Author Topic: Going down in caliber. (Read 676 times)

flatlander · « **on:** January 20, 2005, 07:41:47 AM »

I've managed to trade myself into both a 357 herrett and a 44 mag barrel, and I'm finding myself kicking around trading one or the other off on a varmint/plinker type caliber. I'm looking at something in 17 to 22 caliber primarily and I already have a 22 match barrel. I don't really have any experience with any of the smaller calibers, so I'd love to hear caliber recommendations and why. I'd like something that will give me good velocity and downrange energy (I'd like to do some prairie doggin' or coyote sniping eventually) , accuracy, and I would prefer to reload.

flyfisher · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2005, 08:09:59 AM »

They say that the new .204 Ruger is awesome, and I'd love to get my hands on one to see how they perform (but can't justify the price of a new barrel, scope, etc.).

A good all-around varmit caliber would be the .223. They seem quite common and would handle coyote-sized game well with the proper load. I have a .222 Rem barrel and it is the best shooter that I own, however for coyote sized game at long range, it might not be the best. It does do a great job on PA whistlepigs, though.

There are quite a few offerings out there. Good luck with the choice.

flatlander · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2005, 09:47:16 AM »

I've really been looking at the 17 Rem, 204, and the 223, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything. Is the 204 doing as well as advertised and is it shooting accurately out of the contenders? And is the 17 shooting well? I don't know anyone with either of these barrels, so I'm just waiting to see what kind of insight you guys have on these rounds.

tipiguy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2005, 09:49:21 AM »

I have a 10" .223. At first I had accuracy problems, blast issues, etc. I cursed my decision on the barrel choice often. Then I learned about using Blue Dot from Kyode. What a difference!

Now I love shooting. It is extremely cheap to reload and a great shooter. Hoping to use it on fox/yotes this winter (if I can find a dumb one to respond to the call) and chucks this summer.

tipiguy

wheelgun · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2005, 10:21:03 AM »

Tipi
what are the blue dot loads your using.

Racepres · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2005, 12:43:55 PM »

Never owned a .223 contender but virtually all my friends have em and love em.. I learned from my .222 not to get too "hot" this bbl prefers mid-range and below loadings to give best accuracy... then my .221 F.B. bbl acted just abt the opposite, preferring hotter loads. If I make another move it will be to a .17, but definitely not a rimfire.... $0.02... BTW that 22-30 Oresky (the round I sent ya) is still my all time favorite I use it most, and like it best, it can be anything from a .22 short to almost .221 F.B. (it's the same case capacity as the .218 Bee) ..Luckily you have a couple of desireable bbls to trade, if you keep one, I would make it the 357 Herrett (my all time favorite) The one thing I would keep in perspective is barrel length... like I prefer 10" and the .223 prefers 14" ... some rounds were developed expressly for shorter barrel length's, something to think on..... Marty

Special Ed · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2005, 01:07:34 PM »

.223 in a super 14" Gets my vote. Had mine for 20 years & no regrets.
It's also my most used barrel.

flatlander · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2005, 02:15:36 AM »

I really think that I would prefer a 14" barrel so that I can get more velocity out of it. I'll have to mess around with my 44 and herrett to decide which one I want to trade off and then hit the classifieds. I'm might lean more toward one of the 17 or 20 caliber rounds, because I also have a 257 JDJ that will do some heavier varmint work if I need it to, but the 223 might be a hard one to beat.

Hawkeye · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2005, 05:31:13 AM »

Flatlander, I have two .223 Contender barrels. 1- 14" .223 and 1-21" .223 and wouldn't take for either. I have had more fun with them and any of my 12 barrels. I traded for a 17HMR. Fund for about 3 boxes of shells. Tried shooting Prairie Dogs and coyotes. If they were over 75yds and any wind, forget it. I shot some crows and a few PD's with the 17 but prefered to use my 22LR or 22mag. The 22mag would do anything the 17 would do and better at distance with wind. Just my opinion. I'm shooting 50 & 55 grn Bulk Midway Dogtown bullets with 25grns of W748 and my 21" barrel with shoot 3 in a cluster you can cover with a dime at 100yds. My 14" will shoot under an inch at 100yds. When we go to a PDog town, I use my progressive loader for the .223 and it doesn't seem to mind.
There are many deals out there on the .223 14" barrels and longer. My .223 has taken over 200 PDogs last year alone. I have recorded and witnesses on shots taking PDogs at up to 300yds with the 14" .223.
Don't know any thing about the 204.
Here is my 14" with a GA Jims forend and grip I finished.

flatlander · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2005, 12:56:16 PM »

Well, I went to the range with my 22 LR match, 257 JDJ, 7-30, 357 Herrett, and 44 mag and decided that I don't really like the 10 inch barrels that well. I'm going to trade off (or sell) the 357 AND the 44 and get a 223 and something else in a 14" barrel. I'm not sure what yet, but I'll just have to see what comes along.