.204 vs .223

[HAMMRIT31]

Having a hard time deciding. Anyone able to help me out with a pros and cons list. Would be using it for crow,woodchuck,fox, coyote. Thanks for the help fellas!

[kim204]

The 204 is all that I use on coyote. I have a 22-250 but I do not use it. The 204 is much flatter shooting than the .223 or the 22-250. Hope that helps ?

[Coyote Inc.]

I love both of these rounds for varminting. 223 will carry a little more down range energy than the 204. The small bullet of the 204 will take coyote out to 350 yards but beyond that placement is crucial. The 223 would be a little cheaper to feed, practicely able to find ammo anywhere, and being a nato round you could run surplus but I wouldn't recommend it. The 204 is super flat, able to take varmints out to 300 yards and still hold on hair.


Lets do a run down:

.204 Ruger=
204 is super flat and fast w/3 inches of drop at 300 yards
Ammo cost is slightly more
Ammo is not readily available
32 or 40 grain bullets are optimal
Recoil is neglegable
Coyote killing range -250 yards (for an average shooter)
The Taylor Knock-out scale ranks 204 as *poor* for coyote (Taylor must be a piss poor shooter)

.223=
Cost for reloading components sre slightly less
Cheaper to run (because of the surplus option)
Ammo is pretty much available everwhere
Bullet weights up to 60 grains (50 or 55 are optimal)
Not very flat shooting-6 inches of drop over 300 yards
Recoil is neglegable
Coyote killing range- 250 yards (for an average shooter)
Taylor Knock-out rating-*marginal* for coyote (again, Taylor can't shoot)

So, do you want cheap or flat?

[fowlmouth]

I shoot a Remington 700 in .204. I love it! Painted it myself....

[team dukhunt]

wow nice remington fowlmouth...but i would rather shoot the 223 round i just like that round better

[Coyote Inc.]

Here's mine in paint. %$#*&^(%#...Sorry guys, that link has gone bad.

[ridgewalker]

Another thing to think about.

I hunt in Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas in big wide open and windy places. I prefer the .243 and 85 gr Sierras or Hornady 87 gr VMax mostly because they don't blow around as much. The .223 shouldn't be affected by the wind as much as the .204.

[silverdog69]

.204 is a great round I have shot a coyote at 707 yds. yes there is a margin of luck but still had plenty at 500 that lil bullet does not get enough credit it will drop a dog out there very very easy with plenty of punch 40 grain berger or v-max are super. I would highly recomended this round it will suprise you it did me.still there is the 22-250 it still is one of my favorite .look at charts on the two they are very comparible on the ballistics. Enjoy.

[Trent]

Originally Posted by ridgewalker

Another thing to think about.

I hunt in Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas in big wide open and windy places. I prefer the .243 and 85 gr Sierras or Hornady 87 gr VMax mostly because they don't blow around as much. The .223 shouldn't be affected by the wind as much as the .204.

Shouldn't be... but it is. Actually, the little .204 is less affected by wind than both the .223 and the .22-250.

There seems to be two misconceptions about the .204 Ruger:
1) It's wind sensitive.
2) It is a barrel burner.


I'm thinking about adding a .243 to the stable next. After that I think I will be pretty much set for everything I like to hunt. How is the .243 for pelt damage?

[take'em]

since your shooting fox go with a .204,.233 is just a lil bit to big for fox i think.