Im looking to buy a small caliber rifle for coyotes. Im not worried about fur. 500 yards will be the farthest shot with most of my shots being 325 or less. I cant decide betwween the 204 or 22-250. Im currently using my 243 shooting 58 grain vmax. I like it a lot but Im wanting something different. Any body that can compare the 204 and 22-250 for m I would appreciate it.
500 yard question
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MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I have not shot a .204 Ruger (that I can remember?)...But I did have a .22-250 for a while years and years ago. Fun caliber to shoot with a 20" heavy barrel. Wouldn't mind having another one someday.
westcliffe01
Well-Known Member
If your not worried about fur, then a 243 is perfect. Perhaps just a barrel change to a 1:8 twist match barrel and you can be shooting 95gr or 105gr Berger VLD's. Neither of the 2 other options is particularly great for +300 yards shots, particularly if there is any wind. Fast light bullets also bleed off their energy fast, once you get past 250 yards.
If you have ever set up targets at 350+ yards and shot groups in field conditions with the wind blowing, you would know what I mean.... My 223 (55gr Vmax) had a wind drift of 8" in a 5mph wind at 350 yards and 19" at 500, and I was wondering why I was having such a hard time hitting a coyote at 350 yards when the wind might be 10 or 15mph and gusting to 20.....
With the 243 and the 95gr Berger at 3200fps a 5mph wind drift is just 3.7" at 350 yards and 8" at 500. Energy at 500yd is 1066ftlb
A 204 Ruger shooting the 40gr Vmax will have a wind drift of 5.7" under the same conditions at 350 and 12.7" at 500. Energy at 500yd is 387ftlb.
If you have ever set up targets at 350+ yards and shot groups in field conditions with the wind blowing, you would know what I mean.... My 223 (55gr Vmax) had a wind drift of 8" in a 5mph wind at 350 yards and 19" at 500, and I was wondering why I was having such a hard time hitting a coyote at 350 yards when the wind might be 10 or 15mph and gusting to 20.....
With the 243 and the 95gr Berger at 3200fps a 5mph wind drift is just 3.7" at 350 yards and 8" at 500. Energy at 500yd is 1066ftlb
A 204 Ruger shooting the 40gr Vmax will have a wind drift of 5.7" under the same conditions at 350 and 12.7" at 500. Energy at 500yd is 387ftlb.
Trever
Well-Known Member
I have 2 22-250 rifle and 1 pistol. Its is probably my favorite cartridge. Most factory barrels will not let you shoot the heavies. I am not bias on savage at all but they do offer a better twist rate than other factory guns. I have a 22-250 now that I want to rebarrel, and I'm am perfectly fine with 500-550 max on yotes, that I want to be able to shoot up to 75gr. out of. Speed and energy is there, no problem but the wind will kill you when it 15-20mph. It uses a standard bolt face. So if you ever want to change you have the option (243, 308, or bigger ). Basically you can have a screaming 350 yard load and a slower 500 yard load with incredible accuracy.
This is just my opinion. I promise there are more knew are suited better for this.
This is just my opinion. I promise there are more knew are suited better for this.
A fast twist 22-250 shooting heavier bullets would do well, the slower twist with lighter bullets tends to fall apart in the wind after 400 yds or so. Really, if you'd load your .243 with a higher BC bullet it'd be better than either the .204 or 22-250. 500 isn't that far but the lower BC bullets won't hack it in the wind. Energy isn't a problem, anything will kill a coyote.
calib
Well-Known Member
forget the 204, either load the 22-250 heavy or go with a 75-87 grain bullet from the 243 you have now and have at it, you could also go with the heavies and really tear them up
westcliffe01
Well-Known Member
The only problem is that to get a 22-250 with a 1:8 barrel you are talking a custom job for sure. Having said that, a 243 1:8 is not offered by an OE either. I think the rifle OE's are out of touch and don't do anything for the long distance crowd, even Savage with their "Long range" series rifles with their bone stock 1:9.25 twist barrels. The only exception is the 6.5 cartridge series which tend to be 1:8 by default.
calib
Well-Known Member
with the stock savage barrel i have ran the 85 grain sierra very easily and have taken dogs 450 +, then i tore it apart and put a new barrel on it.
calib
Well-Known Member
remington is running a 1:9 1/8th twist, i ran the 95's out of a 1:9 so you may try them and they could work try a hornady 87 grain v max and it will work for sure
GonzoK34
Well-Known Member
I use a Weatherby Mk V, Vortex 2.5-10x, 223, 53gr V-max out to 350 yards. I zero at 100. I use the 1st hash mark to 235yds. Just above the 2nd hash mark to 350 yards.
I sold my 22-250 due to wind deflection out beyond 350 yards and built a Remington 700 SA, in 243AI, 1-10 twist Krieger barrel with muzzle break, Jewel Trigger set at 1.5#, shooting 85gr Sierra Match Kings at 3100fps. Sight: Nightforce 4.5-15x50 NSX. Sighted in at 100 yards. I've killed a bobcat at 300 yards holding the 1st hash mark on it's shoulder (POA/POI). Coyotes 470 with the 4th hash mark and 670 yards holding with the 8th hash mark. I use a kestrel wind meter and hold off with the windage hash marks.
Strongly recommend the 243/243AI. A 1-8 twist allows you to shoot the 107gr match bullets. But I'm more than happy with my setup.
The 243 allows you to hunt deer, hogs and antelope as well.
Gonzo
SEMPER FIDELIS
I sold my 22-250 due to wind deflection out beyond 350 yards and built a Remington 700 SA, in 243AI, 1-10 twist Krieger barrel with muzzle break, Jewel Trigger set at 1.5#, shooting 85gr Sierra Match Kings at 3100fps. Sight: Nightforce 4.5-15x50 NSX. Sighted in at 100 yards. I've killed a bobcat at 300 yards holding the 1st hash mark on it's shoulder (POA/POI). Coyotes 470 with the 4th hash mark and 670 yards holding with the 8th hash mark. I use a kestrel wind meter and hold off with the windage hash marks.
Strongly recommend the 243/243AI. A 1-8 twist allows you to shoot the 107gr match bullets. But I'm more than happy with my setup.
The 243 allows you to hunt deer, hogs and antelope as well.
Gonzo
SEMPER FIDELIS
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WildRose
Well-Known Member
It all depends on your end goal.
If hides don't matter I'd go with the good old 6mm Remington.
If they do matter, of your choices the 22-250 is the better of the two.
I have both a .220 Swift (very similar to the 22-250) and it's great on them but I'm not a hide hunter.
I own a .204 that is just flat out the most fun I've had shooting in decades. With the right bullet out to 400yds it's deadly as all get out but wind will shred it very quickly.
Another to consider would be the 260 Rem or 6.5x49. Both are great choices for long range varminting as long as the critters aren't moving out at full speed.
If hides don't matter I'd go with the good old 6mm Remington.
If they do matter, of your choices the 22-250 is the better of the two.
I have both a .220 Swift (very similar to the 22-250) and it's great on them but I'm not a hide hunter.
I own a .204 that is just flat out the most fun I've had shooting in decades. With the right bullet out to 400yds it's deadly as all get out but wind will shred it very quickly.
Another to consider would be the 260 Rem or 6.5x49. Both are great choices for long range varminting as long as the critters aren't moving out at full speed.
I bought a Savage Predator in 22-250 with a 1:9 twist a few tears ago for coyotes with the same range requirement. It has quickly become one of my favorite rifles, being superbly accurate with just about anything I feed it. I had plans for all sorts of loadwork but never bothered. For break in I bought a few boxes of cheap Remington 55 gr SP promo loads for $7 a box that consistently shot dime sized groups at 200 yards, and easily hit baseball sized targets at 500 yards. Same thing with Vmax, Accutips etc. I never bothered to reload. A few of my buddies have 204's, a nice round, and also quite accurate to 300 yards or so, but 500 yard work is difficult with windy conditions. IMO.
