.204 ruger or 223 rem

[tennz]

I'm looking to buy another varmint rifle to go along with my 22-250. I want to be able to see the point of impact through the scope. I can't do this with my current rifle and that is the one thing I dislike. I want to be able to shoot groundhogs out to 300yards. Which is a better round for me 204 or 223? Thanks in advance.

 

[gvnwst]

The .204 ruger is a low recoil, high velocity, accurate round. the .223 rem is a low recoil, moderate velocity (compared to other pure varminting calibers), and cheaper. to get to the point, i would go with the .223 rem. the ammo is cheaper by a long shot, no pun intended, it is just as good for the range you specified, ect... the rifles are typically cheaper too. reloading supplies are cheaper.

hope this helps

 

[Aaryq]

Do you reload? If you do, 204 all the way. The sky's the limit with .204 Ruger. If you don't reload, you have to go with .223.

 

[tennz]

No I don't reload, but I plan on learning to save on ammo cost. How much can you save by reloading on average? Most of my 22-250 factory ammo(hornady v-max)cost me $20/20.

 

[atlanticfire]

$20/20 ewww. I remember those days. Look at reloading. Its worth it.

 

[gvnwst]

i can make .223 ammo for like 20 cents per round, and brass lasts about, five or six reloads.

 

[tennz]

20cents! Man I gotta learn to reload!

 

[guntotinguy]

.223 would be the way for you to go,and .20 thats why I might also take up reloading!

 

[jhansman]

I'd go with .223 for the simple reason that if you do end up reloading, you can make ammo for both bolt and semiauto guns, and there are plenty of choices out there for both. I reload .223 for my Savage 12VLP and my Saiga, and have not bought factory ammo for 2 years now. Yes, components are getting costlier, but not at the rate that factory ammo is.

 

[mr.trooper]

I gotta say that my .204 bolty is WAY more accurate than my .223 bolty ever was.

But for practicality's sake, it say got .223; its a much more versatile round, especially if you shop around and get a gun with a 1-9" barrel.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Tennz...

Maybe I missed something but I'm struggling with your Logic. Except for being less expensive to shoot (and that will become moot when you begin reloading) - neither a .204 Ruger nor a .223 is going to be any improvement over a .22/250 and, in fact, neither will be as good.



I promise you a .22/250 can make short work of woodchucks at beyond 300yds.

 

[tennz]

No, I love my 22-250 but I hate not being able to see the point of impact when I shoot. It has just a little bit too much recoil for that. I plan on keeping it, just looking for another fun rifle to add to the collection.

 

[swampshooter]

.204 ruger or .223 rem.

I currently shoot a .204 and a.223ai for prairie dogs. I've shot the bbl. out of several .22-250's, and several 6mm rem. ground hog hunting in the illinois strip mines. IMO the .204 easily adds 200 yds. to my killing range over the .223ai. IMO the .204 is superior to the .22-250. i use 25% less powder to achieve higher velocity with a bullet of higher ballistic coefficient. If you buy one try the 39gr. Sierra, you probably won't have to look further. I'm not having much trouble making first round hits on young prairie dogs, a 1&1/2"x5" target, out to 450yds. I expect to get longer bbl. life because I'm burning less powder.

 

[duck911]

neither a .204 Ruger nor a .223 is going to be any improvement over a .22/250 and, in fact, neither will be as good.

Yep, the .204 won't be an improvement on a .22-250....

(unless you consider higher velocity, less wind drift, less bullet drop, less powder burned, easier on barrels, less muzzle lift, and quieter to shoot "an improvement"!)

I own both a 22-250 and a .204 and my experience (and the raw performance numbers) have proven to me that the .204 is a slight to moderate improvement over the .22-250, and the .223 can't really even be mentioned in this conversation.

My .204 is a laserbeam in the field and it does everything my .22-250 does, only better, and is so much more fun to shoot.

YMMV...

--Duck911

 

[Shawnee]

"(unless you consider higher velocity, less wind drift, less bullet drop, less powder burned, easier on barrels, less muzzle lift, and quieter to shoot "an improvement"!)"

LOLOL !


I stand corrected... 75fps faster at the muzzle, a half-inch difference in drift at 400yds, 9/10 inch less drop at 400yds, almost a half a penny's worth less powder, and the others haven't been measured but I'm sure they are significant.

 

[duck911]

Actually, with my handloads the differences are more substantial that what you've listed. Nevertheless...

In my humble opinion, more important than the better ballistics numbers, is the fact that there is very minimal muzzle jump in the .204.

That means that I get close to 1.75 inches less drop at 500 yards, AND I can watch the bullet hit. In windy conditions shooting at very small animals with no spotter, these two things combined are a HUGE advantage (at least for me) because I am no sharp shooter, and my next shot can be better aimed.

I guess for me, in the end, why not take the (slightly/moderately) better performance and a much more comfortable platform?

BTW - I also love my 22-250, but only now use it under specific circumstances.

-Duck911

 

[Shawnee]

Hey Duck...

Nothing says you can't like 'em both. One of my sons has a .204 and wouldn't trade it for a Mercedes. He is a superb shot and can get all there is out of the .204, and that's a lot. He could likely do the same with a .22/250 and reloads too but, like you, he loves that .20-bore. More power to both of Ya.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I'd go with .223 for the simple reason that if you do end up reloading, you can make ammo for both bolt and semiauto guns

I think you can get a .204 upper for an AR.

want to be able to see the point of impact through the scope.

Test this first. I sometimes can't do that even with a .22 LR.

 

[tennz]

I would love to test one out first, but I don't know anyone that has a 204. Before I bought the 22-250 I asked the gunshop owner about muzzle jump and he said that it was minimal and I could definately be able to see the bullet hit. I think I have decide to get a .204 though instead of a .223. Thanks for all the help.

 

[doc2rn]

I prefer the .223 since you can vary the load in 1/9 barrel to meet just about any demand.