trying to fill a gap

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Eric F

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I am looking to fill a gsp in my collection. I go from 22lr to 30-30 and 30 remington. I need an inbetween. Money, like most others, is tight so I am thinking an auto loader is out but maybe a used one, any way I want somthing to shoot on a for fun level but something that can handel up to cyotes and still be good for rabbits and fox.

I was looking at 22 mag and 17hmr but then this 204 ruger look apealing too. Is there another caliber I should look at? it would be nice to relaod but not a necessitey as long as rim fire ammo stays cheap.

thoughts and opinions would be great.
 
.223, 22-250, 243 all would make nice "in between guns. i am sort of in the place you are, but i have a22 mag, and a .223. i am thinking maybe a .270, or something like a 6.5 ,or .264 mag.
 
.223 is probably going to be the most bang for your buck, You do have other options, but need to reload to make them affordable without reloading.
 
Reloading is no problem as long as componets are available, maybe 223 is the way to go.
 
Eric F;

"as long as rim fire ammo stays cheap." Buckle yer seat belt, what was $9.90 a brick last fall is now $17.90 on the shelf here. And I see no end in sight.

In all honesty, I think the .223 solves your gap problem. However, bullet selection and accuracy will be the keys. Use FMJ's for the fox & rabbit if you don't want to blow them up. But then, you have to place the shot to minimize either meat or pelt damage & still kill humanely. With ammo using a bullet like the Hornady 50 gr V-max, you can absolutely ruin a coyote's morning out to reasonable ranges. Handloading can drive that bullet, in a 26" barrel, to 3300 fps easily.

Cases still aren't that hard to get ahold of. Given that, reloading the .223 doesn't cost all that much more, if any, than buying some of the whoopee-ding rimfire ammo.

900F
 
Yep agree with goblin1. Especially if you cast. the 38 and 357 are both very cheap to reload. They hardly use any powder. if you learn to cast you can make bullets for pennies on the dollar.
 
Quote:
.223, 22-250, 243

might be a bit much for rabbit but fine for cyote. I need a bit less than these I think.
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The .204 would probably do as much or more damage to a rabbit. If you are looking for something that wont blow a rabbit up you are pretty much stuck with rimfire.
 
longdayjake

I see an error in my post now, I am not replacing my 22lr and I currently use that for rabbit, I feel it is too light for fox and bigger. so will 204 be ok for fox? I had a buddy at work sugest a 22 hornet, I dont know much about that either.
 
Maybe a pistol-caliber carbine is what you need. I second the 38/357 lever gun. You could go with a Beretta Storm or *gasp* a Hi Point. Even with ammo prices as they are, 9mm and .40S&W are still relatively inexpensive and easily reloaded.
 
250 savage

little more pop then the 223 which would be my second choice.. I have a ruger M77 that is a really good shooter
 
doc2rn that is a great thought I have forgotten, I will soon have a 500 mag handi rifle, I guess I did not think about barrel swaps on it.
 
The .204 would be fine for fox and coyote, rabbits, sage rats, etc. I own and love that cartridge, if you don't reload I'd suggest a .223 instead. Sounds like you do roll your own, and if so the .204 just as cheap to shoot, and component availability is good now.
 
Fella's;

But, does the .204 have FMJ's available that allow the rabbits & fox to be shot without excessive meat and/or pelt damage? I thought that was one of the considerations Eric F had. Or am I misunderstanding something?

900F
 
I'll echo the suggestion of a pistol caliber rifle/carbine, and a .357 lever gun does sound pretty good. It should easily handle anything from cottontail to deer at short ranges.

My .38 Special cast bullet loads with Titegroup cost less than most .22 long rifle rounds. All I have to buy are primers and a couple grains of powder. Lead is free and cases last forever.
 
for the pistol caliber thing I have been eying a 256 winchester lever action, kinda on the way outer limmits of my funding though, but 256 win is a great round.
 
Fella's;

But, does the .204 have FMJ's available that allow the rabbits & fox to be shot without excessive meat and/or pelt damage? I thought that was one of the considerations Eric F had. Or am I misunderstanding something?

900F
Click to expand...

The problem with a .204 on rabbits or fox is that even if you use fmj's they are going so fast that anything you hit with them that is small is just going to explode. I have shot rabbits with my .223 with the ss109 AP bullets and it just blows them to shreds. I imagine that the .204 going much faster would do as much or more damage. I could be wrong but my experience tells me that velocity really blows big holes in stuff.
 
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