.204 or 22-250

J

Jeff000

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I am torn.

I like both, as I like fast rounds for some strange reason.
I like to sit and punch some holes at 300 meters or so, but I also like to shoot coyotes and gophers.

I have a 17 hmr for the gophers. Well the close (sub 200 yards) ones anyways.

I know both can take a yote down, and I know the 22-250 will take it down easier. But is it one of those things where the 22-250 is just the clear advantage? What advantage would the 204 have?

Lets assume factory ammo.
And I am thinking Tikka T3 lite or savage... or hell a stevens with a trigger even as I would put a trigger in any gun I buy anyways. But I guess what gun is a whole different bag of worms.
Although if it really is an advantage something with a heavy barrel could be done.

Or should I just buck down and go for some wild cat cartridge? Although that would probably blow up my budget (being as little as needed but as much as required, lol).
 
For paper and gophers, and maybe the occasional coyote at <300 yards, the .204 is your best bet. For animals as large as coyotes, especially at >250 yards or more, the .22-250 is clearly superior.

Burning barrels out is a red herring. If it takes say 2500 rounds to do so, stop and think about how much shooting that really is. Calculate how much that will cost to shoot that much compared to the cost of a new barrel. Find out how stupid you have to be to actually damage a barrel by overheating.

Barrel life is often tossed around as an important factor, but try to find more than a very few shooters who have shot out a barrel. Try to define what "shot out" means. How do you tell? A competition target shooter is the ONLY person I know who has ever shot one of any caliber to the point where he decided it was done, and that was because of groups enlarging by 1/4 inch. I know of no hunter/varminter who has burned out a barrel in either caliber you are suggesting. I'm sure they exist, but there are not many of them.

In short, do not even consider barrel life in your choice, because, unless you ARE a competition shooter I don't think it will matter and competition shooters don't use either of those calibers very much. If it should ever happen, get a new barrel - maybe an even better one. To me it's like saying you don't want to have a car with over 200 horsepower because it will burn out tires. Not unless you are ridiculous, it won't.

So be real about what you will do with the gun. Get the best caliber for your real shooting life, not for the theoretical lives people on forums like to imagine.
 
The advatnage of the .204 is that it recoils less (and burns less powder, but you said factory ammo so it's irrelevant), so you can spot your own hits. The .22-250 recoils just enough that it's hard to spot your own shots, but it hits with more authority, particularily at long range. There are also a plethora of great bullets for the .224 guns, depending on your purpose and twist rate.
 
if you are doing a lot of shooting; the 250 is hard on the ears and uses a lot of powder; might want to think about a .223; easier on the ears and cheaper ammo.:)
 
StevieK said:
204 will be quieter, and the barrel will not heat up as fast. 22-250 will have less wind drift because of heavier bullets.
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Actually, the 40 grain 204 VMAX has a better BC and higher MV than the .224 55 grain VMAX. Meaning the 204 will drift less.
 
rral22 said:
For paper and gophers, and maybe the occasional coyote at <300 yards, the .204 is your best bet. For animals as large as coyotes, especially at >250 yards or more, the .22-250 is clearly superior.

Burning barrels out is a red herring. If it takes say 2500 rounds to do so, stop and think about how much shooting that really is. Calculate how much that will cost to shoot that much compared to the cost of a new barrel. Find out how stupid you have to be to actually damage a barrel by overheating.

Barrel life is often tossed around as an important factor, but try to find more than a very few shooters who have shot out a barrel. Try to define what "shot out" means. How do you tell? A competition target shooter is the ONLY person I know who has ever shot one of any caliber to the point where he decided it was done, and that was because of groups enlarging by 1/4 inch. I know of no hunter/varminter who has burned out a barrel in either caliber you are suggesting. I'm sure they exist, but there are not many of them.

In short, do not even consider barrel life in your choice, because, unless you ARE a competition shooter I don't think it will matter and competition shooters don't use either of those calibers very much. If it should ever happen, get a new barrel - maybe an even better one. To me it's like saying you don't want to have a car with over 200 horsepower because it will burn out tires. Not unless you are ridiculous, it won't.

So be real about what you will do with the gun. Get the best caliber for your real shooting life, not for the theoretical lives people on forums like to imagine.
Click to expand...


Great post. Thank you.
Realistically 90% of my coyote shots are 200 or less. I think the 204 will be a fun Cal.

Now does a heavy barrel provide a real life advantage? Outside of heat absorption? I wouldn't let it get too hot.
 
I like my 204 but it is very finicky with a good crosswind when you want to stretch its legs to 400-700 yards.There are bullets that buck the wind better, just have to practice with with different loads.
Best thing you can do is buy what your gut says..then try it out. If it's not what you like sell it and buy the other one.
Don't rule out the 223 with a fast twist..
 
With the formula I use both cartridges are intermediate in the scale of barrel burning at around 1600 rounds. While we could argue about the number I would suggest on a relative basis they are the same.

On guns I would expect the Savage will outshoot the Tikka. Also, you can get the Savage to 2.5 lbs pull nice and crisp, so perhaps you do not need to replace it. If you go Stevens then probably would be good to replace it.

If it were me picking for your application I would go with the .223 Remington. Much better choice and cost on factory ammo. When you decide to reload (and you will if you shoot a lot), brass availability/quality is much better. On the same barrel burning scale it should last about 3000 rounds - nearly double the other choices. No problem on coyotes out to 300 yards.
 
Ron AKA said:
With the formula I use both cartridges are intermediate in the scale of barrel burning at around 1600 rounds. While we could argue about the number I would suggest on a relative basis they are the same.

On guns I would expect the Savage will outshoot the Tikka. Also, you can get the Savage to 2.5 lbs pull nice and crisp, so perhaps you do not need to replace it. If you go Stevens then probably would be good to replace it.

I know a Savage will never outshoot a Tikka..I would quit shooting if Savage was the only rifle to buy.
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I am leaning towards a Tikka T3 lite. Probably buy right away here.
Unless there is a compelling reason I should get a heavy barrel, or different rifle.

.204 is what I will be getting, while the .223 is a popular round, I just like the speed factor of the 204, and it is about the same cost really.
 
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