.204 Ruger for small varmints
12-29-2005, 06:34 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Posts: 101
.204 Ruger for small varmints
Was thinking of adding a 204 ruger to my collection for small game like woodchucks small varmints and the occasiional coyote that wonders by (not a specialty for the yots)
Does anyone have any experience with this round...i know the larger rounds like 22-250 or 223 would be better for coyotes but i was looking for a round with less noise
Is the 204 quieter and would it be worth getting or should i opt for the 223 (i would be doing some range shooting fairly ofter) if the price was cheaper.
Thanks
Does anyone have any experience with this round...i know the larger rounds like 22-250 or 223 would be better for coyotes but i was looking for a round with less noise
Is the 204 quieter and would it be worth getting or should i opt for the 223 (i would be doing some range shooting fairly ofter) if the price was cheaper.
Thanks
12-29-2005, 06:52 AM
#2
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
About the only feature of the .22 calibers versus the .204 is that they .22's are somewhat better bucking the wind. However, the .204 has proven extremely accurate and at the velocities it achieves, it is very destructive, so it will definitely take care of all the critters you plan on using it for, including coyotes.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
12-29-2005, 07:32 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
ORIGINAL: eldeguello
About the only feature of the .22 calibers versus the .204 is that they .22's are somewhat better bucking the wind. However, the .204 has proven extremely accurate and at the velocities it achieves, it is very destructive, so it will definitely take care of all the critters you plan on using it for, including coyotes.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
About the only feature of the .22 calibers versus the .204 is that they .22's are somewhat better bucking the wind. However, the .204 has proven extremely accurate and at the velocities it achieves, it is very destructive, so it will definitely take care of all the critters you plan on using it for, including coyotes.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
Eld, how is the 22-250 better at wind drift? Not starting anything, just trying to learn something. The Hornady bullets they load have almost the same BC as the 22-250 in 55gr bullets. They launch almos the same. Only thing that affects wind drift is BC and launch velocity. Wieght has nothing to do with it at all.
12-29-2005, 07:43 AM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
ORIGINAL: bigcountry
I just put together a good lookin encore in 204. Going to shoot this weekend.
Eld, how is the 22-250 better at wind drift? Not starting anything, just trying to learn something. The Hornady bullets they load have almost the same BC as the 22-250 in 55gr bullets. They launch almos the same. Only thing that affects wind drift is BC and launch velocity. Wieght has nothing to do with it at all.
ORIGINAL: eldeguello
About the only feature of the .22 calibers versus the .204 is that they .22's are somewhat better bucking the wind. However, the .204 has proven extremely accurate and at the velocities it achieves, it is very destructive, so it will definitely take care of all the critters you plan on using it for, including coyotes.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
About the only feature of the .22 calibers versus the .204 is that they .22's are somewhat better bucking the wind. However, the .204 has proven extremely accurate and at the velocities it achieves, it is very destructive, so it will definitely take care of all the critters you plan on using it for, including coyotes.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
Eld, how is the 22-250 better at wind drift? Not starting anything, just trying to learn something. The Hornady bullets they load have almost the same BC as the 22-250 in 55gr bullets. They launch almos the same. Only thing that affects wind drift is BC and launch velocity. Wieght has nothing to do with it at all.
I guess I was thinking in terms of the heavier .22 bullets, such as 60-70 grain weight slugs which are now available. But of course, such bullets require a faster twist than the 1/14" which is now pretty much standard for the .22/250.....
12-29-2005, 07:47 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
ORIGINAL: eldeguello
Well, you are right, of course, if bullets of like B.C. were launched at the same velocity.
I guess I was thinking in terms of the heavier .22 bullets, such as 60-70 grain weight slugs which are now available. But of course, such bullets require a faster twist than the 1/14" which is now pretty much standard for the .22/250.....
ORIGINAL: bigcountry
I just put together a good lookin encore in 204. Going to shoot this weekend.
Eld, how is the 22-250 better at wind drift? Not starting anything, just trying to learn something. The Hornady bullets they load have almost the same BC as the 22-250 in 55gr bullets. They launch almos the same. Only thing that affects wind drift is BC and launch velocity. Wieght has nothing to do with it at all.
ORIGINAL: eldeguello
About the only feature of the .22 calibers versus the .204 is that they .22's are somewhat better bucking the wind. However, the .204 has proven extremely accurate and at the velocities it achieves, it is very destructive, so it will definitely take care of all the critters you plan on using it for, including coyotes.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
About the only feature of the .22 calibers versus the .204 is that they .22's are somewhat better bucking the wind. However, the .204 has proven extremely accurate and at the velocities it achieves, it is very destructive, so it will definitely take care of all the critters you plan on using it for, including coyotes.
It is not quieter than the .223, but perhaps a bit less noisy than the .22/250 or .220 Swift. Of course, at the present time it is cheaper to shoot the .223, due to the availability of military ammo and components. I suspect that this situation will remain the way it is today.
Eld, how is the 22-250 better at wind drift? Not starting anything, just trying to learn something. The Hornady bullets they load have almost the same BC as the 22-250 in 55gr bullets. They launch almos the same. Only thing that affects wind drift is BC and launch velocity. Wieght has nothing to do with it at all.
I guess I was thinking in terms of the heavier .22 bullets, such as 60-70 grain weight slugs which are now available. But of course, such bullets require a faster twist than the 1/14" which is now pretty much standard for the .22/250.....
12-29-2005, 03:33 PM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4,127
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
BC - one of the central principles of ballistics is that a bullet of a certain ballistic coefficient, launched at a certain velocity, will maintain the same trajectory and time of flight out to any distant target - regardless of bullet weight. Bullet weight does, however, affect the amount of wind drift.
For instance; the 50 gr. Sierra .224 spitzer and the 150 gr. Sierra .270 RN both have a ballistic coefficient of about .250. The wind drift at 500 yards is 25% more with the lighter bullet. It only gets worse as the distance increases.
For instance; the 50 gr. Sierra .224 spitzer and the 150 gr. Sierra .270 RN both have a ballistic coefficient of about .250. The wind drift at 500 yards is 25% more with the lighter bullet. It only gets worse as the distance increases.
12-29-2005, 03:47 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Posts: 101
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
Thanks for the replies and on the issue of the 223 having cheaper ammo i was wondering whether this type of ammo is at all accurate or reliable if it is so cheap. What would be the sense of buying an accurate rifle to be able to shoot cheap as dirt ammunition that was unreliable so that you cannot get good groups or get a lot of fliers???
Just curious. Otherwise is the ammo about the same for the run of the mill 204 and 223???
Just curious. Otherwise is the ammo about the same for the run of the mill 204 and 223???
12-29-2005, 03:59 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
ORIGINAL: Roskoe
BC - one of the central principles of ballistics is that a bullet of a certain ballistic coefficient, launched at a certain velocity, will maintain the same trajectory and time of flight out to any distant target - regardless of bullet weight. Bullet weight does, however, affect the amount of wind drift.
For instance; the 50 gr. Sierra .224 spitzer and the 150 gr. Sierra .270 RN both have a ballistic coefficient of about .250. The wind drift at 500 yards is 25% more with the lighter bullet. It only gets worse as the distance increases.
BC - one of the central principles of ballistics is that a bullet of a certain ballistic coefficient, launched at a certain velocity, will maintain the same trajectory and time of flight out to any distant target - regardless of bullet weight. Bullet weight does, however, affect the amount of wind drift.
For instance; the 50 gr. Sierra .224 spitzer and the 150 gr. Sierra .270 RN both have a ballistic coefficient of about .250. The wind drift at 500 yards is 25% more with the lighter bullet. It only gets worse as the distance increases.
12-29-2005, 06:29 PM
#9
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4,127
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
I, too,thought for years that wind drift would be same as well as trajectory and time of flight. When I had some field experience about five years ago that put the theory in doubt, I talked to the folks at Sierra ballistics. The example they gave was the .50 BMG vs. the .300 Wby loaded with heavy VLD bullets. Trajectory and time of flight is very comparable - long range wind drift for the .50 BMG is about half. My Exbal program, however, shows the same wind drift for any bullet weight at any distance - as long as the muzzle velocity and B.C. doesn't change. Go figure . . . .
12-30-2005, 01:07 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 101
RE: .204 Ruger for small varmints
Thanks for the lesson in BC guys and winddrift. BUT does anyone have experience with the cheaper 223 ammo or are most guys reloading and due to the amount of supply of the 223 around it is cheaper to reload and by reloading you get better quality control???
Thnks
Thnks