Pro's and Con's or .204?
- Thread starter saskboy
- Start date
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
I totally agree on the .223. The costs of ammo for the .204 is really high and the availability of ammo is poor.
I shoot a 12FVSS in .223 and my son a Savage 112 in .223 and the past weekend shooting match showed that a .204 may hit gophers at 200 but when placed against steel plates at 200 yards, it is just not enough gun to tip them over.
I shoot a 12FVSS in .223 and my son a Savage 112 in .223 and the past weekend shooting match showed that a .204 may hit gophers at 200 but when placed against steel plates at 200 yards, it is just not enough gun to tip them over.
Have a 204 in a remmy xr 100, LOVE IT!
The things a lazerbeam and you can watch the critter vapourize through the scope for lack of recoil.
True it's not as cheap to shoot as the 223 but then again we don't have praire dogs where I live (mostly shoot coyotes) so I don't shoot hundreds of rounds in one outing.
Anyway like I said I love my 204 and would never trade it for a 223.
Also here's a good site dedicated to the 204, take a look through the forums if you like:
http://www.204ruger.com/forum/
The things a lazerbeam and you can watch the critter vapourize through the scope for lack of recoil.
True it's not as cheap to shoot as the 223 but then again we don't have praire dogs where I live (mostly shoot coyotes) so I don't shoot hundreds of rounds in one outing.
Anyway like I said I love my 204 and would never trade it for a 223.
Also here's a good site dedicated to the 204, take a look through the forums if you like:
http://www.204ruger.com/forum/
looking for a varmint rifle maily thats cheap to reload, was thinking the .243 even due to the fact its another deer rifle i could use also. Brother has a 22-250 and i like it, 223 doesnt perform as well as the 22-250 so I prob wouldnt get one of those.
I've got a .17 Rem, .204, couple .223s, couple 22/250s, and a 22/243 Middlested. If you handload there`s not a heck of a lot of difference in price between the bottom 4. If you don`t then go with a .223 unless you are more into coyotes then get a 250.
Biggest problem with 204 223 22-250 is the fact that the majority of them will fire up to a 69 grain bullet without a custom twist barrel... meaning there effective range is some what limited for varmints.
I have been doing testing with 50 grain bullets because everyone knows you can shoot them out past 500 yards... its a bogus rumor... they still go out that far and much further, however even with my very good optics leupold 8.5x25x50 and decent rifle I was able to shoot about 1.5 Moa at 600 yards 10 shots, off a bipod and truck hood. Which at that range is about 9 inches spread... mainly due to wind drift but as far as being able to tag a gopher at 600 with a 204 223 22-250 is going to be lucky a shot because the light bullets these guns fire get to much wind drift at that range and gophers are small so realistically effective range is going to be around 300-400.
My goal is to shoot them 1000 yards yards and get 1 moa for a 10 shot group.
You can compensate for drop easy with a scope but wind drift is alot harder because it changes so frequently.
My 50 grain 223 load is flying at 3400 fps for reference. I dont know what the .204 will do.
I have been doing testing with 50 grain bullets because everyone knows you can shoot them out past 500 yards... its a bogus rumor... they still go out that far and much further, however even with my very good optics leupold 8.5x25x50 and decent rifle I was able to shoot about 1.5 Moa at 600 yards 10 shots, off a bipod and truck hood. Which at that range is about 9 inches spread... mainly due to wind drift but as far as being able to tag a gopher at 600 with a 204 223 22-250 is going to be lucky a shot because the light bullets these guns fire get to much wind drift at that range and gophers are small so realistically effective range is going to be around 300-400.
My goal is to shoot them 1000 yards yards and get 1 moa for a 10 shot group.
You can compensate for drop easy with a scope but wind drift is alot harder because it changes so frequently.
My 50 grain 223 load is flying at 3400 fps for reference. I dont know what the .204 will do.
You also have to think about barrel life. If your going to be blasting p-dogs a .223 is going to have a much longer barrel life than a .22-250 or .243.
The .223 is cheap to shoot, lots of brass available, etc. You can find a remingto or savage with 1-9" twists and shoot 60gr vmaxs or ballistic tips. May people have a lot of luck with 75 gr. amaxs. For targets they'll chew threw 69gr. SMKs and 75gr berger's that I'm told will work well at long ranges.
The .223 is cheap to shoot, lots of brass available, etc. You can find a remingto or savage with 1-9" twists and shoot 60gr vmaxs or ballistic tips. May people have a lot of luck with 75 gr. amaxs. For targets they'll chew threw 69gr. SMKs and 75gr berger's that I'm told will work well at long ranges.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
I shoot my 12FVSS with 69s and 75s at up to 1000 yards. Hitting a gopher at the long ranges is a hit and miss option. I shoot the varmints at between 200 and 300 comfortably. The 55s FMJs I used to shoot were just too light for over 500 and too erratic for targets.
Mike Oxbig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Scarborough Ontario
If you reload and only plug varmint and target shoot with it, then the .204 is simply an amazing cartage.
It's the fastest in it's class, flat, and very accurate.
If you want to plink all day a lot then the .223 is your best bet.
It's the fastest in it's class, flat, and very accurate.
If you want to plink all day a lot then the .223 is your best bet.
- Location
- Southern MB
I'd personally go with a .22-250 for a fast cartridge.
Its a proven 72 year old design, vs. a 5 year old design with the .204
Also it can push a heavier bullet, as fast as a .204.
Its a proven 72 year old design, vs. a 5 year old design with the .204
Also it can push a heavier bullet, as fast as a .204.
neat round BUT I think it is mostly a marketing gimmick - if you want a stock (ie - reasonable cost rifle off the rack) .223/5.56 is the lowest cost/most available & in my CZ is a force to be reckoned with at anything out to 350M *± (3-9x40 VXI) I have a 22-250 Rem 700 w/ a VXII & w/ handloads 'pity the fool dog' at about 375M
IMHO there are a lot of better cartridges w/ lower cost per round, as good or better kill'em dead ratios
New is n't always better - it is often just new
IMHO there are a lot of better cartridges w/ lower cost per round, as good or better kill'em dead ratios
New is n't always better - it is often just new
I have a .223, and a friend the .204. Reloading is a bit cheaper with the .223 and factory rounds are MUCH cheaper. Gophers don't seem to notice the difference much. The .204 might toss em a bit higher, but I think I need a larger sample size just to be sure ;-) FTW, he has a H&R single shot and I have a Stevens 200 and we are both happy. Doing it again, I might save up a bit more and get something with a detachable mag. Loading the blind mag under my 1 piece scope mount is inconvenient at best. 2 pieces bases would make that somewhat easier.
I have two .204's, a CZ 527 American and a Remington 700 VLS that I recently rebarreled with a faster 1 in 10 twist custom job. Needless to say, I love the cartridge. I also own .223 and .22-250 rifles. Yes, there's room for them all. 
I had a Ruger Mini 14 Target in .223 and also have a NEF Ultra Varmint Fluted in .204 and prefer the .204.
Ammo is certainly much more readily available for the .223 and is less expensive but I've gotta say I shoot more accurately and consistently with my .204 and don't mind paying extra $ for the ammo because I had 3x as much money tied up in my Mini 14 as I do with the NEF. I sold the Mini 14 for this reason. Great gun, just not for me.
Highly recommend the NEF Ultra Varmint Fluted in .204! Very accurate and well priced.
