204 for yotes

[predhunter]

i am wondering how the 204 is for yotes. will it take them down at 400 500 yards. i think i might get one for yotes and for taget and how is it on barrel life.

[bullfrog]

Welcome to the forum predhunter. I've never shot one that far out, but I primarily use my .204 for yotes. Good mix of killin power and fur friendliness is my reasoning. From what I hear however, if just killin the dogs to save deer was my goal I would probably step up to a .243 or sim.
If fur is your goal, well, then be careful where you hit em with the .204. If you have an exit, it can be pretty ugly.

[predhunter]

thanks for the info i will be trying to save the fur but alot of the shots would be closer then 300 yards just wondering if it could take them out a 400 or 500 yards.

[Ryan S Albright]

I don't think it would be a problem.

[Rugerdogdog]

The ballistics say over 370lbs of energy left at 400yrds. If the bullet hits vitals it should have the desired results way past 400.

[Melvin Eades]

predhunter,

My best to date has been 332 yards with the 39 BK. A guy I know shot and dropped one at 400 yards a couple weeks ago. I personally would feel confident on the killing power of the .204 at the 400 yard mark with the 39 or 40 grain bullets.

[predhunter]

thanks for all the info.

[Sask Boy]

Hey Guys, I have shot 7 coyotes this fall and I am shooting 39BK and 26.5 grs of H4895 powder ranges for approximately 80 yards out to 400 to 500 yards and I have not had many one shot kills. I have not used it since big game season has opened but I am going pheasant hunting at the end of the week so I am taking my Savage (204) as I know that we will see the dogs. I just read an article by Ian McMurchy advised that the plastic tipped bullet are tough on the fur but I did not check as they were not prime.
I was thinking of going to the 35 bergers as the 1-12 twist does not like the 40gr bullets as well.

[DvFirefighter]

Not a problem taking them at 400 yds. I shot one last week at 467yds. ( Ranged back to the truck ) It took 2 shots, first one was a little low, but he had no Idea where I was at. Second one DRT.

I was shooting a 39g Sierra BK. 28.0g Varget. Shoots very well from my Savage.

[mr.mossyoak]

the longest kill i have had with my 204 was 287 yards (lasered) on a trotting coyote hit the ground and never moved was using hornady factory ammo 40 gr. Vmax's

[trdtoy]

Shooting coyotes at those distances is no problem with the 204. For minor pelt damage I would use a ballistic tip bullet. I like the 40gr v-max for a ballistic tip however some guns don't like em so then you would have to go with the 39gr BK or the 32gr v-max. Good luck!

[steve]

32gr v-max

[GRiNGo]

I just shot 2 yotes with my new 204 rem 700 sps. I used 32 gr hornady vmax bullets. The first was on the trot at 200 and the second called in to 70. Couldn't find the bullet hole on either. Great gun!

[GAJoe]

When I first looked at getting a .204 I ran the #'s on the different loads and saw that the .204 really shines with the 39 and 40gr bullets over the 32gr for longer ranges.


Be sure to note the energy #'s; the bigger bullets "hold their steam". The Noslers will make a large hole if it strikes at an angle (our fur's not worth saving in GA (coyote gods forgive me )), but none have run off. Here's a few I have taken (slide-show) (My first and my son's first was shotgun, the rest plus a couple were .204:

GAJoe