Downsides to the 204 for coyotes

[clarkkent14]

I've been researching varmint calibers in order to build a new rifle for the coming season and I am pretty astonished by the data from the 204. I knew of the caliber but didn't know much about it. After reviewing lots of info on this forum and other places I starting to wonder what the downsides are for coyotes. I only really hunt coyotes and I don't use my rifles for much else. If I decide to go the 204 route, I will likely build an AR upper this year and a bolt gun next year.

I'm seeing no advantage to a .223 over .204

Velocity is better
ft lb energy is roughly the same if not better with some loads
wind drift is negligible (not many publish this data)
Ammo is about the same price (if not cheaper)
Bullets are the same price
Brass is the same price
Both can use the AR platform
Both can be suppressed

Are there really any big downsides to the .204 Ruger for coyotes? What have you experienced? I'm wondering why this isn't more popular for hunting coyotes???

[TEXAS222]

Bullet choices. So many more .224's to choose from. Lots of 204 bullets have the splat factor, splashing on coyotes instead of penetrating.
Probably the #1 204 bullet for coyote size predators is the 35 Berger or 40 Berger if you have enough barrel twist to shoot it. Not many factory loaded Berger's to be found.

Jim D

[Darkker]

Tejas is exactly right on bullet importance.
In any weight, the Vmax have always been erratic for me.
Purely by accident, I found the 34gr Varmint Nightmare bullets to be amazing on coyotes. My only suggestion is keep the shots under 300 yards, OR be very conscientious about bullet placement at that distance.

[nlol]

Aside from the Bergers, the Hornady 45gr SP should be excellent. A little hard to read but ...

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
CARTRIDGE
BULLET
PRODUCT
LINE
SECTIONAL
DENSITY
BALLISTIC
COEFFICIENT
APPLICATION
BOX COUNT
ITEM #
204 Ruger
45 gr SP Varmint™
Custom™
.155
.245 (G1)
Varmint < 50 lbs
20
83208

[k9i449]

Well, I have heard this splat factor before about the 204. I SMOKED my first dog yesterday with my 204R with a 39gr SBK at a 165yrd, no not a long shot, but "i'm not that good of a shot." The bullet landed where I was holding, made a going in hole about the size of a dime, dog's head snap, DRT, no going out hole. I have over 20 jacks, the 204 is impressive. March will be a on PD. If the 204 can suck a PD out of his hole like a 22-250, it's a winner.

As far as the gun, Encore, trigger job, 24" SS fluted MGM barrel 1-11 twist, Boyd stock, Bushnell 4500 6-24x42 SF.

[danielbrothers]

I started shooting coyotes with a 223, 40 gr vmax.. which worked great... but when I started shooting the 204 with 40 gr vmax... I never shot the 223 again.

[Fordevr]

I only shot 32 vmax in the past ans they were great on fur. I always try to stop them between 100-200 yards. I tried the 40 federal Nosler bt and have been shooting them for a year and a half. Impressed so far.

A little video I made.

https://youtu.be/dxjEJCxCBnA

[varget204]

If you know what your rifle will do and are proficient with it ;Downsides to 204 ruger. answer{ NONE.}Have shot the 45 gr factory loads,recently shot Don Unmussig custom 45 grain HPBT,s.A little pricey at $33 a hundred;about $40 w/shipping I got 108 bullets in the box i ordered,gets a little better w/quantity.Have not had chance to try them on coyotes yet.They do have a thicker copper jacket.I posted some pictures on 10-25 under 100 yard targets,shot them at 100 then tried them at 500 yards ,group was 2 1/4" H 13/16" wide.I think they would be a great round for critters. They looked and sounded impressive on steel plates. Have only shot 32 grainer's at paper.At 200 Yards the 32's are not any faster than the 40 grain bullets.If your gun shoots the 40's i woud always use them.You have about 5 to choose from;40 berger,40 nosler,40 v-max,45 sp hornady,45 HPBT by Don U.I believe the other 2 custom 20 caliber bullet makers quit makeing bullets. I thought i was wrong once in 1957; [sadly I was Mistaken] varget204

[k9i449]

Side note on the Hornady 45gr SP they are being dropped.

[k9i449]

UPDATE: Yesterday got lucky called a dog in at 20yrd. Trotted off thru the brush, my buddy missed her with his 223 about 90yrds, I sent my 39grSBK miss. She didn't shift gear in to GTHO, broke into an opening 156yrds, gave her a 3rdeye, lucky shot "Cause I'm not that good of a shot!" Hit her left of center damage was HS.

[RowdyYates]

Side note on the Hornady 45gr SP they are being dropped.

Darn. Was hoping to try them if i ever got a barrel with a fast-enough twist rate to stabilize them. Have gotten a couple more .204s since I tried some factory Hornady 45 stuff, so maybe I’ll see if it’ll do any better in those.
One of the most memorable shots I’ve made was at a coyote with a .204R. It was 130 yards out in a tall bean field with only ears and tale visible, and moving at a lope. I didn’t think the .204 had enough steam to blow through the plants and hit is vitals. Thanks to the light recoil of the .204, I was able to see the 39 BK plow through and take him down — just like watching the wake a torpedo through a periscope as it heads to its target and connects. Cool.
However, if I were planning on shooting a lot of ‘yotes at long ranges or big Eastern ones on a regular basis, and/or not saving hides, I’d just take a .243 Win. or other 6mm.

[K22]

Another bullet that works great for me is a 37gr CRT. Unfortunately that bullet is no longer made, but Blaine at Blackhole Bullets is making a 37gr. I haven't tried any on Coyotes yet, but he told me they were having some good results. I bought some 30gr. 17cal. some years back from Blackhole Bullets to replace Berger 30gr. Match. I set up the exact load I was using for the Bergers and loaded some of the Blackhole Bullets and was totally surprised to find that not only was the grouping exactly the same as the Bergers grouped, but point of impact was the same also. Very impressive.
Blaine was trying to build his 37gr. 20 cal. bullets to duplicate the CRT bullets.

[robert w.]

I used to shoot yotes with my 22-250, shoulders are getting where recoil is hurting more as i age.
Went to .204 r and im content with less recoil and great accuracy. On my rifles 35 grain bergers are fine on yotes when powderd with cfe 223 or 8208xbr.

[Ohiolongarm]

I'm not seeing any downside at in in a little over a year shooting coyotes,i keep hearing bullet splash and this and that ,too me a load of tripe. I've yet had anything splash or run off. Don't shoot at shoulder bone when using a light grained fast round the bullet will penetrate ribs and do its job.I don't want to be controversial being a newcomer however ,i've shot more than my share ,and to date only one runner which i recovered two hundred yards away,shooting out a window i ran out of room as he started running and took the shot anyway. This haul was taken in zero weather with no snow,all frozen solid sold to taxidermist as they were prime about a ten day haul ,red fox right ,coyotes left. No complaints here. Prior to the 204 i main

big haul.jpg (967.77 KiB) Viewed 16185 times

ly shot a 22 ,and 22 hornet and enjoyed great success with those rounds,shot placement.

[GTOHunter]

I've never lost a Coyote to my CZ Model 527 :"Varmint" Rifle yet...no down side,just find the grain bullet that shoots the thru the barrel and You got a great flat shooting Rifle..Oh yeah,mine like the 39 grain Sierra Blitz King Ammo.