.204 Ruger

when the 204 first came out I wanted one but kept reading on the internet that it was to small for coyotes it coulded kill a coyote past 200 yards what a bunch of bull.I went and bought one anyway and went out the first two days and shot eight shots and got eight coyotes out to 400 yards and all where close to instant kills.I stuck with hornady 40 grain bullets I have used 220 swift 22-250 and I like the 204 better please don't believe the desk top hunters that say its to small for coyotes I learned to believe half what you hear on the internet.Try the 204 you will love it just use the proper bullets for the job there is very little recoil and is super accurate with factory hornady ammo plus the hornady ammo is only $20.00 a box
 
I don't think there is much debate over it not being good enough for coyotes. Its an excellent cartridge, but has a few minor limitations that one should consider. I would say out to 400 yards, very calm winds, great shot placement, its an excellent choice for varmints, but anything further, or if conditions are not perfect, it starts turning against you in a hurry. I would say the practical range with wind and other factors being energy etc..... 200-250 yards IMO
 
My would not, I repeat, was shooting Sub-Barn Door (Barely) with 40 Grain Hornady Varmint Express V-Max. Cranked a few rounds of 32 Grain V-Max Superformance rounds, and shoots them awesome at 200 yards. So, I would have to say that whether you can justify spending the money or not on a .204 is up to you, but mine is super accurate now and creates only entry woulds, sometimes exits if I am within 100 yards. I have shot 9 Coyotes here in southern Ontario since the beginning of 2014 at a bait pile I sit at every morning. In each case but one they did not get out of the field (Less than 30 yards of travel before a spin out and dead) The exception after I found it turned out to be weighed by myself at 109 pounds, and was great big black female coyote. No exit wound, and ran around 100 yards into the bush before shutting herself down)
 
Boyes50 said:
My would not, I repeat, was shooting Sub-Barn Door (Barely) with 40 Grain Hornady Varmint Express V-Max. Cranked a few rounds of 32 Grain V-Max Superformance rounds, and shoots them awesome at 200 yards. So, I would have to say that whether you can justify spending the money or not on a .204 is up to you, but mine is super accurate now and creates only entry woulds, sometimes exits if I am within 100 yards. I have shot 9 Coyotes here in southern Ontario since the beginning of 2014 at a bait pile I sit at every morning. In each case but one they did not get out of the field (Less than 30 yards of travel before a spin out and dead) The exception after I found it turned out to be weighed by myself at 109 pounds, and was great big black female coyote. No exit wound, and ran around 100 yards into the bush before shutting herself down)
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109lb coyote come on now... There's a story if I ever heard one...
 
It's as good on wolves as it is on coyotes, ...........dead right there if you do your job. The first wolf surprised me when it dropped immediately at 350 yds., the rest were the same, ..........made me a believer!!!
 
Trying to Justify buying a 204 Ruger as I have a full line .22 Center Fire Rifles right up to .220 Swift. Was checking out Trajectory Tables and Ballistic Coeficitient and that little .20 Cal sure delivers the goods. Is there anyone out there that has a .204 Ruger not like it and for what reason?
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your full line of varminting rifles is whispering to you for a legacy piece for your collection................

ht tps://www.volquartsen.com/products/1053-evolution-barreled-action

238-i-fluted-evolution-w-brown-stock.jpg


to quote my cousin " three coyotes,,,three shots,,,three seconds,,, three pelts"
i don't believe everything he says ,,, but he does own a rifle pictured above... likes the heft... and is a good shot


luck
cal

ps: takes lar-15 mags
 
'I want one.' is justification enough. Where you are may enter into it though. Ammo/brass and bullets won't be everywhere
There ain't no coyote that weighs anywhere near 109 pounds. Wiley doesn't get that big. Certainly not a female. A huge well fed coyote runs half that.
 
Just picked up my fourth .204 ruger the other day. A tikka t3 stainless varmint. I've had 2 other t3 lites and a remington 700 sps. All shot great with several different kind of ammo. My favorite is the 39gr Sierra. I've never had a coyote get away because of the .204 but only because of my poor shot placement. It wouldn't have matter if I was shooting any other varmint caliber, which I've used aswell. I've took the .204 out to 600 yds on paper and yes the wind blows it around but it also blows any other bullet around. Just like anything else you have to learn to shoot it in all conditions. The only people who say the .204 is underpowered are people who make poor decisions when shooting, or have never shot one. All my opinion though.
 
I have had my .204 for many years now. I must say my two draw backs are one they are a bit of pain in my opinion to reload as them little 20 cal. bullets are so tiny in my mits. and two I have had great luck with loading both 32 grain and 40 grain but i find that the 32 grain drifts alot more with cross winds. and them damn yotes always seem to be in a cross wind. but other than that I love it to death. no recoil and fast as hell.
 
sunray said:
'I want one.' is justification enough. Where you are may enter into it though. Ammo/brass and bullets won't be everywhere
There ain't no coyote that weighs anywhere near 109 pounds. Wiley doesn't get that big. Certainly not a female. A huge well fed coyote runs half that.
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The largest I have ever seen was 69lbs, He was a damn monster. Almost mistaken for a small wolf at that size.....
 
RT said:
Is the 204 enough for wolfs?
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not around here.

my .204 was replaced for just that reason.

I don't shoot many gophers any more.

edit: I really liked the .204, both rifles I had were tack drivers although I wasn't fond of the full length action on the T3. I will own another one some day.
 
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204 is a neat round. Its always interested me but I've never bought a rifle chambered for it. The 223 just out performs it and a lot cheaper to shoot.
 
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