204 vs 22-250

[jdircksen]

I'm having a tough time deciding which caliber I want to choose for my varmint rifle. Besides groundhogs, I don't have anything else that I plan on shooting right now. I have access to reloading supplies, so that can be factored in as well.

It just seems that both of these calibers have their pros and their cons.

204 Ruger
slightly higher velocity
slightly better trajectory
could be used on smaller game as well?
cleaning rods and reloading supplies are less common

22-250
slightly higher energy
more common reloading supplies
box of store bought cartridges is cheaper


gosh I can't decided. can anyone swing me one way or another?

[Hunter06FlKy]

i would go with the 22-250 but that's just me. if you wanted to you could use it on yotes and small deer. the ammo would be alot more aquireable also.

[James B]

For long range bigger varmits like yotes, The 22-250 would have the edge. Heavier bullets would be the advantage. The 22-250 would be ok for the smaller deer or proghorns.

[Virginia7]

Both good varmint cartridges, and I think the 204 is catching on pretty well. This means availability of factory ammo, components, etc. will become more readily available.
Of course, the 22-250 is well established already. The velocity advantage to the 204 is
slight, but the 22-250 pushes a little heavier bullets. With bullets of comparable weight there's really not much difference between the two.
I'd be inclined to go with the 22-250. The use of heavier bullets will make it slightly less subject to wind deflection, and will make a better varmint cartridge when it comes to the larger critters such as coyotes.

[longrifle1000]

I bought a new yote gun 6 months ago. I was pondering the same thing. I ended up going with the 22-250. Not for reasons of ammo either. At the time their were fewer guns available in 204. And the ones that were, commanded a higher price. Good old supply and demand. This was the first 22-250 I had bought. I am very pleased with it. Before I had used 223 and 220 swift. I can't really tell any difference between the 22-250 and the swift. Just that ammo is more afordable. Good luck

[Rebel Hog]

JD, SwampMan is real good on these calibers!

[Roskoe]

I got one of the first reamers available for the .204, and have built a number of them. Most folks are using them on coyotes; and very few have been happy with the way they perform on varmints this big. Some go down . . . some run off. This could very well be a bullet construction issue, since the .17 Remington kills coyotes fairly well and the .204 should work better . . . but the .22-250 and the .220 Swift are a surer thing on big varmints.