What's your favouritest varmint round between 17 hornet, 204 ruger and 223?

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Mike112288

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Wanna know your thoughts. I'm gonna reload for the round and figure 17 hornet is prob quite a bit cheaper to reload for than 223. The 204 is a sweet round but not that cheap to reload for. I think I spent about 60 cents a round for 204
 
The 204 is my favorite for now. I haven't started loading the 17 Hornet yet, likely this spring i'll work up loads. Hardly shoot the deuce any more but it is a good one as well. The 223 I haven't started loading yet either that will start in the spring to work up loads.
 
You said "favourite" in the title, but "cheap" was the theme of your post.

Favourite = .22/250

Cheap = .223

I have owned and loaded for a couple dozen Hornets and K-Hornets (never a .17 H), they are a pain... it is easy to download my .223's to Hornet levels if I want, and I have "worked-down" reduced small game loads for all of my .22 centerfire rifles. I don't think that I will ever buy another Hornet... unless one chooses me and follows me home.

Can't help you on the .204, thus far I have been able to resist.
 
As much as I loved the .204 performance and the accuracy it gave me, those piddly little bullets are a pita to seat with sausage fingers. I have avoided the .17's for the same reason, and my Daughter isn't here to cover for me anymore,so...

I have to go .223 for overall winner for all the reasons listed above.
 
If you want cheap. 223 is the ticket. I bought a 5 gallon pail of brass (1f, city police range leftovers) for $70. I think it was like 3500 cases. Amortized over 5 firings and your brass is essentially free. Bulk bullets are also easy to find in .224.
 
Ya 204 is one sweet round. Should have kept my tikka in that caliber. I just seen the bulk 223 bullets 1000 heads for like 130$ and thinking of the brass one can get for cheap makes it ideal for plinking but I don't know about fmj's for gophers lol. The 22 hornet has never really gotten my attention with the 223 option available. It's the little 17 hornet that has gotten me a tad excited here and may buy one soon. I remember loading the 204 bullets was quite "fun" and annoying at times so 17 buklets would be even more annoying haha
 
Ya I'm aware of those hot 17 rounds but I want the 17 hornet for better barrel life. 3600 fps is good for me for gophers etc.. I like the small powder capacity of the 17 hornet. As for the 20 vartag and practical I'm not sure what their purpose is with the 204 ruger option. Although using a 223 case for 20 cal bullet does interest me too.. I want to reload as cheap as possible. If money were not an issue I would hands down go for the 204 it's my favourite varmint specific round. 223 has more uses with the heavier bullets
 
hoytcanon said:
You said "favourite" in the title, but "cheap" was the theme of your post.

Favourite = .22/250

Cheap = .223

I have owned and loaded for a couple dozen Hornets and K-Hornets (never a .17 H), they are a pain... it is easy to download my .223's to Hornet levels if I want, and I have "worked-down" reduced small game loads for all of my .22 centerfire rifles. I don't think that I will ever buy another Hornet... unless one chooses me and follows me home.

Can't help you on the .204, thus far I have been able to resist.
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Resistance is futile... the 204 will assimilate you into its collective.

Powder efficiency, range, horsepower, trajectory and cost is the attraction to the .204

Sold my .223's and 22-250's and dedicated myself to the cartridge. It's just that good
 
Mike112288 said:
As for the 20 vartag and practical I'm not sure what their purpose is with the 204 ruger option. Although using a 223 case for 20 cal bullet does interest me too.. I want to reload as cheap as possible. If money were not an issue I would hands down go for the 204 it's my favourite varmint specific round. 223 has more uses with the heavier bullets
Click to expand...

Free brass. And if lapua is your thing that is an option for 223 based rounds.

I reload 6x45 for pretty cheap. Costs about the same price as hmr for 50 rounds Except I am shooting an 85gr bullet at 2975fps instead of a 17gr bullet at 2650fps.

Tax in that load costs me $24 and change per 50 rounds.
 
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