I've decided that I want a new varmint rifle. The brand is going to be either a Savage or an upgraded Stevens, but not sure which caliber.

I have an Ar-15 already, but would like a good varmint bolt action now.

Which caliber would you suggest, 204 or 22-250, (I do reload) on the basis that it will be for varmints?

if you're planning on shooting past 300 yards the 22-250 will suit you better.

The .204 isn't a real long range gun IMO.....but will handle the task to 250-300 easily.

.204 Ruger without doubt! Go Savage model Long Range Precision Varmint (right bolt - left port)

Go with the 204. I now have two of them. A savage 12 VLP that I bought last year and now a savage 12 BTVSS that I just picked up last Saturday. The 22-250 is still fun to shoot but it doesn't come out of the gun safe anymore. The 204's are my go to varmint rifles now. You won't be sorry if you get one. Bullet selection is very important for this little caliber. For yotes, you want to stick with the 35 or 40 gr bergers or the 45 gr hornady SP's. For the smaller critters any of the other frangible offerings (V-max, Blitz, Noslers) are an excellent choice with explosive results.
Try it and you'll probably be "hooked".

While I love the 22-250 the 204 is a real hoot. It will do anything the 22-250 will do out to about 450 yards with alot less muzzle blast and recoil.

I have a fondness for the 22-250 as it was GOD'S gift to varminting a long time ago! GOD has given another gift now! It's the .204!! No recoil, less powder expended, just plain fun to airmail invitations home "TO SEE JESUS" to varmints with! Does it give the acrobatics of the 22-250?? NO! But it does render varmints quite dead!(How dead is dead??) and you can watch your hits and spot your misses thru the scope! I love the 22-250 but the .204 has opened my eyes! I shoot a VLP, a HOWA 1500 varminter and the carry varminter is a 700 ADL synthetic. 39 grain Sierras are the basic food that they are fed with the exception being the walk around one which likes the 32 grain SIERRAS pretty darn well!! It likes the 39's also but the 32's work so sufficiently in the walk around(150-250 yard) situations. GHD

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
if you're planning on shooting past 300 yards the 22-250 will suit you better.

The .204 isn't a real long range gun IMO.....but will handle the task to 250-300 easily.

Good grief Vapodog, that is the quickest way to get ol' whats his name back here.



Jim

quote:

Originally posted by MThuntr:
I've decided that I want a new varmint rifle. The brand is going to be either a Savage or an upgraded Stevens, but not sure which caliber.

I have an Ar-15 already, but would like a good varmint bolt action now.

Which caliber would you suggest, 204 or 22-250, (I do reload) on the basis that it will be for varmints?

For varmints I would go with the 204 if you reload. IMO you have to reload to get the most out of the 204. It depends alot on what you are expecting for accuracy and distance. GHD is giving some good information.

After shooting at least 600 Sierra 39gr., I am switching to the 40 gr. Berger. In a test this summer on the pd towns the Berger out shot the Sierra. It may be just my gun too. The Berger is a little tougher bullet though.

Jim

22-250

If you are going to reload try a 20-250 it smokes both the 204 and the 22-250. Kevin Weaver of weaver rifles has the reamer.
Check out his web site he has pics several of the rifles he has built in 20-250 as well testimonies from satisfied customers.

DR B

DR B,

sounds like a howler, but what sort of barrel life do you get with PD shooting? I have a 22-284 that slings those 80gr JLK's and Nosler Competition's out a 28" barrel pushing 3600fps. But, I do about 75% of the dog/rockchuck shooting with 223's.

Rich
DRSS

I'm partial to the 22-250, it is an exquisitely violent little round. Given a good connection with a PD using 55gr V-Max's and its pieces are pieces, parts are parts.

I like'em both, though I have a soft spot for the 22-250. I think the 22-250 is easier to load for, with alot of bullets/powders giving acceptable accuracy.

I find the 204 a little tempermental, a little more work. Maybe I just have hard to please 204's. my 204's 2- Sav. FV's, 1 Ruger light weight, 1 Howa sporter. None of the 4 like the same load

I used a 22-250 prairie dog hunting on a windy day and was pleased. Until I got to use a girl 204. I was using the cheapo USA bullets and wind drift was probably double what the 204s was, and dropped more too. Results were just as good with 204 that was using vmax bullets I thought.

quote:

sounds like a howler, but what sort of barrel life do you get with PD shooting? I have a 22-284 that slings those 80gr JLK's and Nosler Competition's out a 28" barrel pushing 3600fps. But, I do about 75% of the dog/rockchuck shooting with 223's.

Rich
Tell me about yor 22-284 I'm think about one on a extra rem 700 action I have laying around.
DR B

Don’t under estimate the 204. It’s one of the new cartridges that lives up to the hip. I shot it, and I’m amazed every time I shoot it.

By the way I own a 17 Rem, 22-250, and a 220 Swift.

quote:

I am switching to the 40 gr. Berger

pdhntr1,

What is your load?

quote:

pdhntr1,

What is your load?

OOps! Saw it on the othe post!

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

pdhntr1,

What is your load?

OOps! Saw it on the othe post!

Was gone for a few days. Glad you found it. I haven't run it across the crony yet but the results wouldn't change my load anyhow, so it is not high on my list of things to do.

I can't throw stones at the 39 Sierra. It shoots very well. At 100 yds it gives me groups that are consistantly under .5 inch in my gun and many groups are in the .3 to .4 tenths. It is out past 250 that I have noticed an increase in accuracy with the Berger.

Once again, I did find that free bore and primers were critical to get my gun to shoot under half inch.

I just got another range built so I can shoot at a little bit longer ranges. Haven't ranged it yet but I think it will go close to 400 yds. I am looking forward to testing the Bergers on the new range.

Jim

i would have both, 22-250 only for longer shots the 204 is very accurate, higher velocities with less powder = longer barrel life. it also has less recoil

Actually the answer is 25-06 with Hornady 100 grainers and 58.4 grains of RL22. That is my downtown load. The uptown load is a 223 with 50 grain Hornady SXSPs with 26.4 grains of Benchmark.

22.250...

204 Ruger.... ( and that ain't dirt he is shoveling!)

Seafire,

I think you’re being too hard on the little 204.

I’ve been using the 204 as a second rifle on prairie dogs for 2 years now.

The 204 will do 400 yard shots.

In high winds (8-13 mph +) it holds it own, it misses P Dogs just the same as the 22-250, or the 220 Swift.

At 400 yards the 204 knocks the “crap†out of P-dogs.

quote:

Originally posted by 390ish:
Actually the answer is 25-06 with Hornady 100 grainers and 58.4 grains of RL22. That is my downtown load. The uptown load is a 223 with 50 grain Hornady SXSPs with 26.4 grains of Benchmark.

I got something pretty close to your downtown load. 100 Balistic tip in the 260 Rem sitting on top of a great big bunch of H-414. Accurate fast and turns Groundhogs into well you know.

No, No, No. THE downtown load is a 25 WSSM with 75-gr V-Max @ 3700 fps.

quote:

Originally posted by MickinColo:
Seafire,

I think you’re being too hard on the little 204.

I’ve been using the 204 as a second rifle on prairie dogs for 2 years now.

The 204 will do 400 yard shots.

In high winds (8-13 mph +) it holds it own, it misses P Dogs just the same as the 22-250, or the 220 Swift.

At 400 yards the 204 knocks the “crap†out of P-dogs.

Mick,

For those whom have been around here for a while, My Lack of Respect for the 204 is pretty well known...

I just don't see a need for it....I can duplicate the 204's capability by handloading the 223...

So my preference in a 204 vs 22.250, my vote goes to the 22.250....

But I have to admit, If I was building a rifle and my two caliber choices were a 204 and a 219 Zipper, I'd take the Zipper...

If I was looking at a 20 caliber, it would either be on a 221 Fireball case, or a 222 Case, or for more performance, I'd go with a 22 BR case....

Plenty of guys love 'em, so the 204 doesn't really need my bote to be popular...

I just don't see the need for one myself..and plenty of guys on here have tried to comvince me of their merits...

With 8 (223s) in the gun cabinet, my need for the 204 just doesn't exist...

I,m in B17/Gs camp on this one. I was ,however, amazed the only time I fired the .204.

A fellow asked me to chrono a load for him which I did.The recoil was so mild you could witness the hole being made in the target. The second shot went through the same hole. If the .204 produces a significant amount of red mist that might be interesting to witness through the scope as it happened. Other than that does the .204 really have anything new to offer other than being one of the more resent toys given us by a marketing group? Don't really think so. roger

Roger,

What you just described are the most important aspects of a varmint rig. The .204R combines the trajectory of the .17 Remington and the kenitic energy of the .223. The .204 is the real deal. If Sea didn't already have a dozen .223's and all his research dollars invested in dvelopment of his now famous Blue Dot receipt he'd have .204's in his gun cabinet.

When I'm out by myself without a spoter the .204 is priceless.

I like and have them both. But for out of the pickup window shooting at varmits, the .204 is hard to beat! It just does not move when it goes off. You can see exactly where you hit through the scope everytime. I have a Kimber Varmint for my .204 Ruger and it is one hole accurate at 100 yds. I have just never had a rifle I could shoot better. I think it might have heat seeking bullets but I am not sure.

quote:

But I have to admit, If I was building a rifle and my two caliber choices were a 204 and a 219 Zipper, I'd take the Zipper...

The Zipper is dead. The only people who know anything about it are reloaders and gun nuts. The 204 is an interesting “new†cartridge.

Is it as good as the Zipper or the 20 tactical? Time will tell.

We’ll see how many factory guns are made in those calibers. After all, people that don’t reload or collect guns dictate gun sales.

You can disregard the 204 all you want I still stand by my support for it.

It’s a 100- 400 yard killer of prairie dogs.

Mick,

I wasn't attempting to flame your choice, or to give you a reason to take offense....

We all have our favorite choices...

I am just more of the school of liking olden proven items... like the old 219...but I don't buy too many factory rifles any more.. but I do rebarrel more and more.. which allows me to get exactly what I'd like to play with

I have played with doing a 20 Br or a 20/250 AI... So maybe I'll get around to ordering a 204, play with it, then rechamber it for one of the above...

But bottom line, I hope you didn't see that as a flame, and if you did, you have my sincerest apology...

cheers
seafire

quote:

Mick,

I wasn't attempting to flame your choice, or to give you a reason to take offense....

We all have our favorite choices...

I am just more of the school of liking olden proven items... like the old 219...but I don't buy too many factory rifles any more.. but I do rebarrel more and more.. which allows me to get exactly what I'd like to play with

I have played with doing a 20 Br or a 20/250 AI... So maybe I'll get around to ordering a 204, play with it, then rechamber it for one of the above...

But bottom line, I hope you didn't see that as a flame, and if you did, you have my sincerest apology...

cheers
seafire


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Seafire,

I’m not pissed off. I reread my post and I’m sorry I sounded that way.

My number 1 prairie dog rifle is the 220 Swift. My No. 2 is the 204 Ruger.

My 17 Remington is the fasts rifle I own, at 4260-4320 fps (the fasts recorded shot out of it was 4672) with a 25 grain bullet it’s a hard hitting little gun. It’s a pain in the butt to clean.

My 22 Hornet was my first true varmint gun. The Hornet has killed a lot of prairie dogs and a few coyotes but I never like it’s limitations. My son has laid claim to it, he loves that little rifle so it still has a good home.

My 223 Remington is an economical round. Brass is cheap, small amounts of powder, bullets don’t cost that much, it’s a great round for a shooter on a budget. The 223 is just too boring to me so I sold it to my son-in-law. He loves it and I still reload for it.

My wife’s 22-250 Remington is a great round. Shoots fast and flat with 50-55 grain bullets. The only problem the 22-250 has is that it came along after I own a 220 Swift so it’ll always be a “redheaded step child†to me.

My wife’s 243 Winchester shoots great. The only problem it has is bullet skip. Skip is not a good thing in cattle country.

My 25-06 Remington is a very impressive prairie dog gun. It’s far too expensive to reload and waste on prairie dogs though and it skips too much. It’s a much better antelope rifle than a varmint rifle.

My 220 Swift… I can’t imagine life without a Swift. Up until 2 years ago I was shooting the 17 and the Swift together. I’d shoot one until the barrel was to hot, I would put it down to cool and pickup the other one. I wanted a third rifle that would shoot as flat as the swift and that’s when the 204 Ruger came into my life.

The 204 doesn’t buck wind as well as the Swift but the 17 doesn’t either. It’s a little bit of a pain to clean but it doesn’t fowl as bad as the 17. If the wind isn’t blowing too hard (8 mph or less) I can hold the 204 on target the same as the Swift out to 400 yards.

The 204 is a good little round and it’s a good companion to the Swift.

I've sent about 2000 ground grizzly's to grass heaven over the last two years with everything from a.17 Rem to a .50BMG. Range 100-700yrds. To 300 yrds its hard to beat the .17 Rem or .17MachIV. From 300-600 Its the .22-250 and 6mm/243 AI. After that .50BMG. By far the most accurate Gun I ever built was a .17 Rem that with handloads would shoot honest .5 inch groups ( best ever was .24) at 200 yrds. The .204 ruger seems from my limited experience to be just a little better than the .17Rem. Nothing like pulling the trigger and WATCHING the rodent detonate through the scope. I can't do that with my.22-250 AI so its just gathering dust right now.-Rob

I say the 204. It's the new hot shit on the block and it SAILS bullets out there fast. I've shot a 22-250 a bunch before, and the 204 seems cooler.

IF you shoot 40 gr. bullets (not all guns will stablize them) the .204 will outperform the .22-250 at any range on Pdogs, Gsquirrels, etc. The only advantage in the .22-250 is with bigger varmits like coyotes. I've had .222 (1), .223 (5), .22-250 (1), but now that I've been shooting the .204, I had to get another one.

My Encore shoots 32 V-max into the high .2s to high .3s all day long. It doesn't shoot the 40 gr. V-max except for sidways. It does shoot 40 nosler consistently sub-.5s. My Savage has a LW barrel 1-10 and shoots high .1s and .2s w/ the 40 V-max. 400 yards is laser flat. For coyotes, I'll just use my .257 imp.

Well I guess im from the old school,I started shooting coyotes with 22-250s back in 1977 and my belief was that coyote hunting and 22-250s went hand in hand,back in the 80s and 90s we were chasing coyotes with a pack of hounds and shooting at ol wiley anytime he would give us the oppurtunity,lots of ole shooter and riflemen around in those days,lots of gun talk and a little B.S. to boot,one day someone opened up about the 17 Rem.all them ol timers hated it said they would not have one,they said a little cross breeze would blow the bullet across the pasture,I never had one nor the 204 ruger,nor have I had the desire to race down and get me one,the 22-250 is just at the head of its class and top shelf and its so easy to load for,in the 22-250s I ve had down thru the years,you could just mix and match powder and bullets,take em out and blow em thru the same hole,its the least finacky cartridge Ive ever messed with and in my opinion it will hold the smallbore championship belt for a long time to come..........

for seafire. one reason you need to own a 204 is so you can come up with some blue dot loads for the rest of us 204 users.

quote:

The 204 is a good little round and it’s a good companion to the Swift.

Mick,

this is probably the most logical statement I have heard in regards to the 204.....a 204 sitting besides a 220 Swift and alternating shots, or have the 204, for these shots, and the Swift for the farther shots when the wind is blowing...


Buffalo Breathe...

if someone gave me access to a 204, without me having to buy one, I'd work up blue dot load data in a heart beat.. who knows, the results might surprise me....

I think if I had a person who would buy the 204 after I finished load development, I'd also pick up one.. I looked a New England for $200 long and hard.. but the last thing I need is another rifle laying around that I was not intending to shoot...

one gent on the forum here, sent me a 20/250 Ai case from a rifle he had built...

he mentioned that it would do 3650 fps, with a charge of about 17 grains of Blue Dot and a 32 grain bullet... that would make that a pretty practical round in my book!

someone loan me a 204, and they get the first result sheet on the results...

quote:

Mick,

this is probably the most logical statement I have heard in regards to the 204.....a 204 sitting besides a 220 Swift and alternating shots, or have the 204, for these shots, and the Swift for the farther shots when the wind is blowing...

Seafire,

The 204 may not be my “Top Dogâ€, don’t under estimate it either.