204 Ruger vs 22-250?

[FCLightning]

Originally Posted by Ldsh_tanker

Well i think ive made my decision.
204 ruger.
Thanks all for the help! Very helpful! I just hope i didnt make people loose their minds on this post

Happy hunting brothers and sisters!

I am sure you won't be disappointed.

[Ldsh_tanker]

For sure! Pretty excited about it!

[stob]

Originally Posted by Powder monkey

I shoot both.
The .204 is a fine cartridge,however it will never be a .22-250.
I shoot 50 gr. Nosler bts. Just under 4000 fps. Don't hit the shoulder and no problems. Almost always just entry hole.

x2... I use 40gr NBT's and varget for approx. 4200fps / 26" tube

[Ldsh_tanker]

Ill keep that load in mind!
Thanks alot!

[Fordevr]

I was looking this over because I love my .204 but was considering a 22-250. Since I only shoot factory ammo and have had good success with the vmax in the past I decided to goto the Hornady website and find the best vmax in both calibers. Everyone talks about the wind and how it effects the .204. But when I compared the 50gr vmax in the 22-250 and the 40gr vmax in the .204 out too 1100 yards just for kicks, and I was very surprised. The .204 wins hands down in bullet drop and wind drift. The 22-250 has a little bit more energy at close ranges but after 300 they are very close and at one point the .204 even surpasses the 22-250 in energy for a little while. Often times there is 50 ft lbs or less separating them. Fur damage is minimal with the .204 and the only time I have runners is if I don’t do my part. I think my next rifle will be a .204 Tikka t3 lite or a custom.🥰love the .204

[Mb-MBR]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

I was looking this over because I love my .204 but was considering a 22-250. Since I only shoot factory ammo and have had good success with the vmax in the past I decided to goto the Hornady website and find the best vmax in both calibers. Everyone talks about the wind and how it effects the .204. But when I compared the 50gr vmax in the 22-250 and the 40gr vmax in the .204 out too 1100 yards just for kicks, and I was very surprised. The .204 wins hands down in bullet drop and wind drift. The 22-250 has a little bit more energy at close ranges but after 300 they are very close and at one point the .204 even surpasses the 22-250 in energy for a little while. Often times there is 50 ft lbs or less separating them. Fur damage is minimal with the .204 and the only time I have runners is if I don’t do my part. I think my next rifle will be a .204 Tikka t3 lite or a custom.🥰love the .204

Cant go wrong with that decision......very accurate little gun. And gets the job done, I dont have the experience others have here but have taken 50 coyotes and 10 foxes with my Tikka 204 and not a runner out of the bunch. Furthest shot was 200 yards......

[krthegunslinger]

I’ve shot them all for coyotes. .243, 22-250, .223. .204.
The .204 is my go to rifle since I bought it 14 yrs ago. The rest sit in the safe.
32 gr Vmax hammers them good. Some runners but that happens with any caliber of you don’t hit them right. They are a tough animal. A coyote at 3-400 yards is pretty much going to the stretcher every time. I’ve killed them out to 500 with the .204. None of the others shoot as flat as the .204. I shoot 50 -70 coyotes each winter.

[Fordevr]

Here’s the comparison pages of the 2 best vmax Factory loads I could find from Hornadys site. If it is highlighted In yellow that means it was better of the 2 calibers. It it is circled then it was a tie. The criteria I used for this was:
Both Factory Ammo and the best factory vmax bullet for that caliber. There was a 53gr vmax at one time but didn’t see it there. The 50 was way better for the 22-250 than the 55gr. Vmax. Also the 35gr vmax for the 22-250 wasn’t near as impressive as the 50gr vmax either. Currently I also use the 32 gr but want to test the 40 gr vmax when I get a chance. Both are amazing so it’s really about which one the rifle likes best for me.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

Here’s the comparison pages of the 2 best vmax Factory loads I could find from Hornadys site. If it is highlighted In yellow that means it was better of the 2 calibers. It it is circled then it was a tie. The criteria I used for this was:
Both Factory Ammo and the best factory vmax bullet for that caliber. There was a 53gr vmax at one time but didn’t see it there. The 50 was way better for the 22-250 than the 55gr. Vmax. Also the 35gr vmax for the 22-250 wasn’t near as impressive as the 50gr vmax either. Currently I also use the 32 gr but want to test the 40 gr vmax when I get a chance. Both are amazing so it’s really about which one the rifle likes best for me.

The 35 grain Vmax is designed for the 22 Hornet. It has a terrible shape and even in the Hornet it isn't very accurate past 150 yards. The 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade, if your gun will shoot them, is a far better ballistic shape and performance. The 40 Vmax works great in the Hornet, 221 FB and 223. I am pretty sure you will find that at 22-250 velocities the 50 grain will be a far better bullet all round but it never hurts to test some 40 grainers just for fun.

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by Dean2

The 35 grain Vmax is designed for the 22 Hornet. It has a terrible shape and even in the Hornet it isn't very accurate past 150 yards. The 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade, if your gun will shoot them, is a far better ballistic shape and performance. The 40 Vmax works great in the Hornet, 221 FB and 223. I am pretty sure you will find that at 22-250 velocities the 50 grain will be a far better bullet all round but it never hurts to test some 40 grainers just for fun.

That’s what I was saying. In the charts in my previous post. The .204 seems superior in everything but energy. And from 650-850 is the same or better than the 22-250. I was surprised.😳

[Fordevr]

Just posted the 32gr. Vmax Ballistics in this post. It says -14 inches at 400 yards. I’m gonna go outside and take a few shots just to see how close this chart is.

[Mb-MBR]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

Just posted the 32gr. Vmax Ballistics in this post. It says -14 inches at 400 yards. I’m gonna go outside and take a few shots just to see how close this chart is.

Look forward to the results and report back...…...

[Fordevr]

Aimed at the very top of the page and dead center. Turns out the first mildot down on my scope was pretty much right on target. Little lower than expected and the wind took it a bit but really happy with that at 400 yards with all factory setup.😍

[bucksnbears]

Originally Posted by Dean2

The 35 grain Vmax is designed for the 22 Hornet. It has a terrible shape and even in the Hornet it isn't very accurate past 150 yards. The 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade, if your gun will shoot them, is a far better ballistic shape and performance. The 40 Vmax works great in the Hornet, 221 FB and 223. I am pretty sure you will find that at 22-250 velocities the 50 grain will be a far better bullet all round but it never hurts to test some 40 grainers just for fun.

Naming the Varmint Grenade bullet in a coyote thread is like posting a pic of Hillery C in a hunting magazine.
IT DON'T Belong!!

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by bucksnbears

Naming the Varmint Grenade bullet in a coyote thread is like posting a pic of Hillery C in a hunting magazine.
IT DON'T Belong!!

Never used them. Why don’t you like them?

[Battle Rat]

Had a couple 250s over 30 or so years.
Wouldn't even try to guess at how any dogs I've killed but I've been out shooting coyotes every winter,
Switched to the 204, 5 or 6 years ago.
I haven't had any "runners" yet.
If you look at the skinned out carcass of a coyote an still believe that a 204 hasn't got enough energy to kill it then you must be smoking some good stuff.

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by Battle Rat

Had a couple 250s over 30 or so years.
Wouldn't even try to guess at how any dogs I've killed but I've been out shooting coyotes every winter,
Switched to the 204, 5 or 6 years ago.
I haven't had any "runners" yet.
If you look at the skinned out carcass of a coyote an still believe that a 204 hasn't got enough energy to kill it then you must be smoking some good stuff.

Ya I couldn’t agree more. One of the most underestimated calibers out there. Soooo accurate and crazy killing power. My hunting partner skins all of ours and if they don’t have a dirt nap instantly it’s because of shot placement. I had a poor shot to far to the back of the yote, with a nosler 40 gr bt and it only made 30 yards before laying down. Next shot it instantly went limp. If I do may part it’s instantly lights out. I hate to see animals suffer so that’s another reason I love my .204. Dead fast and little to no fur damage. If you don’t care about fur then the gun you holding is the right gun.👌

[sheep]

Does anyone have an idea on which 204 bullet provides the most penetration? I've been shooting coyotes and its been good, had one get away into its den, but shot a wolf last week and followed that thing for miles, still bleeding but not dead or moving slow. Full frontal shot at 200yrds. I'm using 38 SBKs but would consider something that would penetrate more.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by sheep

Does anyone have an idea on which 204 bullet provides the most penetration? I've been shooting coyotes and its been good, had one get away into its den, but shot a wolf last week and followed that thing for miles, still bleeding but not dead or moving slow. Full frontal shot at 200yrds. I'm using 38 SBKs but would consider something that would penetrate more.

204 is a neat calibre. Good on gophers to yotes but no one I know of makes a tsx or bonded type bullet for it. Wolf is a big and tough animal. Realistically a 243 would be the min calibre I would use for shooting wolf. The 204s and even most of the 22 range are on the light side for animals over 100 pounds and further away than 100 yards.

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by sheep

Does anyone have an idea on which 204 bullet provides the most penetration? I've been shooting coyotes and its been good, had one get away into its den, but shot a wolf last week and followed that thing for miles, still bleeding but not dead or moving slow. Full frontal shot at 200yrds. I'm using 38 SBKs but would consider something that would penetrate more.

I would recommend a federal 40gr Nosler Ballistic tip. Hold together a little better than a vmax in my research. I’d try them. Maybe a little close at first if possible. I’ve had a few runners but when I do it’s my fault and not the bullet. We skin em all and they are very efficient.

[Arctic]

I use the 40 gr V-Max, 27 gr/8208. Accounted for lots of coyotes and wolves, ....everyone DRT! I'm a believer in the 204!

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

I was looking this over because I love my .204 but was considering a 22-250. Since I only shoot factory ammo and have had good success with the vmax in the past I decided to goto the Hornady website and find the best vmax in both calibers. Everyone talks about the wind and how it effects the .204. But when I compared the 50gr vmax in the 22-250 and the 40gr vmax in the .204 out too 1100 yards just for kicks, and I was very surprised. The .204 wins hands down in bullet drop and wind drift. The 22-250 has a little bit more energy at close ranges but after 300 they are very close and at one point the .204 even surpasses the 22-250 in energy for a little while. Often times there is 50 ft lbs or less separating them. Fur damage is minimal with the .204 and the only time I have runners is if I don’t do my part. I think my next rifle will be a .204 Tikka t3 lite or a custom.🥰love the .204

FINALLY someone who did their home work...and made an informed choice....Congrates ....

If your rifle will stabilize the Hornady 40 gr. V-Max you are laughing....Take a look at TAC powder if you reload...Primers DO make a big difference in group size as well...

[trigger7mm]

For me it’s the .204, hands down, and I also have shot hundreds of coyotes. It is fur friendly, drops them like a stone, and is a joy to shoot. If there was a better coyote/fur hunters round out there, I would certainly have one. I can count on one hand how many runners I’ve had. That’s without using a couple of fingers and my thumb. The .22/250 is nice, but it’s too hard on the hides in my opinion. The only thing that I would like better than my Tikka .204, would be to have a suppressor on it. I might add, that I prefer the 40 grain Vmax bullet as well.

[schleprock]

Has anyone tried the 204 hornady 45 sp on coyotes?

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by trigger7mm

For me it’s the .204, hands down, and I also have shot hundreds of coyotes. It is fur friendly, drops them like a stone, and is a joy to shoot. If there was a better coyote/fur hunters round out there, I would certainly have one. I can count on one hand how many runners I’ve had. That’s without using a couple of fingers and my thumb. The .22/250 is nice, but it’s too hard on the hides in my opinion. The only thing that I would like better than my Tikka .204, would be to have a suppressor on it. I might add, that I prefer the 40 grain Vmax bullet as well.

I hope my rifle shoots the 40 gr vmax well. Gonna try some as soon as I can find some. I have some 40 fed. Nosler bt I’m gonna try on the weekend. I had a buddy that convinced me to get a .204 yrs ago and sure glad he did. Such a fun little round to shoot. It’s fun surprising ppl with it. Me and my brother in law were shooting milk jugs full of water and he was surprised when the .204 made it explode almost as good as his 30.06

If your looking at this trying to decide between a 22-250 or a .204 trust me when I say neither will disappoint you but most of the ppl I find that think the 22-250 is better have never owned a .204. Lots of ppl say once they get the .204 that the other gopher/coyote guns don’t see much daylight. Awesome round. The only bad thing I can say against the .204 that both the 22-250 and .223 have over it is Ammo choice. Hopefully there are more choices in the years to come. Still a relatively new round since its start in 2004. But that said if you get your first .204 go and buy a box of
Hornady 32gr. Vmax and 40gr. Vmax
Federal Nosler Ballistic tip 32gr and 40 gr
Something with a 39 gr. blitzking

One of these will make you a very happy shooter

If not then reloading might be your thing, but I get 3.5in groups at 400 yards with factory ammo and that’s hard to beat with most calibers at my level of
Shooting.

[bucksnbears]

I sure wish Sierra would come out with a .20 Cal 35 grain Game King.
That would be a game- changer!!!

[DLab]

Originally Posted by schleprock

Has anyone tried the 204 hornady 45 sp on coyotes?

I'm not sure Hornady is still making them,but no I haven't.
Another bullet that is never mentioned is the Speer 39 grain TNT.I'm told they are excellent for Yotes,just slow them down a bit.The Vmax jacket is a bit thinner than the SBK's,so they are slightly more "emphatic"shall we say ,on Gophers,not that the Sierra's don't provide the display factor also.

My .204 is always the first Centerfire I start new shooters with after Rimfire,no recoil,accurate and just plain fun to shoot. I've got just over a 1,000 rounds through it and it still shoots good and a new Stainless Fluted take off waiting in the closet.