.223 vs. .204

[sami]

I'm trying to decide on a varmit rifle caliber. The .223 is a solid round, inexpensive, and readily availible. The .204 has some impressive ballistics.
What are your thoughts?

 

[lunde]

Both are outstanding varmint hunting cartridges. Up until a couple years ago I had been using .223, specifically the Hornady 40gr V-Max bullet, with great success. I am now using .204 Ruger, specificaly the Sierra 32gr BlitzKing bullet. It is flatter shooting, and bucks the wind better than .223 in my experience. It is also more devastating than .223 for my purposes.

In terms of factory ammo, The Hunting Shack makes great ammo for both cartridges. Black Hills makes great .223 ammo, and for varmint hunting, I'd choose their 40gr or 50gr V-Max loads. Both are reasonably priced, about $25 or $30 for a box of 50 rounds.

I handload for both cartridges, though.

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

.204 is expensive, that would be my main concern, behind the fact the "typical use" of each chambering is the same stuff.

 

[browningguy]

If reloading then the .204 seems to make the best sense to me for a pure varmit round.

If not reloading then maybe the .223, I say maybe because "good" .223 ammo is not inexpensive, $20/box + for premium ammo. But cheap plinking ammo is widely available if that is what interests you.