Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints What .204 bullets do you use?

I am in the process of assembling an AR15 in .204 Ruger that I intend to be my primary varmint rifle. It's got a YHM upper receiver with Shilen 24" heavy match barrel with headspaced bolt, DPMS lower that I'm going to put a match trigger into. I've got a VX-3 50mm varmint scope to put on it, and I'm hoping to have it all together by the end of the month.

I've ordered dies and some factory ammo to start it out with, and the question that vexes me now is what bullets to use...

We don't have a lot of prairie dogs down here, but I'm planning to join some of the 24HCF members in WY, CO, and MT for that in the near and extended future. Most of my use for it here in TX will be on coyotes and bobcats.

Looking at the assortment of bullets available thru Midway and others, I'm thinking I'll probably be looking at a 36-40 gr bullet for predators, and a 26-32 grain bullet for p-dogs. Anybody with experience or recommendations with the .204 for these applications, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Doc, Im not sure on the predators, but if I was saving fur, I'd do the opposite, 32 grainers on fur...

And I AM sure on the open country PDs....40 grainers. Period. Amundo. I never cease to be amazed at their wind bucking capabilities. JB steered me onto that and he was right!

40 grain BT's for EVERYTHING.....screw a buncha dicking around with multiples.

Pfffffft...whaddayou know? You hardly ever kill any varmints.....

I did the 40 grain BT for a while, but during the shortage I couldn't find any. Too bad because they were impressive and accurate.

Since the 40s were not available, I switched to the Horn 45 grainers (which were available) and am even more impressed. I've got about 1000 of them right now.

They're (45 grainers) so impressive on coyotes I'm thinking about hunting deer with them this year in Montana.

Sierra 39 gr BK

+1

They group better than 32's

I've got one of the shilen barrels also to go on my AR. I'm awaiting some other parts from Midway to throw it all together. Brass seems to be my sticking point right now, I've got 50 pieces of hornady coming but would really rather have a few hundred pieces of cheaper brass. Looking for bullets I didn't like the .200 or so BC of the 32 grainers, I'd feel a bit better about the 39-40 grainers farther out. Bullets are hit or miss, but midway had the 39 gr blitzking in a box of 500 so that's on the way too. I hope they shoot okay 'cause I've got a bunch of them.

On edit: It looks like Midway now has them in stock in boxes of 100. They only had the 500 when I ordered a few days ago.

I lost coyotes with the 32 Hornady's and the 39 SBK, the 40 gr Hornady's wouldn't shoot in my first 204.

Fast forward a few years and I now have a rifle that shoots the 40's and have been pleased with their performance but I'm loaded up now with some 35 Bergers for cats. Also have some 40 NBT's just need to work up a load.

+2

In my .204 the 32 gr. Nosler Varmageddon is the most accurate. I shot a .169 group with them. The 39 gr. Sierrs always shot 3/4" to 1" groups. With the 39 gr. I had a splash on a badger at about 200yds. and a buddy had a splash on a coyote with it. It does work good on rockchucks and ground squirrels though. I've had no problems with the Varmageddon on badgers, puts them down fast, just a small bullet sized entrance and no exit. I like the 40 gr. V-max too, good killer but in my gun only gets around 1" groups.

35 gr. berger for everything from coyote to p-dog. Don't need any other bullet. Find one good accurate load and go with it.

I use the Berger 35 gr also but my rifle like the Sierra 39 gr the best

Just read through all the suggestions. Looks like we have a consensus, sorta... not!!

Doesn't really matter, though... looking online this afternoon all I can find is 39 gr BK's... so I've got 1000 coming...

But thanks for the ideas, boys. Keep 'em coming.

you will like them

45's here too Dog.
Love them.

Midsouth's Varmint nightmares. They won't tell you who makes them, but after several thousand rounds; my story is that they are Nosler.

Hmmm.

Ive had super luck with those bullets in .22....

32 grain v max good stuff no damage, I've notice though if you take a longer shots with ballistic tips, .204 & .243 say 250+ yds the bullet doesn't have the speed it needs to fall apart before exiting and makes a HUGE exit hole! But at 5 to 175 yds I always end up with DRT no exit wound and one pinhole. I shoot nosler 55gr BTBT 6mm, hornady 65gr vmax 6mm, Barnes VG 62gr 6mm, hornady 32 & 40 grain v max and some 45 grain SP but all have those same results hope this helps!