204 because I take a lot of 300+ yard shots and its a little less effected by the wind.

a model 600 in the deuce is short, sweet and kinda svelte...

I screwed up about 2 yrs ago and sold my model 7 youth in 223 ( a guy threw an offer I couldn’t refuse)
So looking to get a bolt action truck gun for coyote, not much of an ar fan for coyotes. I have my big gun 25-06 but wouldnt mind a little gun as well, short handling etc, quiet, up to 200-250 yards.
Thinking either a tikka compact or model 7 found a Mohawk but want to see it

hunts,

I had a 600, or a 660 I forget which , in 222 years ago. wish I still had it, I liked that dog leg bolt

You just described a 221FB

Way back in the day the 222 was the quintessential varmint caliber. I'd love to have one but I shoot left and get spurned by rifle companies.

The 223 obviously has availability of ammunition in it's favor.

The 204 is freakin fast, and it's not said to be so hard on pelts, if that mattes to you.

I was about to buy a 204 when I found out about the Tikka T3x Lite Stainless 22=250 1:8 in left hand, and I jumped on it. I'll still prolly get a 204 before year is over. Ammunition is a lot easier to find locally than .17 Remington, even though I have 2 of them.

A few years ago a special run was made of Ruger American rifles in the compact configuration in stainless in left hand. Among other calibers, I picked up a .223. I'm gonna try it with Winchester white box 45 gr hp's, which I have a plenitude of, and see if it likes then. Those Ruger American compacts are handy little things.

Way back when, I came into a little Socko Vixen in .222. I cut the barrel to 20" and slimmed and contoured the stock, sweet little rifle. Later traded it to a buddy who some time later was showing me the rifle and gushed over rechambering it to .223? go figure what some guys want?
I prefer the small .17s for predator hunting, I currently use a .17 mach4 and love the little .17 ackley hornet chambering, they just suit my style. Even the big .17 Rem seems like to much gun for my purposes.

They arent many, and even fewer with a tight twist if you care...

Ive got a Ruger#1 with a 9 twist and a "build" with a 14 twist..never felt hampered by it.

But looking for a deuce to suit me led me to a build..Rem 700 action, B&C stock, barrel off a LVSF in .221fb, punched out to .222...good to go!

I'm partial to the 222 Rem and have been beating up on the coyotes this winter with a Model 70 in 222 R.



Last week


Packed up the Model 70 to clean it up and sell it and have broke out the Sako until my 20 Practical barrel and 223 Upper get here, they'll go on the bike and save the Sako for when I take the truck and hike farther

[Linked Image]

With Speer 52gr FB HP's the 222 Rem has been dropping them on the spot and the fur is in good condition.

So far 2019 and 2020 I've killed coyotes with a 22 Mag, 218 Bee, 222 Rem, 223 Rem(Weatherby Vanguard youth, killed a coyote with it and gave it to my Granddaughter), 22-204, 22-250, 6x45mm and a 25--204 plus 12 and 16ga shotguns, they all work just fine..

222 and 223 give a better selection of bullets than the 204. The 204 bullets are primarily designed for smaller thin skinned varmints (think ground squirrels and PD's) they generally have thinner jackets and are more explosive. I tried a 204 for a while but had a couple of splashes when I hit the shoulder blade and in both instances the coyotes got away and probably suffered quite a bit before dying - even a coyote doesn't deserve to suffer. I went to the 35 gr Berger in the 204 for a while but eventually went back to the 22 calibers for the better bullet selection.

drover

I hear the .222 is not as loud. The 223 is the most versatile option.

erich,

Nice Van Van!

If ya can't decide, how about a .22-204?

I have a fast twist Brux on a Rem 7 that shoots 75 gr. SSII's over Varget.

It's my truck gun, tough on hogs.

DF



Edited to add photo.

Worta weird looking but very handy. Lone Wolf stock, light 22" Brux, Jewell trigger. CDS set up for this load.

All great cartridges.

My choice for a light bullet launcher is the triple deuce. Mostly because I think it's cool and wanted something different.

For calling a .221 Fireball is just right. 40 yards, 40 gr NBT, 19 grains RL7. Winning formula. I have killed coyotes to 450 with it, but much better inside 200. Quieter than the 22-250 that's for sure, but if you want to replicate the sounds commonly heard on farms with your rifles report, the .17 Hornet is best. Does not alarm coyotes near as much as the larger centerfires. When sweeping an area calling it's possible to shoot coyotes a couple hundred yards apart when using the .17 hornet but the 22-250 is gauranteed to blow the area out. The little .17 is marginal for coyotes but it is an interesting cartridge because of it's light report.