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  #31  
Old 12-12-2016, 12:58 PM
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Groundhogger Groundhogger is offline
 
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SO nice to be seeing gopher content in December. No wonder I'm prowling the WestJet sight daily looking for deals.

I shoot .223 primarily, but, did run a .204 for a season. It was a 1:12" that shot 39gr. SBKs best. However, it took about 10x longer to find a load that would rival the accuracy I'm getting from my .223. I wanted it to shoot 32gr. V-Max best for 100-200 yard groundhog shots~the gun just wouldn't cooperate. the SBKs shot bug holes, but the gun was too pretty to get rained on so I sold it and stuck with my .223.

For a while this year, I was contemplating/pricing the idea of getting a 20 TAC together to keep powder consumption down (vs. .204) but speed kind of up there....but I abandoned the idea as cost was a bit cost prohibitive. In my research though, I discovered a .223 bullet I didn't know existed, the 35gr. NTX. Non-lead bullet that could allow for a boat tail design and still be that light. Last weekend, I tested them on the hotter end of the spectrum using 3 powders, 4 loads of each. Almost all were MOA or better, 2 groups (one H4895, one Varget) had 3 shots cloverleaf @ 100 yards. The POI on the H4895 was simply 1-1/2" high of where my pet load for that gun shoots...so I could run those as is!

I don't own a chronograph but these have to be moving quicker than my lighter-charged 53gr. V-Max pet load is shooting. Whether or not they dismantle a groundhog the same or better~remains to be seen.

I'd still like a .20 and will echo what's been said already. I never found wind drift to be a big issue in practical terms, but, Alberta is a windier place than S. Ontario as a rule. The 39gr. SBKs really over penetrated too, so, better (likely) as a coyote bullet vs. a groundhog one. Don't get me wrong, a hit=instant death...but...I shot some right through LENGTH wise and considering the size/weight of some of these groundhogs, that's an interesting thing to see.
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  #32  
Old 12-12-2016, 01:08 PM
gopher gopher is offline
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It's always gopher season.

Grandslam was completed for every month of the year.
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  #33  
Old 12-12-2016, 01:44 PM
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Groundhogger Groundhogger is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gopher View Post
It's always gopher season.

Grandslam was completed for every month of the year.
Amen brother. Was practicing with my BRNO 2E all fall on offhand shots/open sights. The scoped CZ452 Varmint is parked in AB waiting for my return. If I lived in AB, my .223 and a progressive press would be part of the equation but the traveling gopher shooter must make some concessions.
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  #34  
Old 12-12-2016, 02:18 PM
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Slash8 Slash8 is offline
 
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Love my .204. I made an awesome 406 meter shot on a Whistle Pig a few years back with a 32 gr V-MAX and 29 gr's of Varget and tad bit longer distance on a Coyote with the same load. Smoked him in the boiler room and it dropped him right where he was standing, I've only shot them that far once. I've shot Coyotes out to 300 and maybe a bit further with my .223 but not much further then 350 or so. I think both work well but the more I shoot the .223 the more I like it. Its lighter and easier to pack where as the .204 is a Ruger M77 Target and it weighs a ton so for Coyotes its a pain however for gophers I prefer the .204, I just bought a 22-250 but cant really make an honest report on it yet because I haven't used it enough but an Uncle I have swears by them for everything, Apples and oranges, still all in all they are good fruit.
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  #35  
Old 12-15-2016, 12:39 PM
Cow Town Bill Cow Town Bill is offline
 
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Default 20 Cal Rifles

Well folks, I got lots of interesting discussions and the consensus shows the 20 cal is a close contender to the 223 ballistically and does have advantages over the 223---namely reduced recoil, reduced muzzle blast and maybe save a few bucks reloading ammo.
Thanks everyone.
May have to try one out first hand.
Bill
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  #36  
Old 12-15-2016, 01:32 PM
Ranch11 Ranch11 is offline
 
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I'll add my two bits. Depends where you hunt. Both excel on the prairie, 204 probably has the upper hand. But if you're hunting coyotes and happen to be set up in some slough bottoms where there is willows, I know that the 204 will deflect, or have a greater chance of deflection. 223 might be better here. 243 would be best, but depends on the size of the willow twig!
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  #37  
Old 12-15-2016, 03:10 PM
Cow Town Bill Cow Town Bill is offline
 
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Default 20 Cal Rifles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranch11 View Post
I'll add my two bits. Depends where you hunt. Both excel on the prairie, 204 probably has the upper hand. But if you're hunting coyotes and happen to be set up in some slough bottoms where there is willows, I know that the 204 will deflect, or have a greater chance of deflection. 223 might be better here. 243 would be best, but depends on the size of the willow twig!
I'm only interested in shooting prairie dogs (in Montana) and gophers---I rarely shoot coyotes.
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  #38  
Old 12-16-2016, 05:46 PM
markg markg is online now
 
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Default Careful

I would advise caution. I have a 17 HMR that never gets used anymore because of my .204
SO if you have a rifle that you never want to shoot again then buy a 204 and dont look back.

PS I also use it for a long range trainer. My first time shooting steel@ 400 yrds I had impact on my first shot. It can also hit targets consistently out to 500 and 600 yrds. I love using it. Its just super fun to shoot. I would advise getting some kind of scope with target turrets and reticle. You can dial in shooting solutions a long way out there.
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  #39  
Old 12-16-2016, 07:04 PM
Xbolt7mm Xbolt7mm is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robmcleod82 View Post
I've never seen a finer display of offhand marksmanship with the shoulder shot on that gopher.
Yup good bullet with good placement means no tracking everytime lol
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  #40  
Old 12-16-2016, 08:49 PM
PartTimeHunter PartTimeHunter is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markg View Post
I would advise caution. I have a 17 HMR that never gets used anymore because of my .204
SO if you have a rifle that you never want to shoot again then buy a 204 and dont look back.

PS I also use it for a long range trainer. My first time shooting steel@ 400 yrds I had impact on my first shot. It can also hit targets consistently out to 500 and 600 yrds. I love using it. Its just super fun to shoot. I would advise getting some kind of scope with target turrets and reticle. You can dial in shooting solutions a long way out there.
Don't know about a 204, I don't have one nor have I shot one. But, I love my 20 Extreme. I have shot it out to 400 yards (all the room I could get) and it is fantastic. Mine is a fast twist to shoot the Berger 55 grain for coyotes. Those 20's are fun and cheap to shoot. I load my own and have no idea what .204 factory rounds cost.
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  #41  
Old 10-10-2018, 05:40 AM
Big bore dinosaur Big bore dinosaur is offline
 
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Default 204 ruger

Love my 204 rug.
Accurate with 40 v max..
Going to try the 50 gr long range bergers..

I was impressed with the ballistic data on the 55 gr. Bergers.. check out the wind deflection compared to the 22.250
Interesting stuff ..
Enjoy
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  #42  
Old 10-16-2018, 02:55 PM
Fordevr Fordevr is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markg View Post
I would advise caution. I have a 17 HMR that never gets used anymore because of my .204
SO if you have a rifle that you never want to shoot again then buy a 204 and dont look back.

PS I also use it for a long range trainer. My first time shooting steel@ 400 yrds I had impact on my first shot. It can also hit targets consistently out to 500 and 600 yrds. I love using it. Its just super fun to shoot. I would advise getting some kind of scope with target turrets and reticle. You can dial in shooting solutions a long way out there.
X2
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