im trying to decide whether to keep my 222 or move to a 204
cant have both so all input welcome
fps guns etc loads
thanks fog

A friend of mine has a 204. Makes a hell of a noise when it's fired. Whacks rabbits and squirrels 1000% dead. muzzvel of around 4200 versus 3200 for 222. Choose wisely...

would you say the 204 is alittle or lot louder?
what would you compare the noise to?
i just want to fill a void
17 hmr,22mag,223 wssm,25-06
got a mini in 223
thanks fog

I don't know that I'd compare a .204Rem. with a .222Rem. It might be better to compare it to a .221Rem. Fireball which is much faster, even the .17Rem. is more in the velocity ball park than the triple deuce. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

loudness iv heard is only in the shorter barrels once you get up to a 26in barrel they are alot quieter than the 22in barrels

It's hard to describe the difference in sound between a .223 in a 24" varmint AR-15, with which I am familair, and the .204 Ruger in a rifle with a wooden stock. The Ruger offers a loud "smack" as it were, over the .223's deeper sound. But considring they are both loud, I'd compare on the basis of downrange ballistics at the distances you plan to shoot, cost of reloading and recoil with respect to getting back on target for the next shot. No doubt the .204 is popular with varmint shooters, but it must also be considered that there are so many bullet choices in the .224 caliber.

I would seem a pity to move away from a grand classic like the .222. Do you need a .204 as well? Only you can tell. But a .222 is a high price to pay! Time for an additional toy??
- mike

Neither......Tactical .20

IV

Like Idaho, I have a 20 tactical and I swear to God when loaded up it is the loudest gun I have!

It is not too bad if you keep velocities around 3000 fps but over 3600 or so it really barks! Noticeably louder than a short barreled 223.
It has a 26" barrel, so it is not just that.

Regarding the question, I'd keep the 222. It is a bit more versatile with what you can shoot with it. Now if you can get a second gun, then get a 20 of some sort.

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
I would seem a pity to move away from a grand classic like the .222. Do you need a .204 as well? Only you can tell. But a .222 is a high price to pay! Time for an additional toy??
- mike

Right on the nose.

I'd also be concerned about trying to "handle" the 5mm bullets toward the Caseneck during Seating with my hands. The 22cal is plenty small for me to deal with. But a younger fellow might not even notice how small they are.

That is what kept me from getting into the 17Rem.

quote:

Originally posted by Cal Sibley:
I don't know that I'd compare a .204Rem. with a .222Rem. It might be better to compare it to a .221Rem. Fireball which is much faster, even the .17Rem. is more in the velocity ball park than the triple deuce. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

First: I'm a Fireball shooter in a major way! ...but load the 222 to the pressures of a 221, and as expected, it passes the Fireball quite readily. I don't know why, but almost all "book" data on the triple deuce keeps pressures quite low.
But I still prefer the over-achieving Fireball.

The 204 Ruger (esp with 39-40gr pills) is really something in the speed and trajectory dept, but it is loud (IMO).

.204 borders on obnoxious in the noise department. its a higher pitched crack than the .222, and significatly louder. (24" RugerMKII)
However the .204 is like shooting a laser beam out to 300 yards. There's so little recoil that you can acctually watch trace, when the light is right, though a high power scope. It also kills faster than the .222. Don't get me wrong the chuck is just as dead, but they don't even twitch when hit with a .204. They just get turned "off".

The 204 sounds like a great gun, but what happens to furbearers like foxes, raccoons, bobcats, and even coyotes when a 32 grain bullet smacks them a blistering speeds. I would think it is just like hitting a coyote with a 40grn V-max out of a .22-250. On impact you can pretty much kiss your pelt quality goodbye because of the explosive nature of a bullet moving upwards to 4100fps.

Is there significant or severe damage to a pelt particularly in a valuable furbearer from a .204?

quote:

i just want to fill a void


17 hmr,
22mag,
223 wssm,
25-06
got a mini in 223

I don't mean to queer another gun sale, but if you feel you need to fill a void in that battery with a .204 caliber than perhaps you also need one of Calhoon's .19 caliber guns. And then there's the .228 of years gone by, and the 6mm/243--you need that gap filled. And what about all the many above .257?

quote:

Originally posted by rootbeer:
A friend of mine has a 204. Makes a hell of a noise when it's fired. Whacks rabbits and squirrels 1000% dead. muzzvel of around 4200 versus 3200 for 222. Choose wisely...

Sounds like a barrel burner to me.