Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints .223 or .204

VA,

I edited the above post to BETTER express the EXACT point I am trying to get across here.

Ah.... I see.

Nope; you still ain't got what I was saying.....

I live in big , open country , and hands down , it's the 204 for me. Much flatter , and more snort deliverd downrange with the normal varmint weight bullets . I don't give a crap about the 22 caliber heavies , cause then you give up your short range trajectory , which I am not willing to do . I also don't care which one would be more *versitle* by stretching the little cartridges out to shoot deer , I have way better deer guns than either at my disposal .

The only way 223 wins for loading costs is surplus brass........commercial brass , bullet cost for efficient plastic tip designs , powder consumtion ; all nigh identical .

I have an excellent shooting 223 with a 22 inch barrel , and recently bought a another 204 , also with 22 inch barrel . The 204 easily gets another 150 fps with 40 grainers that are way more efficient than the 22s........it's no contest.

Several of you are trying hard to make a point, but you are not quite there.

Comparing apples to apples (40 grain 204 caliber bullets to 40 grain 223 bullets), the 204 wins. Smaller diameter will reach out a little further based on the ability of the smaller projectile AND couple that with a touch faster muzzle velocity for the 204.

The only player in the small caliber stuff that will hang with the 204....is the 223 AI (yes, there are other wildcats that will as well - 204 Tactical, 204 Practical, etc, etc).

223 + 40grVmax + 24grN120 = 4000fps+. I'm not YET able to do this with a 204.

Coyotes round here are like timex,take a lickin keep on tickin,If coyotes were the size of grizzly bears man dont make guns big enuff,Ive shot many of them with the 223 and killed many of them cleanly have had a few crawl off to suffer,5 years back I stepped up to the 243 winchester,now when I shoot a coyote theyre anchored,If I were going to shoot coyotes with the two rifles in ? it would no doubt be the 223 remington,I dont have a 204 yet but have been thinking about getting one and have thought they might be a devastating lil praire dog rifle........

According to the Vihtavuori Reloading Guide 24.6 Gr of N120 MV is 3727? 28.4 of N133 MV 3846? Hummm where is this load of yours documented. 204 40 grain loads will reach over both these speeds with the advantage of higher BC. My TAC 20 with 40 Gr bullets will beat 3850 with ease.

Don't knock it till you try it. I don't know what they use to get the info they have but in several rifles I load for this load gets from 3900fps to 4200fps with absolutely, positively no pressure problems. Primers are flattening, but no sticky bolts or any other problems. My 223 has over 2500 of these through it with no problems. I have run this round through at least 3 different chronys with same results. I can't explain it I just shoot it. The smith I use also sees no pressure problems with this round. Only one rifle I loaded for did not shoot this round well and that was a Browning Micro Medallion(3700fps and couldn't group under 3" at 100). This rifle also had a long throat which made touching the lands with a 40gr impossible.

I'm real sorry I'm just not buying almost 200 to 400 fps over the Vihtavuori guide.

Yeah, that is BS. Some saying about fans and players comes to mind.

I forgot how all manuals are always right for every rifle and nobody ever exceeds max loads in said manuals. Unless my chronagraph lies I'm only stating my experience.

BS for sure.

I have owned many 223's and have my first 204, a Contender Carbine. It seems to me that the level of accuracy I easily get from the 204 is better than what I can get from the 223 though both are excellent. I never shot really light bullets in my 223's so I didn't get to work with 4000fps out of that case and normally I ran my 22-250 at around 3500fps pushing the 60 grain bullets. However the 32 gr. VMax in my 204 at 4000fps is a flat shooting gun with an A+ splat factor. It is my varmint only rifle for non edible and don't care about fur shooter. So far nothing has moved after a solid hit with it including a very large coyote.

Just a Hunter: The 204 Ruger cartridge in a long heavy to medium heavy barreled Rifle (24 to 26 inches in length) is so far superior to the 223 Remington that anyone who claims otherwise is sorely under-experienced with it or is just blowin smoke at ya - just for funsies!
There is NOT one category of Predator or Varmint Hunting where the 204 Ruger does not excell over the 223!
Not one!
The 223 Remington is a very good choice for all around Varminting uses but if you want the best - go with the 204 Ruger!
I will list just SOME of its superlative attributes that easily overshadows the 223 Remington!
Much flatter trajectory over distances where 99% of all Varmints are taken!
Less recoil! This is important in all manner of Varminting situations especially when one is Hunting without a spotter!
Less wind drift over distances where 99% of all Varmints are taken!
Faster bullets! There is no disputing that proper type bullets striking Varmints at higher velocities kills more consistently and quicker!
In my experience the 204 Ruger is more fur friendly than the 223 Remington!
I have been using, shooting and Hunting with 204 Ruger Varminters for more than four years now. I currently shoot 4 Varmint Rifles in 204 Ruger caliber and I have as yet to find something in the world of Varmint Hunting I want done, that the 204 Ruger CAN'T DO - and do better than a 223 Remington can!
With my firsthand experience now with 4 different models of Varmint Rifles in caliber 204 Ruger I am of the opinion that the 204 Ruger cartridge is an exceptionally easy cartridge to make shoot VERY accurately and doing so is VERY easy - the 204 Ruger is an inherently accurate cartridge - again in my opinion which is bolstered by the experiences of virtually every one of my Varminting buddies who shoot 204's!
I have killt Varmints from as small as Weasels and Gophers on up through Badgers and Coyotes with my 204's - this listing also includes Jack Rabbits, Porcupines, Rock Chucks, Fox, Rock Pigeons, Cottontail Rabbits, Prairie Dogs, Raccoons, feral cats, Starlings, Skunks, Snowshoe Hares and a few more varieties of flying Varmints!
Another area where the 204 Ruger excells in the Varminting arena over the 223 Remington is for night/spotlight Hunting of Varmints! With all the equipment a night Hunter needs along with them and to manage all at once the exceptionally flat trajectory of the 204 Ruger just about eliminates the need to bring into use a Laser Rangefinder - even when a "wise" old Coyote hangs up out there at 325 yards (or more!) in the light beam!
With a proper "zero" in my 204's I can hold on hair and bowl them over WAY out there!
And remember, with virtually NO recoil the 204 Ruger lets you see your hit (misses?) a lot better while night hunting as well - another very important attribute of 204 Ruger Varminters!
Again the 223 Remington is a fine Varminting cartridge but it can not hold a candle to the 204 Ruger!
Go with the 204!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I would opt for the .223. I live out West and we have some prevailing winds in the Snake River Canyon, AKA Rock Chuck heaven and the heavier bullets do better..I really prefer my 6x45 over any other varmint caliber.