Considering switching from a .220 Swift to the .204

[Pydpiper]

Felt like I waited a year for approval for this site.
Right now I am shooting a .220 Swift in the Ruger M-77 platform, and I am considering switching to the .204, in perhaps the same rifle, or the #1. I can't get my head around this .204 cartridge, has anyone shot both? Care to comment on any comparisons?
Thanks!
David

[acloco]

Cheaper to reload (less powder)
Cheaper to reload (brass costs less)
Cheaper to reload (brass lasts longer)
Excellent ballistics - consult nearly any ballistic table
Excellent "whack" factor - prairie dogs are still getting torn up at 375 yards
LESS muzzle blast and noise
LESS barrel heat
Barrel will last longer in the 204, if you treat them the same.

[WrzWaldo]

Welcome aboard... If you have room in your safe why not just add a 204 Ruger?


Here ya go!

204 Ruger VS the 22's

[Glen]

Welcome to the Forum!! Sorry it took so long to get on here & Thanks for hanging in there!!


Approvals are taking longer on more & more boards these days due to the spammers. A lot of boards are going back to the individual approvals VS the auto approval methods to combat this problem.

[Rick in Oregon]

Piper: I own and shoot both the 220 Swift (M77V) and the 204 (Sako M75V). Love both, reload for both, they are both very accurate rifles, and I would not trade one for the other. All said about the Swift vs. the 204 is true, but for me at least, owning and shooting both calibers is right for me.

When I'm after rock chucks way out there and the wind is blowing, I want the 55gr slug out of the Swift for those long shots and the increased energy if offers with the heavier bullet. It's not a colony rodent shooting caliber, and I'm selective when I shoot mine. On the other hand, I shoot thousands of rounds at PD's and ground squirrels every season, and for that, the 204 shines. The trajectory for both is almost identical, but the 204 is more fun to shoot, but again, I'll never get rid of my Swift for another varmint rifle.....owning both just adds to the overall fun.

[crashcarruthers]

Less (almost no) recoil from .204 vs Swift, both are really good calibers. Variety is the spice of Life!

[Pydpiper]

I just had a fairly elaborate post disappear when I entered it, so now you get the condensed version.
I should have mentioned that i am not a reloader as of yet, may never be.. The availability of ammo is one reason I am leaning towards the .204.
Noise is a concern for me, so is barrel life. I shoot a whole lot and that was nice to hear, however, I have never noticed recoil on the Swift.
I am not weighing one against another, I am going to purchase a .204 (now), I was just looking for some basic comparisons and what I may expect from one rifle to the next. Thanks for the link, that was very informative.
I will try to do more reading before I throw up a thread about which rife is better (in .204 caliber), but beware, it is coming. I need one that will be good in all forms of weather. I love the M-77 platform but I may need to get away from the wood stock to something more weather resistant.
Thanks for the help guys!
David

[Glen]

CZ Kevlar Varmint.

[Pydpiper]

The link on this site to the CZ varmint w/ Kevlar doesn't work, and when I go to CZ directly they do not show that rifle. Wonder why?
Is the CZ considered to be the best as far as continuous accuracy goes?

[skunkriver]

Try this link: http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=13

I hope it works for you. I don't have the Kevlar model as I prefer wood and blue, but can tell you from personal experience that CZ makes a high quality and accurate firearm for the price. Carl

[Pydpiper]

That link worked, thanks.
Dovetail mounts? I am surprised to see that.

[Rick in Oregon]

Dovetail scope rings: Don't be too surprised....Sako uses that method too, as does Ruger (their own design). It eliminates the ring base(s), less chances for more screws to come loose, and in pure engineering terms, better by design, having less parts and completly secure.

In use, recoil forces the rings against a tapered dovetail, making the rings tighter, with no possibilty of coming loose. How many times have you read about a rifles accuracy going south, only to find the owners scope rings or mount has come loose on the receiver? The dovetail design is far superior to simple drilled/tapped scope base system, especially ones that employ 6-48 screws.

[CZ223]

I have both and love both. Definitely buy a 204. Ordinarily I would tell you to keep the Swift but, if you are not going to reload, you might want to trade it for a 22-250. I am just now getting into the 22-250 and, though I love my Swift, I have to admit that there isn't a whole lot of difference between the two, other than the cost of ammo.

[Pydpiper]

Thanks for the information on the dovetail mounts, I never looked at it like that. The only place I have seen them applied is a pellet gun I had as a kid and now my sons .22. it makes perfectly good sense now that it has been explained.