SmallCaliberCentral

Which one would you choose for long range varminting? How does the 204 stack up with the competition?

I have a 204 and had a 220 swift. The 204 is much less fussy on what goes down it's throat. Lot less noise, less recoil, and less powder used.And in my case, a lot smaller group size. But also, the bullet is more fragile as well.

POP,

This is one of my favorite subjects. I have shot many thousands of rounds through several rifles in these three cartridges and others. What is long range in your shooting situation? Will you be using an off the shelf rifle with standard twist or a custom barrel? Do you hand load your ammo? Give us some more info to work with, there is a wealth of info among the members of this forum to help you.

POP: Hotshot basically laid it out, but also keep in mind that if you need a decent amount of energy at a long range target (long range here may be over 350 yds.), then a 55gr bullet from a Swift of 22-250 may be the ticket. However having owned all three calibers, I'd say for about 90% of my own varminting needs, the 204 gets the nod.

I have sold my 22-250, love my Swift, but only shoot it at colony rodents on an occasional basis due to barrel heat/erosion, not to mention the added cost of powder, as the Swift uses almost 2/3 more to achieve the same velocity from it's ideal bullet weight (55 grs.).

As mentioned, you can see your hits with a HB 204, even shooting the 39's or 40 grain bullets, and the speed and accuracy have to be experienced to be fully appreciated. Most guys who poo poo the 204 have never even shot one. Grab a nice 204 and you'll likely never look back.

I can't speak for the .220 Swift, since I don't own one......but I do own a .22-250 and two .204's. My first several pd trips, I shot my .22-250 and .223. They both performed well, and I was pretty happy.....until I shot a .204. I could see my hits (and misses) with the .204. The .204 is slower to heat up, cheaper to shoot, not as loud, and I can hit them just as far as with the .22-250. My .22-250 is now a safe queen, along with the .223. My Bushmaster .223 is now my coyote rifle, and the .204's my varmint guns.

Have lots of experience with the 22-250 and i would have to say it is my favorite varmint caliber. It does make a lot of noise.....it does burn lots of powder.....the barrel willnot last as long as other rounds but for almost 25 years it has not let me down. From 10 yards to 600 yards.......they just fall down!!! Have owned several 204's and I must say that I am a fan but 2 bad rifles (1 savage and 1 remington) beggining to think that a semi custom rifle in 204 will be the ticket for me. I use the 204 out to about 400 yards and the 22-250 beyond that simply because it has more energy than the 204. We primarilly hunt yotes and as we all know they can be tough to put down so that is why my dog guns are a 204 and a 22-250.

Va varminter wrote:I have a 204 and had a 220 swift. The 204 is much less fussy on what goes down it's throat. Lot less noise, less recoil, and less powder used.And in my case, a lot smaller group size. But also, the bullet is more fragile as well.

Amen

I have all three plus others and I will have to say that my two favorites are the 17REM and 204. Mainly because you can watch the bullet hit the target and see immediately the impact of your shot. With that being said I can say positive things about each caliber and I enjoy shooting all of them, but there is nothing like watching the PD dances.......

Medic: We call that "teaching Skippy to jump"...... It's a real hoot to give him flying lessons, sometimes in many different directions at once.

Rick in Oregon wrote:Medic: We call that "teaching Skippy to jump"...... It's a real hoot to give him flying lessons, sometimes in many different directions at once.

Watching "skippy" get shredded through the scope is a an absolute "hoot"
Here is an example of what you can see through the scope.

http://predatorhuntcanada.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=626

Gube: Sweeeet! Great action shots.

Wifey will spot for me on PD's, rock chucks, and squirrels, but she draws the line there. Big 'atta-gal' to yours for her efforts with the new Nikon.

FYI - don't know if this is an offshoot from a thread on PredatorMasters...where a couple of know it all Aiceholeos (including a member or two from here - BCB ring a bell??) tried to take it out on me.....read for yourself.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ub ... art=1&vc=1

acloco wrote:FYI - don't know if this is an offshoot from a thread on PredatorMasters...where a couple of know it all Aiceholeos (including a member or two from here - BCB ring a bell??) tried to take it out on me.....read for yourself.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ub ... art=1&vc=1

Wow! Some really nasty fellas over there. That's why I don't spend to much time over there anymore. Don't need the aggravation.

I'll second that.......

Feels like family here.

I am not defending my statements etc, etc, etc....As I indicated...they need to call Ruger, Hornady, Hodgdon, and Berger.

Just gave the guy an alternative that definitely lie in between the two calibers and is close (exceeds) the 220 swift when comparing same bullet weights.

Oh well.....everybody is entitled to their opinion....but NOBODY has the right to call somebody dumb.