Author Topic: new barrel decisions  (Read 733 times)

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Offline 1jonmon

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new barrel decisions
« on: May 16, 2010, 07:33:49 AM »
Looking for a new barrel for my prohunter.  Want something to drop coyotes out to 500yrds.  Have it narrowed down to 204, 22-250 or 243.  Does the 1:10 twist stabilize light bullets well (55grn)?  If so the 243 seems like a very versatile way to go.  Was looking at the 204 and like the fact that you can see your shot cause of low recoil, but I need to cull doe on a ranch.  Is the 22-250 a good compromise between the two?  Who has some input on what I need?  Probably wind up with one of each but for now what's the way to go?

Offline bolewine

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2010, 08:33:20 AM »
Did you look at a.223, lots of brass available and lots bullet choices? My .223 barrel is a real tack driver with factory and hand loads!!
EATING WILD GAME FROM AROUND THE WORLD-AND PISSING P.E.T.A. OFF!

Offline 1jonmon

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2010, 01:14:12 PM »
I know, the 223 is often overlooked.  I thought about it, but I'm kinda riding the fence between 204 n 243.  The 204 is appealing to me mainly because it has minimal recoil.  They say you can keep target aquisition while firing.  That's really the my dilema.  I think if I take that out of the picture I see myself getting a 243.  243 has broad range of bullets, serves for multiple game, easy to get ammo (I don't reload) and I can get a barrel cheaper than 204.  If the 223 with factory loads had the same capability of super low recoil I would have one, but without that I think I should go 243.  Thanks for your thoughts though...

Offline Keith L

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2010, 03:14:39 PM »
I really like my .204, but I don't know how much power it has at 500 yards.  Have you investigated if it will have enough for yotes at that range? 
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline Ladobe

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2010, 03:54:01 PM »
I was going to say it doesn't sound like you have much if any real life experience at reliably "dropping" coyotes at 500 yards, but I decided not to say it.   ;)  ;D
Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline Hopalong7

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2010, 01:41:17 AM »
     Yep, I'm joining up with Larry and Keith.  Sounds like a job for a 25-06 to me.  My $0.02 worth.
Walt

Offline Keith L

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2010, 01:42:44 AM »
I was going to say it doesn't sound like you have much if any real life experience at reliably "dropping" coyotes at 500 yards, but I decided not to say it.   ;)  ;D

I don't have any place to shoot a yote at 500 yards.  200 yards is a long shot, so I don't have any personal experience with shooting one at that distance.  

Here in Wisconsin coyotes are neraly the size of a German Shepard dog.  The ones I recall out west (California) were more like the size of a fox around here.  I think for ours I would pick something larger than a .204.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline Grumulkin

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2010, 03:47:36 AM »
If you truely want to shoot to 500 yards, I don't think the 204 Ruger is a very good choice.  Those light bullets slow down pretty fast.

I know a 222 and 22-250 will take deer since I've done it with both one of which, with the 22-250, was about 360 yards away.  I'd say the 22-250 would also have done the job at 500 yards though that's a real stretch for most shooters and rifles.

As for the 243; I have an Encore barrel chambered for that cartridge and another for a 25/06.  I would consider the 25/06 a quite solid performer out to 500 yards and don't think the recoil is that much more than a 243.

Since you want very low recoil so you can see bullet hits through you scope, I would probably go with a 22-250 with a brake.  Since for longer range shots heavier bullets with better ballistic coeficients would be beneficial, I would also probably go with a barrel from a custom barrel maker with a faster twist than T/Cs 1:12 twist.

Offline Ladobe

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2010, 09:14:08 AM »
Keith, I was replying to the OP, not you if that's how you read it.   I've known you long enough both on and off the forum to know you are an ethical hunter.

Those of us with lots of P&V and LR experience know that picking the cartridge and load is just one page in a book full of esential requirements to drop a coyote where it stands at longer ranges, and most of the rest of the pages are equally if not more important than that one is.

For starters it wouldn't be with a 223 for 500 yards, and unless the circumstances were just right I'd even think twice about either the 204 or 22-250 (which in general terms are both superior to the 223 ballistically and with 40 gr & 50 gr bullets respectively can be loaded pretty close to ballistically the same at 500 yards).    Sure all of them have killed coyotes where they stand, and some even at 500 yards, but they are not the ethical choice and put greater demands on the abilities of the shooter.   To kill at that range reliably you need to assess the range accurately, know your firearm and load intimately, then aim and hit small with a bullet retaining enough energy to get the job done.   IMO not all that many predator hunters are capable of making good hits at long range from field postions, so "more" is better for them.

From the OP's list the 243 is probably the best choice, but there are others that would be even better choices than it.

Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline 1jonmon

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2010, 11:47:49 AM »
"For starters it wouldn't be with a 223 for 500 yards...
From the OP's list the 243 is probably the best choice, but there are others that would be even better choices than it."


[/quote]

Thanks Ladobe.  What are they?  What Is the practical range of the 204 on predators?  
Grumulkin, I like what you said about the brake for a 22-250,how much reduction in recoil can be achieved and wont that make an already loud gun even worse? 
Obviously, I've never shot anything at 500yards, and that may not be very obtainable.  I do have a new spot to hunt with ridiculously long ranges looking down a hill covering a very large tract of land.  Maybe I was being a bit optimistic, but the potential to have a shot that far is there. 

Offline Grumulkin

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2010, 11:55:37 AM »
For predators, the 204 would go 200 yards easy and probably 300 yards.

As for the brake; all guns are loud even without brakes so you should be wearing hearing protection anyway even while hunting.  There is a brake called the Vais brake that allegedly doesn't make the gun louder to the shooter but I've never used one of those so have no first hand information on them.

By the way; T/C has a $50 rebate on new factory barrels purchase through 5/31 and, last I looked, manventureoutpost.com had barrels on sale.

Offline Idaho_Elk_Huntr

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2010, 01:09:45 PM »
I have a custom Encore barrel in 220 Swift with a 1 in 7 twist. Its the only 22 cal I have that I might would attempt a 500 yard shot with and it. With the 90 grain Berger VLD's it is dead nutz at 300, the furthest I have shot it. I would rather use my 6mm Rem or 6mm-06 at that range

Offline Ladobe

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #12 on: May 17, 2010, 01:10:29 PM »
Thanks Ladobe.  What are they?  What Is the practical range of the 204 on predators?  I like what you said about the brake for a 22-250,how much reduction in recoil can be achieved and wont that make an already loud gun even worse?

The practical effective range for the 204 is generally the same as it is for any firearm/cartridge combination - its the range the shooter can reliably hit small at with that combination in any of many situations.    In capable hands the 204 could easily take coyotes at 300 yards, and even farther reliably in the right hands.

Here in the wide open west where wind is usually a constant companion, long range in any caliber means something that can cut through the wind and shoot flat.   I've always liked the 24, 25 and 26 calibers for that myself, especially the wildcats, and have owned a bunch of them for my TC's (as well as custom rifles and specialty pistols).   For coyotes and the range you're talking, in 24 cal maybe a 6mmJDJ#2 for a Contender and a 6BR or 6PPC for an Encore;  in 25 cal the 257JDJ is probably the best long range predator cartridge there is for a Contender, and I like either the 25-08 or 25-06 for the Encore.  For the 26's I'd opt for a 6.5 Super Bower or 6.5JDJ#2 for either frame.

No recommendations came from me on a brake.   I don't like them, I never recommend them and I don't use them, ever.  
Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline 1jonmon

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #13 on: May 19, 2010, 12:30:41 PM »
Thanks for the input fellas!  I went with a  22-250 26" bull barrel.  Any experience/advice with these?

Offline Ladobe

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Re: new barrel decisions
« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2010, 03:52:15 AM »
Congrats, and luck with it.

Work up and find the load that it likes, then practice, practice, practice at each range you'd shoot it at.   When you can center a cantalope with it at any range you'll shoot every time, take it coyote hunting.    ;)

L.
Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus