solocam79

what caliber for cyotes a 204,223, or a 243 looking to get a howa thumbhole but dont know which one to get any information would be greatly appreciated.

okgobbler

How much will you practice? 223 will be the cheapest to shoot

Will you ever want to deer or antelope hunt? 243 would be better

What is the longest shot you will take?

Do you reload? I do, and prefer the .243 with 55-70 gr pills for yotes and prairie dogs.

Some will disagree with me, but I feel like the .204 ruger is a specialty gun that may be a fad. They are more expensive to shoot and ammo availability and choices are somewhat limited.

Bullet Hole Bailey

well the most versital would be the .243

coyote#68

for ranges out to 300 yards I use my 223 on anything up to coyote size animals this caliber has enough power to kill them quickly and is accurate in every rifle that I have ever owned.For a multi-purpose rifle for big game up to deer size animals and smaller the 243 is great,you can kill a coyote at 5 to 600 yards(if you can hit it,they look pretty small that far away)and take a whitetail up to 350 or so with good shot pacement(368 is my longest shot,nikon rangefinder,rem.700 sps 243 cal.,whitetail doe) and not worry about long tracking jobs.I have no guns chambered in 204,but ballists show it to be flat shooting and powerful enough for coyote sized animals,the cartridge is based on a 223 that is necked down to .2045 if I am right,the smaller bullit gets greater velocities than the other two but as a downfall it losses energy quicker,you decide which is best for your type of hunting for extreme long range varmints and predators the 243 would be at the top of the list for me,you might also look at the 22-250 it is about the same as the 204 but its been around a lot longer,the 223 is the cheapest to shoot ammo is about half as much as the others and for target shooting you can easily find full metal jacket ammo. for it cheap.Hope this helps.CALL'EM IN CLOSE AND KILL'EM ALL

Howler

Actually the .204 is a necked down .222 case!
My .204 is a "specialty" gun for sure, e"specially" when it comes to killin' coyotes. Don't tell all the guys on the .204 forum that they've bought into a fad, might hurt someones feelings!

InYourOpinion, what "specialty" purpose was the .204 meant for?

coyote#68

howler I think we are both correct the 223 was also made from the 222 and originally called the 222special before it became the 223rem that we know today.anyway all these small calibers are great performers in accurate rifles,and the coyote cant tell any difference from a 14caliber wildcat to a 243,when you pick his dead carcass up he is still dead.CALL'EM IN CLOSE AND KILL'EM ALL

okgobbler

Howler--I was referring to the.204 as a speciality becauseit is truly a varmint round. Where as the .223 is an affordable plinker and a .243 is a commonvarmint/deer round. I don't have any problem with withrare, fads, or specialityrounds. I load for my 6mm-06and 25-308.Those arewildcats that aren't any better or as practical as a .243, 25-06, 260, but their mine and I like them.

I was just making a suggestion. Without knowing whatSolo already has, it is hard to suggest. If a person aready has a 25-06 or 260, then I would say go with the .204, but if this is a 1st rifle, probably a .223.

My varmint guns include a 17 hmr, 218 bee, .243, 6mm-06, and 25-308. I just traded my .223 for a donor action and traded a .222 for a .308. Hopefully will add an AR to the collection in the next year.

yodeldog

yodeldog

The.204 rug. is the best long range round I ever shot at a dog. Out past 400 yds. I dont think anything compairs ,so if thats a fad I spose thats one the coyotes dont like a bunch.

DANTHEHUNTER

Nothing compares to a .204 !! What the hell does that mean?? What about .22-250-.220 swift, .243,6mm,6mmx284,6.5x284, none of those count??????It is all comparitive.