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Offline kwells2006

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204 vs 223
« on: April 10, 2009, 07:59:02 PM »
Looking at getting an AR

choices are

Remmy R15 in 204 with 24" bull barrel

DPMS AR15 16" bull barrel


i fear the 204 may burn up a barrel way too fast for my liking. factory loads for the 204 are pushing 4225fps!

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Offline LONGTOM

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2009, 08:26:56 PM »
For what most people would use their black guns for I think the 223 is the better choice.



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Offline MZ5

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2009, 03:20:37 AM »
What you want to do with it determines the better cartridge.

A quick look at the wwpowder.com (Hodgdon) site shows that pressures of the 2 cartridges are within ~3,000 psi of each other, so barrel burnout time will be very similar.
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Offline helotaxi

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2009, 03:27:49 AM »
The .204 isn't known as a barrel burner.  It shoots a fast bullet but pressure isn't rediculous and the powder charge isn't so large that a lot of power is leaving the case unburned to eat up the throat.

I have non-ARs in both calibers and both are great to shoot.  The almost complete lack of recoil on the .204 is really fun.  My .223 jumps a bit.  Biggest difference in the two in roughly equal rifles is the muzzle report.  The .223 is much louder.

If you plan on carrying the rifle much at all, the 16" barrel is the way to go.  Caliber is secondary at that point.
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2009, 04:13:38 AM »
The purpose in creating the 204 round was to have a very low recoil, flat shooting & yet easy on a barrel round. They succeeded in all counts. Barrel life will be a little less than the 223, but far more life than many of the varmit rounds, I would not worry about that part.

If I had only one of the 2 rounds, it would HAVE to be in 223 for many reasons. The 223 is far more versatile, the 204 is a niche round, though a nice one.
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Offline rickt300

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2009, 05:01:40 PM »
Kinda funny but my perception of muzzleblast between the two cartridges is that the 204 is much louder.  In an AR platform I would most certainly get the 223.
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Offline Catfish

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2009, 12:48:26 PM »
To burn out a .204 barrel in an AR you need to have enough clips and people to load them that you can have a loaded clip read to put in as fast as you can fire them. That way you should be able to burn out a barrel in a day. But if you use just a little sence you`ll probily never wear one out, even in an AR.
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Offline timothy

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2009, 07:55:50 PM »
Look at it this way, if you did burn out a 204 barrel you'd have ton of great stories and way more experience with the caliber than most. ::)
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Offline kwells2006

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2009, 03:18:09 PM »
I went with a .223 Bushmaster w/ heavy fluted 20" barrel and flat top. The Bushmaster Predator in .223
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2009, 11:43:56 AM »
Quote from: kwells2006 on April 19, 2009, 03:18:09 PM
I went with a .223 Bushmaster w/ heavy fluted 20" barrel and flat top. The Bushmaster Predator in .223

Very wise choice!!
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Offline jasonprox700

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2009, 01:42:51 PM »
That is a tough one.   Both calibers are have their strong points.  The .204 is flat shooting, almost no recoil, easy on barrels, and easy on powder.  The .223 is also flat shooting (not as flat as the .204), carries more energy for larger critters like coyotes, and surplus ammo.

With that, I would get the .223 if it was for an AR platform and it was my first varmint caliber.  I have thought about getting one, but I already have a .223 AR (Bushmaster Varminter) and a .308 AP4 (DPMS).  I also have a .22-250 in a Rem 700 VLS.  So, I think a .204 would fit nicely in there.

It takes a lot of discipline not to blow through a 20 or 30 round clip when you are at the range.  I imagine it could get more expensive with the .204 than the .223.
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Offline helotaxi

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2009, 05:30:02 PM »
.204 cal bullets are not all that expensive; about on par with .223.  Powder quantity is a wash between them.  As long as you reload, the ammo price difference is negligible.  If you don't reload, I've at least seen .204 regularly available.  Can't say that about .223, surplus or otherwise.
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2009, 03:54:11 PM »
Fortunately for him he has already chosen.
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Offline harrys

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2009, 07:39:38 AM »
Get the 204 my savage mod 12 is awesome, best shot so far is 545 was 427 and it bucks wind way better tthan u think.Oh yea get alot of glass you will need it i'm glad I did have 8x32x50 wish i went 10-40-50. a 300 yd chuck gets ripped up by it 1-200 it just blows up in em.
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Offline saltydog

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2009, 01:46:20 PM »
I have a 24" 204 hb and a 16" DPMS bull barrel. Are the costs of both relatively equal - typically the 16" has been quite a bit less expensive. The 16" DPMS is well balanced in spite of it weight - a bit loud - and very accurate. The 204 24" bull barrel is heavy and accurate. Cost for 204 is a bit higher if you don't reload however for varmit and target shooting go with the 204 Ruger. If you go with the 223 in a 16" 223 barrel you will lose 240 fps plus compared to a 24" in either caliber, so stick to shooting 40 and 50 grain Vmax's for max performance. I bought the 16" as a as spare upper to carry in my Jeep for hunting small game. It is easy to manage in close quarters and ranges tend to be shorter in this type of hunting but IMO is not the best solution.   
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Offline kansasj

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #15 on: May 01, 2009, 02:44:19 PM »
The .204 rules!  I have never had so much fun with any caliber.  Mine is a Handi with a Nikon.
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Offline helotaxi

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Re: 204 vs 223
« Reply #16 on: May 03, 2009, 06:53:38 AM »
Quote from: kansasj on May 01, 2009, 02:44:19 PM
Mine is a Handi with a Nikon.

As is mine.  I also bought a Savage model 12FV in .223 specifically with the intention of rebarrelling it to .204 at some point.  Love the round.
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