204 or 223 for Prairie Dogs

[VarmintBob]

29" barrel:
53 gr Hornady Vmax boat tail (Litz BC 0.254/0.130); length 0.831"
36.1gr H4895 4015(9) 0.318(3) 100yd 57deg Lap case F210 20J 12/23/19 Node 1.5 max psi
40.2gr RL-17 4117(41) 0.683(3) 100yd 51deg Lapua case F210 20J 12/26/20 Node 1.5
42.4gr Stbl-65 4115(55) 0.599(3) 100yd 74deg Lap case F210 20J 05/20/21 Node 1.5

On the other hand, a 223AI is 95% of a 204 Ruger with free brass.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Hi. I am looking at getting a prairie dog gun and am looking at a 204 or a 223 for caliber. I am leaning towards the 204 but am curious how the 204 does in the wind and it's effective range. Thanks

I love my 204 it's a 400 yard varmint geter , load dependent, very flat and fast, longest shot of my life with mine 412 yards, coyote DRT, after a 50 foot run and spun act.

 

[VarmintBob]

My longest shot with a plain old 223 and 40 gr NBT was 415 yds. Have shot several a little over 400 yds. The 204 is good for another 50 yds or so which is about the same as a 223 AI. The 415 yd shot looked about like the p-dog was hit with a 22 rimfire. It kind of folded in half and fell over. I find that velocity under 2500 fps lacks what I call "splat factor."

 

[cb186]

Well I'll never diminish the greatness of a 22-250... my 24-inch 204 post that velocity or close enough but even my 22-250 Ackley in a 26-in barrel would have a hard time posting that velocity with a 53 grain v max. And it's predecessor the 24 inch slow twist straight 250 only hit 3700 and change with the pixie powders.

My 22-250AI in a 1980's(I believe)vintage 12 twist Douglas barrel shoots 53's @4000 while fire forming 22-250 ammo and over 4100 with proper AI loads, both with Varget. Its a laser beam, and even more fun that my 22 Creed shooting 75ELDMs @3500.

 

[Coors Man 264]

Never had or been around a 204, but, just built a 223 Ackley, great round. No need for constant case trimming.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Never had or been around a 204, but, just built a 223 Ackley, great round. No need for constant case trimming.

We have several .223s and building one for 1K.
Our main Coyote Rifle is a RRA 20" 1:8 and shooting 65gr SGK with H-4895.
When going for PD & Chucks it is hard to beat the .204 Ruger with a 39gr SBK it is the KING when shooting varmints! (26" heavy barrel) 500 yds!
Len & Jill

 

[matt_3479]

If brass is a concern for the 20's then try a 20 tactical, 20 practical, 20-223ai. All using 223 brass and plenty efficient.

My 20 tactical is fast, but it's running 39's at a touch more then 4000fps.

 

[Quackshot]

If brass is a concern for the 20's then try a 20 tactical, 20 practical, 20-223ai. All using 223 brass and plenty efficient.

My 20 tactical is fast, but it's running 39's at a touch more then 4000fps.

View attachment 481350View attachment 481349

Nice shooting. Too bad you pitched the last shot so far out of the group.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

If brass is a concern for the 20's then try a 20 tactical, 20 practical, 20-223ai. All using 223 brass and plenty efficient.

My 20 tactical is fast, but it's running 39's at a touch more then 4000fps.

View attachment 481350View attachment 481349

YES SIR!
I agree, you can get Lapua .223 brass and neck down to a .204 and make a 20 Practical or Tactical.
The only brass I could get for years. for the .204 Ruger, was Hornady or Nosler Custom. Nosler Custom was much better than Hornady and twice the price. We actually gave away our .204 Hornady Brass to other LRH Members.

If we build another .204 I think it will be a 20 Practical chambered for 39gr SBK So, we can use Lapua Brass. Hopefully it will give the same or less than << 0.156" group results as our .204 Ruger running 3,750fps. Don't need any faster fps, just looking for accuracy. At that fps with a 39gr SBK it is devastating on varmints and Predators with bucking the wind. Have shot out to 500 yds.
We contacted Lapua several times (dozens) over the last 18 years and asked for them to manufacture Brass in .204 Ruger, but they still have not.
I have hunted Chucks in NE PA for over 55 years starting with a .308 Deer rifle. Then to a 22-250 many years later. I bought a .204 Ruger when they first came out in 2004 and put it up against all the other Chuck Hunters shooting 22-250 and 6mm Rem. Shot a lot of chucks at distance before Kestrel or Leica.

 

[sw282]

Owning, loading, and shooting both of these ''EITHER-OR'' cartridges l have returned to my first love. lts the cartridge l took on my first prairie dog shoot 30+ years ago. 222Remington. Always more accurate than either 223 or 204.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Owning, loading, and shooting both of these ''EITHER-OR'' cartridges l have returned to my first love. lts the cartridge l took on my first prairie dog shoot 30+ years ago. 222Remington. Always more accurate than either 223 or 204.

SW282
Dear Sir
Glad you have an accurate 222. You Know that the .204 Ruger Case is based off of a .222 Rem Mag!
Also it is not necessarily the cartridge that is "MORE Accurate" It has a lot to do with the Action, Barrel, Cartridge, bullet, powder, ect!
Do you still shoot a .222Rem? Great Cartridge! What bullet, powder, barrel twist were you using? Do you still shoot a .222 and could send us some pictures?
Love seeing those accurate PD Rifles.
Thanks
Len & Jill

 

[matt_3479]

Nice shooting. Too bad you pitched the last shot so far out of the group.

Isn't that the way it's suppose to go hahaha. If you shoot three it's never enough, ylu shoot 5 and you blow 1

 

[sw282]

SW282
Dear Sir
Glad you have an accurate 222. You Know that the .204 Ruger Case is based off of a .222 Rem Mag!
Also it is not necessarily the cartridge that is "MORE Accurate" It has a lot to do with the Action, Barrel, Cartridge, bullet, powder, ect!
Do you still shoot a .222Rem? Great Cartridge! What bullet, powder, barrel twist were you using? Do you still shoot a .222 and could send us some pictures?
Love seeing those accurate PD Rifles.
Thanks
Len & Jill

I shot a Cooper 21 and 700 Varmint in 222Rem at Kenny Jarrett's in Jackson SC yesterday morning.
Both are factory guns/barrels. The Cooper is a real shooter. Remington is just so-so.
Handload of 50gr VMAX, Lapua brass, H322 pdr, CCI 400 pri. COL is 2.140''.

 

[davidu]

You'll be sitting around in the hot sun waiting for the .204 barrel to cool down without another caliber rifle. Take a .223 too, preferably with a 7.5 to 8 twist so you can shoot 65 - 80 grain bullets
Also a 22-250 for the acrobatics
Also a 6mm of your choice. Just to see how far you can shoot a PD