.204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

Do you guys think a .204 ruger is a good choice for coyotes?

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

i hunt for fur and the 204 is my cup of tea

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

This was two weeks ago. These coyotes all hated the .204 Ruger.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

Heck yes! There is hardly any barrel jump so you can see the dog getting smacked.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

yes!!

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

My sons first one...............it also had serious issues with the .204.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

Take a look at this thread, similar discussion- very different opinions shared.

http://midwestpredator.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8141018811/m/2691060413

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

I know some guys on this site and trust them. http://www.204ruger.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=18&sid=448d6c270a373e8caf09e48 f440dab8e
I've seen what my Remmy VSSF II can do to critters. It's very deadly. DON"T shoot 32 grain bullets at a coyote. I use 39gr Sierra BK's. Some guys are using 40 and 45grainers.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

I can understand Berg, the difference being... you're link is a website attributed to the shooting, buying and promotion of .204 Ruger caliber. The link I provided you provides insight from a few predator callers that I consider to be fairly well experienced and educated in the ways of coyote hunting.

I don't think anyone would argue that a .204 will/can/does kill coyotes. I do, however, believe the majority of succesful predator callers you ask will tell you there are better choices for a calling rifle. The 22 centerfires are undisputed by most as the

To each their own. Mine stays in the safe until I see a crow or groundhog worth playing with.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

If you are just wanting to kill coyotes and don't give a rats batooty about trying to sell the hide, than there are better choices. BUT for every big hole blown out the back side of a coyote, $4. comes off of the lowly $10. price that they are worth.
Of the 64 coyotes that I've shot with my .204, I lost 3. Simply do to bad bullet placement, no blame can go to the caliber or bullet. I do reload and have used the 35 and 40 gr. bergers, and they both seem to work very well.

Some guys seem to think that you gotta use a .25 cal. even. [8D];)

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

I've heard the 35 grain Bergers do the job, and I imagine as long as you can get the 40's to group, they'd do even better.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

I shoot the 32grn. from honady, and I've shot the 40grn for a while. They both put the hurtin on a dog, I like the 32s acount they are just a bit faster, and do just as well IMO. Like what Howler said if you ham one you can;t blame it on the cal., or the bullet weight.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

Quote:

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ORIGINAL: Howler

If you are just wanting to kill coyotes and don't give a rats batooty about trying to sell the hide, than there are better choices. BUT for every big hole blown out the back side of a coyote, $4. comes off of the lowly $10. price that they are worth.
Of the 64 coyotes that I've shot with my .204, I lost 3. Simply do to bad bullet placement, no blame can go to the caliber or bullet. I do reload and have used the 35 and 40 gr. bergers, and they both seem to work very well.

Some guys seem to think that you gotta use a .25 cal. even.

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If I were docked $4 for a hole, I would owe the buyer for taking my coyotes. Many buyers in this region aren’t even buying fur this year… it has little to NO value. A little sewing with save you a deduction, especially $4!!! Bottom line is they aren’t worth skinning this year so exit holes are of no concern to most of us. If I wanted fur I’d be trapping.

3 losses out of 64 coyotes is phenomenally good performance for a .204. Probably the best I’ve heard of from any shooter. This is probably due to your confidence in calling coyotes, patience with shots and your shooting ability.

In many regions of the East and Midwest, callers lack that confidence in calling coyotes for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which, is the fact that we have FAR fewer targets than small caliber toting callers of the west. Hunters here also often lack the patience, shot placement and even the shooting ability of those guys in the wide open spaces of the west. Factor in that our coyotes are 10/50 percent LARGER and you have a perfect storm for small-caliber failures.

Although your loss percentage hovers around 5% I know callers hovering closer to 10% and 20% with the .204. With poor bullet selection its much higher! In my world of limited coyotes, limited access and limited coyote knowledge… it’s unacceptable to wound that many coyotes after I bring them to the call. I lost a few with my 22-250s, but it was very rare. I think the 22-250 is the perfect round for predator calling.

I’ve yet to lose one with the 25WSSM’s and that’s the way I like it. I like to leave myself room for error, room to misjudge yardage and room for zigging coyotes to zag. If I hit them, they’re down. I’ll worry about skinning and selling them later.

I’ve probably killed more coyotes with a 22lr than most folks in the Midwest have with their center fire coyote rifles- I’m certainly not saying a .204 won’t kill coyotes. I’m just saying this piddly little caliber is a poor choice for an aspiring caller that isn’t a great shot, comfortable with working coyotes or has few targets to choose from. It’s a “neat” and “trendy” round… but it doesn’t live up to the hype on this side of the river.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

Your right JB, the 22-250 is a great round. You can load them up for deer, or load them down for varmints, we don't have that option with the 204. It works well for me, that's all I care about.

RE: .204 RUGER FOR YOTES
 

I just found out that the 204 is legal for deer in Michigan. With a 40, 45, or 55 grainer, they should all work just fine. :)