Author Topic: Which rifle in .204 ruger for Yotes (Read 1448 times)

Mint Hill Mule · « **on:** October 02, 2007, 07:08:05 PM »

I've read some good things about the Howa 1500. If you were in the market for a new Yote rifle, which would be at the top of the list? I'm looking at the Howa, Cz American and varmint, Ruger Hawkeye, and Savage 11FNS.

Main concerns are accuracy, overall quality, and reliability.

trotterlg · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2007, 07:25:19 PM »

Do it right and drop down to one of the Real Coyote cals, one of the CF 17's. 17 Remington is the classic, the new Remington 17 fireball is the new kid. I use a Savage 10 in 17 Remington. The 20 is a wanatabe cartridge, it is not a .223 and not quite as nice on pelts as a .17 Rem is. Larry

MOGLEY · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:35:19 AM »

Before listening to trotterlg,,,, Check out what everyone who uses the the 204 has to say. One smalll entry and no exit. A wannabe cartridge?

Please. This caliber has proven itself since the time it came out. www.204ruger.com www.predatormasters.com www.nodakoutdoors.com. I have yet to hear negative from anyone who has actually used a 204 and seen what it can do. Mine has been a real laser and being able to watch the impact thru the scope is awesoome. Low cost rifles from nef to savage to howa I have a CZ 527 in 222 and would love to have 10 more in any caliber on up from there. They have a single set trigger standard. I like my 204 NEF as it is short and with the bull barrel, rock solid.

trotterlg · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2007, 07:28:43 PM »

It's OK, second best is good too, go with the .204, then you will always have something better to move up to. Larry

jwv · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2007, 04:37:43 AM »

I have the 204 in the 22" heavy barrel NEF and as MOGLEY said they are rock solid. Mine shot 1/2" to 3/4" groups right out of the box with factory ammo. Your main concern of accuracy, quality and reliability, I think you will have it in a 204.When I started to reload mine it was a little hard to beat the !/2" groups but I now have it shooting a ragged 1 hole group with the 32 grain Sierra bzk. and a smaller 1 hole group with the 39 grain Sierra bzk. When I buy another 204 I will get one in a Savage or the CZ varmint. One member I believe its Ditchdigger has one in a CZ and his shoots 1/4" groups. If you are going to use it for coyotes the 35 grain Bergers are said to work the best. I think you would like the 204.
Good luck on whichever one you choose. Jack

Ponydog · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2007, 05:56:42 AM »

Whatever you decide.....I'd do it, by finding a buddy, or going to a range , where you can shoot both , or all three, a .223 , a .204 and a .17. Make a decision based on reality. Sure Ruger touts the .204 along with Hornady...they MADE the caliber, in 2004. But I bought one, with trial and experience. I bought a CZ 204 m varmint, bull barrel. And trust me, it exits......not many folks here shoot coyotes for pelts....they trap for that . Have a guy that is in my DU chapter, that trapped over 200 in SE Mo last year. They are nocturnal for the most part....so shooting them for pelts here..is tough....not like out west, wide open spaces. Bullet drop is less in the 204, and so is wind drift. The 223 gives you a better bullet weight selection, and is less expensive to shoot. I have shot and own a 17 HMR and it is a great round...but can't hold up to the distance needed for yotes on out there at 250 to 300 yards. So...for MY needs......which may be completely different from others.....the 204 IS the best choice....the 17 and 223 are both great for folks that like to shoot them , I do as welll.....just love the 204 , and it's the rifle I grab ...... Do your homework...and you choose for YOU.

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2007, 10:57:10 AM »

Never jumped on the 204 bandwagon myself. Not because I have anything against it really, but saw no extra benefit in it to justify stocking componets and reloading for yet another cartridge. All of my 17's have severed me very well for a long time on predators and varmints, and I have some that will do anything a 204 will, one that surpasses it. My 17AH's, 17Bee, 17M4's , 17 Remington's and 17DT all get the job done quite well within their own niches, do not ruin pelts with good shot placement and seldom exit. Even all of my 17M2's and 17HMR's work well in the right situations and at the right ranges even on coyotes, although I don't consider them a good choice for anything larger than fox or when the ranges get long. If the ranges got real long or the wind started howling, I just used one of my 6mm/6.5mm wildcats. My 6X47 is a serious coyote thumper, and I have others that are too at much longer ranges than I'd shoot it normally.

For a person just getting into predator hunting, or someone who doesn't mind adding another caliber to deal with, a 204 could be a good choice though.

Rancher · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2007, 03:22:10 PM »

I"ve got 3 .223's and traded my .17 for one of them, then I bought an Encore in .204 and all the others stay in the safe. I take the 204 everywhere with me. Shoot them all if you can and then decide, but any of them would work fine. I like my 204 so thats what I use.

sniper2u00 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2007, 04:46:43 PM »

Trotterlg tell these two yotes that the .204 is a WANT TO BE cartridge!!! They might disagree with you. Any of the .17 center firers,.20,22,6mm. on up will work It's all in shot placement and what appeals to the shooter. Gun here is a CZ .204 Varmint Kevlar.It a shooter too!
Here is a 200yd. 5 shot group. the dot is a 1/2in.and the flier was the last shot and was me not the gun!!

~Ace~ · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2007, 05:34:31 PM »

The .17's are the Best caliber for Small yotes with Mange Period !

The .204 will do well on most western yotes, and smaller ones in the East, but I'd Not count on it to anchor big Eastern yotes.

The .223 will take any of them, Inside of 250 - 300 yards

The .22-250 will take any of them out to 400- 450 yards

The .243 will Stomp a Mudhole in them out to 500+ yards

The .223 is the cheapest to shoot, Plenty capable and more forgiving that the .20 or .17 pills, I'd recomend it to anyone that plans to save hides, and or enjoys shooting but is not Rich. The Size of Yotes varies so much depending on what part of the country you are in, Here in the hills they a Big, Tuff critters.... and if they run, the chance of recovering them in the thick bush and hills is Very Slim, So I use the .223 Most of the time, the .243 when I expect Long shots and or it's not "Fur Season" ~Ace~

Mint Hill Mule · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2007, 07:54:37 PM »

Folks, Thanks for the responses, however, I didn't want to get into the caliber wars. I am looking at rifles. The Howa seems to be an accurate rifle for the $$. Can anyone comment on which rifle they would purchase? Accuracy and quality are at the top of my list. My Ruger Hawkeye .223 has not met my accuracy expections with handloads.

~Ace~ · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2007, 01:17:42 AM »

If you want Out of the box Accuracy, and good Quality.... Buy a Savage, you can't go wrong

Ahab · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2007, 09:21:30 AM »

Bought the Savage 16FSS first. It's been back to the factory twice. While it was gone I bought a T/C Encore which is not bad at all. I don't think you can do wrong with a Howa. I have the Varminter in .243 which is a real shooter.

daddywpb · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2007, 10:46:19 PM »

I have been hearing for years about Savage out of the box accuracy, but have not seen it for myself. I have bought two Savages over the years and sold them both. Personally, I like Rugers, but Rem, Win, CZ - they are all solid rifles. Go to a gun show or big box store and handle them all. That will probably make your mind up for you.

Ladobe · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2007, 11:44:36 PM »

I drove Chevy trucks for many years. Got a couple of bad ones and switched to driving Ford trucks. Chevy got their act back together so I went back to them for a while. Now I have Toyota's. Never could make myself drive a Dodge though. Same with a Savage. After seeing/shooting some my pards had, and all the problems they had with them I never wanted to drive one of my own. YMMV

Mint Hill Mule · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2007, 05:03:02 PM »

Hogue/Howa 1500 ordered today in .204 Ruger. I have no doubt the .204 will bust a yotesA$$. The Howa has been given great reviews. For the $ it appears to be a great bargain. Matter of fact most brands of rifles will shoot the .204 exceptionally well. I'll post results.

tuck2 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2007, 05:58:16 PM »

I have a Howa 1500 Thumbhole Varmint rifle Cal 223 Rem. I adjusted the trigger down to three pounds , and glass bedded the action and free floated the barrel. The Howa is a good rifle ,the 204 Ruger is a fine round.

statelinerut · « **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2007, 12:47:04 AM »

CZ 527 American in 204 topped with a Bushnell Elite 3200. This is the sweetest rifle I have ever owned.

Rancher · « **Reply #18 on:** October 26, 2007, 03:36:08 AM »

I was gonna throw my 2 bits in for a TC Encore, but see you've ordered a Howa. You'll like it, I think. I've got a couple and have no complaints. Might have to tinker with the stock (free float it or glass bed it) and trade the trigger out for a Timney, but you'd have to do that with about any of them it seems like. Post up when you get it and tell us about it!

Mint Hill Mule · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2007, 05:00:54 AM »

The Howa has been a disappointment as far as accuracy. Other than that it is a fine rifle. I have shot factory, which has been the most accurate, 1" @ 100 just once. The hand loads were not even close to acceptable. 1 1/2 to 3 1/5 ". Tried 32 vmax and 39 SBK with IMR 4895, Varget, H-335, and 10x. Approx 200 down the tube. The trigger is decent and it is free-floated.

Think I may put it on the back burner and try a Savage.

Ponydog · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2007, 09:41:53 AM »

I would also see if you can get a look a the CZ......the 527 I have in the 204, is very very accurate, with the Hornady factory loads in a 32 grain ..alot better than the groups you mentioned.........and that is not a quote from something I read...that is a statement from a man who's had it on the range...my 2 cents...

Dogshooter · « **Reply #21 on:** November 21, 2007, 08:43:03 PM »

Look at Kimber's model 84 Varmint. I have put a couple of thousand rounds thru mine and it out shoots everything else I have. At bit pricey but well worth it.