.204 Ruger what bullet do you like?

[Fordevr]

I was using a Vmax 32 in my .204 and it performed very well. I tried a 40 gr Nosler and like it just as much. Holds together a bit better. I have never experienced a bullet splashing if it hit bone yet and that included the vmax which seem more explosive. Most of my shots are under 200 yards and so far no bullet splash. This is a video I made of my .204 vs a antler and a cow femur bone at 100yrds. I also fired the .17 wsm at it just to see how it would do.

https://youtu.be/dxjEJCxCBnA

[Fowlow]

40g bergers where my favourite but the 32g v-max shot great

[elkhunter11]

I like the 39gr Blitzking.

[Battle Rat]

40 gr Hornady on yotes.
26 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade on gophers and don't use that bullet on anything bigger than a gopher.

[waterhaulerhunter]

Always liked either 35gr bergers or 39gr bks.

[Fordevr]

Who’s using factory and who is reloading?

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I like the 39gr Blitzking.

I have heard a lot of good about blitz but never tried them. I use the Nosler just because my tikka loves them.

[Mastodon]

I have a brand new M77 in 204 that I haven't even mounted a scope on yet. I picked up some 40gn vmax. Looking forward to shooting my first 204.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

I have heard a lot of good about blitz but never tried them. I use the Nosler just because my tikka loves them.

The 39gr Blitzkings shoot under .3" in my Cooper, and they hold together great on coyotes. They usually exit coyotes, so they can be destructive on pelts.

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

The 39gr Blitzkings shoot under .3" in my Cooper, and they hold together great on coyotes. They usually exit coyotes, so they can be destructive on pelts.

Sweet. Good to know. I real like the Nosler Ballistic Tip. They penetrate and are explosive but usually don’t exit if your past 100 yrds. Picked up a Stoeger m3500 12 ga for close up shots and multiples. Use the Hornady Nicole plated B.B. coyote loads and they have also been great so far.

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by Mastodon

I have a brand new M77 in 204 that I haven't even mounted a scope on yet. I picked up some 40gn vmax. Looking forward to shooting my first 204.

Congrats. It was love at first shot for me. Just an amazing round.

[coyote_man]

My CZ and Kimber both prefer the 32 gr bullets and they perform very well on coyotes.If you shoot coyotes you cannot avoid the splash or fur damage.The shoulder blade is your best bet at seeing it.

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by coyote_man

My CZ and Kimber both prefer the 32 gr bullets and they perform very well on coyotes.If you shoot coyotes you cannot avoid the splash or fur damage.The shoulder blade is your best bet at seeing it.

What is your definition of splash? And when a bullet
Splashes how do you know it?

[coyote_man]

My definition of a splash is when you have trouble covering the damaged area with the palm of your hand.Most varmint calibres will create fur damage sooner or later if you hit a bone. Some holes are repairable while others may not be.

[Fordevr]

Ya I have had that. In my mind that’s just the explosion of the bone like in my video. Some ppl say that a bullet hits the bone and the bullet disinigrates and the coyote runs away. The latter I have never seen. In my mind that’s just a poor shot, or at best maybe poor bullet choice.😬

[Fordevr]

This is 2 poor pictures out of a video I took. The first is 2 seconds before I shoot the coyote. The second is a poor picture but the top black spot is it’s mouth wide open, just after bullet impact and the lower black spot is a large impact wound just as it was tipping over in his tracks. Definitely didn’t run away.

[Hunt4Ever]

For me - 39gr Blitzking with CFE223 at 29.5gr pushing them.

[6.5 shooter]

Hornady 40 gr. V=Max, TAC powder... Some rifles will not stabilize this bullet so it gets a bad rap. I use it for everything, gophers, yotes, and some target fun. Love it.

[West O'5]

Im looking for a fur friendly load,so far only Fordevr’s Nosler BT sounds good?
Ideally,something like that is what I’d like to use,.20cal pinhole entry and no exit if possible,although I don’t mind a bit of sewing I’d rather avoid fist size exit holes?
My thoughts were something like the varmint grenade but Battle Rat says nothing bigger then gophers?Care to expand on that?Too much splash or do they just not kill yotes reliably?

[bucksnbears]

I don't shoot a .204 but know plenty that do.

For a fur bullet, Berger 35 hands down!

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by West O'5

Im looking for a fur friendly load,so far only Fordevr’s Nosler BT sounds good?
Ideally,something like that is what I’d like to use,.20cal pinhole entry and no exit if possible,although I don’t mind a bit of sewing I’d rather avoid fist size exit holes?
My thoughts were something like the varmint grenade but Battle Rat says nothing bigger then gophers?Care to expand on that?Too much splash or do they just not kill yotes reliably?

As long as you keep you shots out past 100 yards 32 vmax 40 vmax and the Nosler would all be great choices. I have used the 32vmax’s and they’re great.

[West O'5]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

As long as you keep you shots out past 100 yards 32 vmax 40 vmax and the Nosler would all be great choices. I have used the 32vmax’s and they’re great.

Cool thanks!👍😎
I’ve already got 80 rounds of factory 32 Vmax,dies,and a couple hundred assorted .20 cal Berger bullets......now I just gotta buy me a .204 rifle,lol
(Had one a cpl years ago and sold it kickn my butt now)

[Fordevr]

I have the tikka t3 Varmint Heavy Barrel and it is amazing. That said if I was gonna do it all over again I’d get a tikka lite in 204. I sold a bushnell ledgend 4.5-14 scope and wish I hadn’t. It was light clear and inexpensive. The t3 I have now has a Sightron siii 6-24x50 FFP. Love not worrying about what power the scope is on just turn to any magnification and shoot. Even at 500 yards the reticle is only 1 1/4 inch wide. And nice and bright 1/2 hr after sunset too.

[West O'5]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

I have the tikka t3 Varmint Heavy Barrel and it is amazing. That said if I was gonna do it all over again I’d get a tikka lite in 204. I sold a bushnell ledgend 4.5-14 scope and wish I hadn’t. It was light clear and inexpensive. The t3 I have now has a Sightron siii 6-24x50 FFP. Love not worrying about what power the scope is on just turn to any magnification and shoot. Even at 500 yards the reticle is only 1 1/4 inch wide. And nice and bright 1/2 hr after sunset too.

Yea the T3 is definitely on my short list of possibles,just not top priority or in any rush til later in Nov probly,too much other hunting expenses to pay for between now and December.

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I like the 39gr Blitzking.

Awesome bullet for the.204!

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

Awesome bullet for the.204!

I have only shot 1 box of these a long long time ago but might have to try another. I see a ton of ppl really like them for coyote.

If your new to .204 it seems like vmax and blitzking are the 2 names I see most offen as far as factory ammo goes. Either of those in a 32 or 40 grain will be a nice fur friendly round past 100yrds. I like the federal nosler bt 40’s and in a video I will post below they are similar to the 40 vmax but Go a little further where the 40 vmax seems to be more explosive. Both kill great and both are fur friendly past 100. The picture I posted above with the massive hole in the chest is a 20-30yrd shot. Now that can make a good size hole.

Took my brother in law out for his first hunt and he shot a coyote at 30yrds
In the head and it never came out... (I’ll talk more about that in a bit) That only happens in off season when the fur is worth nothing.😳 When we were walking up to it I asked where’d ya shoot it and he said in the chest. Lol talk about lucky yote fever.

40 vmax and 40 Nosler BT comparison
https://youtu.be/AsyH18dWm80

As a side note...

If your wanting a nice camera to video hunts this is one I highly recommend
https://youtu.be/rVwwHu6QtvM

[trigger7mm]

I’ve shot many coyotes with 32 grain and 40 grain v max bullets. 40 grainers
seem to do less damage on the hides. Both are excellent though.

[DLab]

Has anybody tried Speer 39gr. TNT hollow points ? I've talked to a few guys that really like them for yotes using .20 cals. The key is not to push them too fast ,apparently.
I use 39 SBK and IMR 8208 XBR for the gopher patch.

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by DLab

Has anybody tried Speer 39gr. TNT hollow points ? I've talked to a few guys that really like them for yotes using .20 cals. The key is not to push them too fast ,apparently.
I use 39 SBK and IMR 8208 XBR for the gopher patch.

Never tried them. Kinda getting excited to start reloading the .204 so I can try different ammos.

I have a suggestion.

Let’s start a post just for ppl to post pics of
Yotes they have shot,
yardage shot at
and whether or not follow up shots were needed.
Damage or lack of damage to pelts (for those that skin em)
Then we can really see which ammos are pelt friendly and which ones are not so much. 🤔

[Powder monkey]

I've tried a bunch but settled on 40 NBT s,going just under 4K . Really accurate and I can't remember having one come out a coyote yet.