Author Topic: 204 for coyotes??? (Read 2246 times)

Stuart C. · « **on:** May 21, 2009, 02:50:12 AM »

Ok. Frozen with indecision here. I cannot decide on a caliber. Surprise, surprise.

What's the verdict on the 204 for coyotes?
Shots will be WELL under 200 yds probably. That in mind, should I just go with a 243 or 25-06 for combo coyote and backup deer duty?

Out of these three, which one do you like and why? Help!

Thanks.

latigo_allen · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2009, 10:07:40 AM »

I like my 204, coyotes under 200 yrds drt! I also have a 243 and 257 they get coyote duty to, not to fur friendly tho. If you like to save fur go with the 204, shoot go with it anyway then you can buy the other two later.

Ladobe · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2009, 02:20:40 PM »

Only you can decide if you want a single purpose rifle for just coyotes, or one that will do double duty on deer as well. You know what your useage will be better than any of us. That's the first decision that YOU need to make before pickng a caliber.

If for coyotes only, the 204 will get the job done in spades. A 17 Rem or 17M4/17FB would be a little easier on the fur if you save it though. They are all way more than enough for 200 yards and beyond on coyotes.

If you decide on a duel purpose backup rifle for deer too, I'd go with the 243 over the 25-06 myself. Both are very capable on deer and coyotes way, way past 200 yards. But the 243 uses less powder if you reload, and is probably easier to find ammo for than the 25-06 just about anywhere if you don't. Less recoil too if you'll also shoot a lot of shots in a day at varmints with it too. Both will be hard on fur.

My dimes worth... YMMV.

gofish · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2009, 01:49:45 AM »

The 45g hornady work realy well. What rifle are using ?

Gofish for coyotes
Can;t spell very well but shoot OK

Catfish · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2009, 09:53:48 AM »

With the correct bullets the .204 should do well, but my CZ likes the Sierra bullets and they are not the correct bullet. I have 2 guns that I use for coyote. Up close and presonal is a Rock River flat top with a 3 x 9 Leupold on it. I carry it when running coyotes with dogs and expecting shot of less than 200 yrds. The other is a .22-6mm. It is my reach out and touch them gun. It wears an 8 1/2 x 25 Leupold and put 3 - 80 gr. Sierra bullets in just under 2 in. at 600 yrds. For a factory round I would recomand a .22-250 or the .243, but anything you have on hand will do the job.

mattmillerrx · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2009, 11:00:32 AM »

Quote from: gofish on May 22, 2009, 01:49:45 AM

The 45g hornady work realy well. What rifle are using ?

Gofish for coyotes
Can;t spell very well but shoot OK

Will the 1:12 twist work with the 45gran hornady's? I tried the 4ogr v-max in factory loads and they did ok but not the accuracy of the 32 gr vmax. I think the 40gr vmax is a longer bullet than the 45 gr, so they might accually be ok in a 1:12 twist. I have thought about trying to load some up and just see how they will do, but this is a new gun and have never need small rifle primers before so can't load until primers can be found again.

I did the calculation on the 40 gr vmax and it is right on the line of stablizing or not in the 1:12. I had no key holes but could not keep consitent groups. The 32's on the other hand even with factory ammo are around an inch at 200 meters. I hope the 45's will work as this gun was mainly bought for coyotes and bobcat. But with the light faster bullets will be used on prairie dogs.

Sorry, I am on a different computer than normal and can not figure out how to spell check.

MGM

latigo_allen · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2009, 05:56:01 AM »

I have not had issues with the 45 sp's in my cz it has a 1:12 twist. Depends on the gun, some will shoot the heavier bullets and some wont with the same twist. Would like to try the nosler 40 bt's and see how the stack up.

kevthebassman · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2009, 07:03:21 AM »

If you're looking at shots WELL under 200 yards, you could be well served by a little .22 Hornet. A rifle that is good for close-in shots on coyotes (assuming you want to save the fur) is usually not a very good rifle for deer hunting. A .223 would be the best compromise.

Ladobe · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2009, 12:26:53 AM »

Quote from: kevthebassman on May 23, 2009, 07:03:21 AM

A .223 would be the best compromise.

A 223 for deer is a best compromise? Not hardly IMO, nor that of many state fish and game departments that do not allow 223 Rem for hunting deer with.

kevthebassman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2009, 02:44:12 AM »

It's a damn sight better for coyotes at "WELL under" 200 yards than a 25-06, that's for certain.

Ladobe · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2009, 03:09:05 PM »

I'll agree with that 100%. But that doesn't make either the 204/223 a "best compromise" (between the 204, 243 & 25-06) for both coyotes and deer, which was the authors original question he wanted input on.

Stuart C. · « **Reply #11 on:** May 25, 2009, 03:17:26 PM »

Quote from: Ladobe on May 24, 2009, 03:09:05 PM

I'll agree with that 100%. But that doesn't make either the 204/223 a "best compromise" (between the 204, 243 & 25-06) for both coyotes and deer, which was the authors original question he wanted input on.

Well, that's true. But i was really thinking 'either get the .204 for coyote even though i don't need that kind of range but have a dedicated coyote gun, or, het a 243 or 2506 that could do double duty."

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've added the 22 hornet and 218 bee back into the mix.

No end to the indecision. $:-\$

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2009, 03:34:27 PM »

Ladobe, you speak very highly of the 204 as well as the 17's for coyotes. As I get the message from you, they do a fair to excellent job taking coyotes. I have only seen one coyote killed with the .204, and it certainly did a very fine job. With fur prices down and deer and antelope also down, we have been after coyotes more as predators than fur bearers. I was interested in your comments on these calibers as you obviously have experience with them. Here in Wy. the 17's are not too popular, mainly due to wind I beleive. The 204 has a following, but not in my circle of shooters. It is interesting to see what others consider good calibers for their hunts. I have thought of a .204 several times, but the couple guys that have 'em mainly shoot p. dogs with them.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 02, 2009, 10:10:29 AM »

i was reading about hunting african smaller antelop with the CZ 204. they killed a wathog at 30 yards , 125 yards on a big springbok and a blesbok with 40gr V-max bullets. It can killed coyotes but on larger game as long as you don't hit very hard bone it can do to. I used a .22LR on coyotes and i killed many with it. I would go by ammo and gun cost. I would choose a 243 H&R and live with it. By the way the 204 can killed coyotes out to 300 yards( was in the coyote hunting book were they used it on them).

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #14 on:** June 02, 2009, 11:06:46 AM »

They're trying to sell the .204 here in IA, but mostly see 220 Swift, 223, 22-250, 243 with the Swift and 22-250 most popular, but the 223 gaining due to the AR's. Divided into several types of hunting, those that run them with dogs, road hunters that drive sections after a new snow, and the smallest number who call them. I think most opt for more than the .204 due to moving targets because of the way they are hunted.

Ladobe · « **Reply #15 on:** June 02, 2009, 10:18:25 PM »

Quote

I've added the 22 hornet and 218 bee back into the mix.

Well then, why not add the improved versions of these two as well (17 Ackley Hornet and 17 Ackley Bee)?

Quote

Ladobe, you speak very highly of the 204 as well as the 17's for coyotes. As I get the message from you, they do a fair to excellent job taking coyotes. I have only seen one coyote killed with the .204, and it certainly did a very fine job. With fur prices down and deer and antelope also down, we have been after coyotes more as predators than fur bearers. I was interested in your comments on these calibers as you obviously have experience with them. Here in Wy. the 17's are not too popular, mainly due to wind I beleive. The 204 has a following, but not in my circle of shooters. It is interesting to see what others consider good calibers for their hunts. I have thought of a .204 several times, but the couple guys that have 'em mainly shoot p. dogs with them.

Don't own a 204 myself, but friends do and I've seen what they'll do. IMO the 17 Rem (and the wildcats that match its ballistics) is just about the perfect coyote rig... "for fur". The 17M4 is a close second.

Spent lots of time in western WY/MT in my life (hunting, fishing, canoe river running and working), so know your conditions pretty well. My family had vacation cabin's near Wilson, and at Mack's Inn in Island Park, so not hard to figure out where I spent lots of my summers growning up and vacations after. As a teen I worked 3 summers in YNP and over the hump in Victor/Driggs as well.

If you don't care about the fur and want to keep it simple, just use your big game rigs. In a pinch I shot a lot of predators with the 270 Win I hunted mule deer, elk and pronhorns with for a few years. A 243 Win would be a great coyote choice. If you want even less recoil try a 22-250. Both will buck those winds there well enough to cleanly take coyotes as far as you'll normally shoot them.

A few years ago the ranches I was doing ADC for was getting a lot of pressure from their ranch hands taking pot shots all week at the predators. So they were hanging up long, sometimes very long. Coupled with the high winds common there sometimes, they really were pretty much getting to be a free pass thing with the regular dual purpose predator and varmint rigs I usually carried. All my 6 and 6.5 wildcat's were heavy rigs, so I bought a new Winchester Featherweight Deluxe in 243WSSM just for those ranches because it would be light to hike with, they buck wind well and shoot very flat. Never got around to using it because of health issues, but it sure would be a super coyote rig if you don't care about fur.

rex6666 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2009, 08:10:21 AM »

I hear some talking about running coyotes with dogs but carrying a rifle.
what kind of dogs are you using?
I have run coyotes with greyhounds and walkers but carried no gun.
what do you use the dogs for or the rifle, i don't understand?

Catfish · « **Reply #17 on:** June 03, 2009, 08:16:46 AM »

The guys I hunt with do not have kill dogs. We just ambush the coyotes. Most of the guys use shotguns, but I like the ablity to reach out alittle farther.

rex6666 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2009, 08:34:09 AM »

OH
they are using the dogs to push the coyotes out in the open, that
should be exciting.
we always ran kill dogs and it was frowned on to shoot a coyote, if
the dogs could not catch it, it just got away.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #19 on:** June 03, 2009, 09:34:14 AM »

I don't run them with dogs myself, but they aren't running kill dogs as far as I know,just setting up to shoot them ahead of the dogs. It's mostly all open farmground here so they still need rifles. It's all pretty much 1 mile X 1 mile sections so they drive the roads ahead of the dogs. Some guys do the same thing on fresh snow with the younger guys following tracks doing the work instead of the dog.
Not legal to have a loaded gun in a vehicle or shoot from the road here, but there have been plenty of holes shot in floorboards and truck hoods with some groups coyote hunting. That's why I stick to calling.
Oh and back to original ?, that's why most don't carry 204's due to wanting to put running coyotes down hard, plus it doesn't matter how big or many holes you make in them, they're not worth anything.

Swift One · « **Reply #20 on:** June 05, 2009, 06:30:54 AM »

I have never used one, but I have watched Les Johnson on his TV show whack the hec out of em out to 200yds. I would have no hesitation using one.

coonbait · « **Reply #21 on:** June 22, 2009, 06:30:53 PM »

The 204 is an exellant choice it has the power to knock down at 200 and farther but that caliber is wind sensitive at times but hey who cares get it you will love it.

gube · « **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2009, 06:48:43 PM »

I have had very good success with the 35 and 40gr bergers for yotes. Most shots are under 200 yds but have taken a bunch at just over 400. A tiny 20 cal entrance hole, no exit, and the insides are like jello. I tried the sierra 39 gr BK's but had a couple of splashes that left some very large gaping holes. I do believe the BK's are too frangible for yotes but a lot of people have had success with them.
Most of the factory barrels out there only struggle with the 40 gr V-max and a few with the 40 gr nosler BT's. The new hornady 45 gr SP is a very good yote bullet as well and shoots well in most factory tubes. The reason it does better than the 40 gr V-max is because it has a shorter overall length as compared to the V-max. The length of the bullet has a greater factor in deciding what twist your rifle needs to be. Weight really has nothing to do with it. Weight is referenced for twist rates because typically the higher the weight of the bullet means the longer it usually will be. Here is a link to some photos I took comparing some 20 cal bullets. You will notice that the 45 gr SP is shorter than the 40 GR V-max.

http://www.204ruger.com/forum/viewto...61955&start=15

Ponydog · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:59:17 AM »

I shoot a CZ 527 .204 varmint rifle....., my son and I have both hunted coyotes and bobcats from S Texas to Missouri with them ( he has one as well) .....I always here these
"testimonials " for / ( mainly against ) the .204...alot by folks who don't even own one....or have ever shot one. I'll just say this about mine, it is a great shooter....extremely accurate...no recoil at all, and I have knocked down coyotes at 150, 200, 250 yards..
I cant say I have ever pushed it farther..( maybe 275..) not 300.....I dont range shoot at anythng over 250 really.....so I would not feel good making that long shot without a little range time, and as someone mentioned..yes...wind IS a huge factor at that range...I am not saying this little caliber is the "do all, end all". I am saying it shoots great.....better than my .223.....but I also LOVE that .223 so I have a choice....223, .243, .270 .....308.......but when I go varmint hunt....I grab that .204 every time....not saying everyone would...It just works for me...

Swift One · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2009, 07:56:03 AM »

Quote

I shoot a CZ 527 .204 varmint rifle....., my son and I have both hunted coyotes and bobcats from S Texas to Missouri with them ( he has one as well) .....I always here these
"testimonials " for / ( mainly against ) the .204...alot by folks who don't even own one....or have ever shot one. I'll just say this about mine, it is a great shooter....extremely accurate...no recoil at all, and I have knocked down coyotes at 150, 200, 250 yards..
I cant say I have ever pushed it farther..( maybe 275..) not 300.....I dont range shoot at anythng over 250 really.....so I would not feel good making that long shot without a little range time, and as someone mentioned..yes...wind IS a huge factor at that range...I am not saying this little caliber is the "do all, end all". I am saying it shoots great.....better than my .223.....but I also LOVE that .223 so I have a choice....223, .243, .270 .....308.......but when I go varmint hunt....I grab that .204 every time....not saying everyone would...It just works for me...

Excellent report Ponydog!

kansasj · « **Reply #25 on:** July 12, 2009, 01:15:32 PM »

I purchased a .204 a year ago and have never has so much fun. These things are lazers. I live in Kansas and shoot a lot of yotes and cats and believe me they drop in their tracks. Mine really likes the Hornady 32gr V-max.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 12, 2009, 01:38:00 PM »

A couple of my friends use 204's on yotes. They work great, no complaints at all from the shooters or shootees. I have seen alot of dead coyotes from 204 bullets.

VARMONTER · « **Reply #27 on:** July 19, 2009, 03:19:57 PM »

I have shot the 204 for about 4 years now.
I have tried every bullet made .except the 26 gr barnes.
My pick is the 35 gr berger hp. Bangflops coyotes in good shape ..no exit.
also whacks ground hogs and beavers with authority.disintigrates squirrels.
The 45 gr sp have had mixed results as far as accuracy .If you search the 204ruger forum.
Some guys like it some don't.It shot great in my kimber but your mileage may vary.
certainly worth a try.But 35 berger has been my go to for a couple of years now.
coyotes are big here usually aroun 40-50 lbs

Ahab · « **Reply #28 on:** July 22, 2009, 08:44:43 AM »

.204 is what I use when calling. It just plain does the job.