220 swift or 204

So far my buddy has two coyotes with his 204. Short range shots on both -100-150 yards. 40 grainers seem to work well.

I have a pair of foxes at 250 yards with my 22 250 using 40gr b tips. I also DIDN'T get a coyote at 70 yards using same bullet. I'll never know for sure, but believe the bullet blew up on impact. I loaded up some 55 gr Sierras for the dogs and will save the Noslers for the gopher patch.

Doesn't matter too much what ya shoot, just do it often:dancingbanana: and have fun
 
My first "Varmint" rig was a custom built Mauser 98 - heavy barelled 270, my second a Mod. 70 in 264 Win Mag, and my third a 25-06 Remington. When the wind is up & the distance is there ... I'll take the heavier bullets !
Don't think I want to go any smaller !
 
do lots of homework and you'll make a wise choice...but you really should consider the 223. low recoil, if you handload you can beef it up for velocity(huge selection of bullets), if you don't the ammo is super cheap and white box walmart specials shoot very good.

Having said all that save you pennies and buy one of each.

i own or have owned all of the above except the 204 and still prefer the 223.

just my 2 cents.
 
From the two choices I would go for the 220 Swift and the heavier bullets with better BC for long ranges. I shoot with a Swift and it is all I can ask of a varmint round, but if the wind is strong I grab the 243 WIn.
bigbull
 
All rounds mentioned are great choices,might consider ammo availability as the .243 and .22-250 ammo can be found at most retailers,the Swift is fairly uncommon,of coarse if you are a reloader that would be a mute point.I personaly own a .243 and think it is a great round
 
I have owned two 220 swifts and one 22-250 ,sold all of them because of poor coyote prices about twelve years ago. the last year i hunted coyotes i sold an even 100 coyotes to the Edmonton fur auction,I shot about 120 that winter but some had mainge or shot up to badly.All were shot with 220 swift using 60 grain hornady bullets,these i found to be the ultimate long range load.out of 100 coyotes 8 never sold and the rest went for 17 dallor per hide.
I desiided try some coyote hunting last year so tryed a new caliber 204 with 40 grain hornady remington ssf II . I read on some forum that it was to small and couldnt kill a coyote unless shot under 200 yards .I shot18 last winter only one ran 30 yards and dropped the rest died on the spot,all coyotes had very little hide damage,if you want to keep the hide then the 204 wins hands down.Coyotes were shot between 80 and 350 yards,between the 220swift and 204 i would pick the 204 because less fur damage,less noise,less recoil and just alot funner to shoot.
 
220 Swift (two-twenty Swift) Got it? That's the winner, hands down. Enough oomph to lay a coyote flat at 500+, and most are uncommonly accurate. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Good points about selling the hides, jake break...

Nice to read about some real experences.
VS just talking ballistics and gun counter tales.

I know a man that hunted deer till 78 with a .32 special.
Not a likley choice nowadays.
A girlfriend bought it for him way back when.
Guess he liked her, and the gun.
50+ years later they are still married.

Some guys like to stay with the herd.
Some do things their own way. All good right?

I like my varmint model tikka .204 for watching small water bottles vaporize at 325 meters.
 
I heard the 204's were directly linked to increased estrogen levels in young males under the age 40.

seriously though either would do well for it's intended purpose
 
1st year useing a 204 on coyotes and only have good things to say about it all shots ranged from 70yrds to 270yrds no problems on any of the shots i feel the 204 will do the job out to 300yrds.Its now my main coyote rifle.im useing the winchester 34gr hp right now but planning to reload for it this summer going to try the 35gr bergers being hearing good things about them.
 
yeah i found out last weekend why it is that i bought the 22-250, picture this you see 5 coyotes, the closest is 550yds away the farthest is 800 yds away, down pops the bipod, bolt slammed shut and the rifle barkes and before i hear the bullet hit the yote i am on the next closest yote which is almost 600 yds away, now i didnt get the second one but i had one bullet skim hair off his belly and one skim hair off his back. I highly doubt that the 204 could do this or the other centerfire 22's, and i know that the 220 swift could but i just couldnt find one. Oh well im happy with my choice
 
7 REM MAG said:
yeah i found out last weekend why it is that i bought the 22-250, picture this you see 5 coyotes, the closest is 550yds away the farthest is 800 yds away, down pops the bipod, bolt slammed shut and the rifle barkes and before i hear the bullet hit the yote i am on the next closest yote which is almost 600 yds away, now i didnt get the second one but i had one bullet skim hair off his belly and one skim hair off his back. I highly doubt that the 204 could do this or the other centerfire 22's, and i know that the 220 swift could but i just couldnt find one. Oh well im happy with my choice
Click to expand...

Not that there's anything wrong with your 22-250 (far from it), but maybe some research into the ballistics would be in order. ;) :D
 
before i bought it i talked to probabally 5 people that have experience with both calibres and with how small the 204 bullets are they slow down substantially at extended ranges and drop quite alot. i would like to know of anyone here shooting a yote at 550 yds at it dying within 25 yds of impact
 
tagalong01 said:
So far my buddy has two coyotes with his 204. Short range shots on both -100-150 yards. 40 grainers seem to work well.

I have a pair of foxes at 250 yards with my 22 250 using 40gr b tips. I also DIDN'T get a coyote at 70 yards using same bullet. I'll never know for sure, but believe the bullet blew up on impact. I loaded up some 55 gr Sierras for the dogs and will save the Noslers for the gopher patch.

Doesn't matter too much what ya shoot, just do it often:dancingbanana: and have fun
Click to expand...

I found the 40 gr vmax blew up a little too early leaving a fist sized entrance wound with the 223, so the btip might have similar problems at the higher speeds of the 22 250.

55 gr sierras were reasonably fur friendly for me with an exit hole that could be covered with a nickle. The 50-55 gr btips have a very good rep on yotes, and are extremely accurate in my 223. Hope to try them on a yote before long.

Back to the original topic, if you aren't hunting wolves or larger I'd be very tempted to go with the 204. Very pleasant to shoot and super accurate. Extremely fur friendly with the 35 berger too, tiny entrance and no exit. I really wish I could watch the impact with my 223, that's a great bonus with the 204
 
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