yotes

[PCP_ECOM]

hello was pondering buying a varmit gun looking at 204 or 223, can I get some insight into these calibres,no not interested in 22-250,thanks Peter

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by PCP_ECOM

hello was pondering buying a varmit gun looking at 204 or 223, can I get some insight into these calibres,no not interested in 22-250,thanks Peter

What do you want people to tell you that you dont already know?

[Groundhogger]

I think in terms of being capable...I'd say there probably isn't a huge difference. However, ammo availability is WAY better with .223, and you can lob heavier bullets with it. If you hand load...that'll close up the differences even more, but overall, I don't know too many people who'd pick 204 over 223 for the job.

I'll be adding a 204 to the stable maybe later this year/early next...but that's because I already have a .223. I also find/found 223 to be WAY more forgiving when it came to finding a great load, what powder types it shoots well, etc. My first 204 was a ROYAL pain in the *ss...but I eventually figured-out what it liked to eat. Took 4 different powder types and at least as many bullet varieties. Can't imagine owning a 204 and NOT being a reloader. I would be discouraged seeing 1...maybe 2 factory ammo types on the shelf.

[360hunt]

Get a 6.5x55se with 85 gr bullets.
Done

[leeelmer]

I was in the same boat, I let the gun chose me. Looked for a while and found a great deal on a old rem700 varmint in 223.
I had a ton of bulk from when I had a ar15, it was just a bonus.
I like the different options that you have with bullets for a 223. 204 has lots but not as many.
My BDL varmint is a tack driver, and beautiful.
Find the gun you want, then the caliber becomes less hard.

[aardvaark]

I agree with pretty much everything that's said in the above posts. And I'll add this:

Re a 223, I can't speak from first-hand experience cuz I don't own and have (almost) never shot a 223. But I do own a 204 and I'm quite attached to the caliber.

I'm a fan of velocity and mainly a fan of the results of velocity - flat shooting. If you run the ballistics on a 204 vs a 22-250 you'll find in a lot of the cases, the trajectories are similar. Not so when comparing 223 and 22-250. The case capacity on a 204 is similar to a 223 so another bonus is that you get 22-250 velocities with powder use and barrel erosion similar to a 223.

That's why I prefer 204 over 223.

[wolf308]

If you handload prolly the 204 .... zeroed at 200 yards it only drops 2" at 1000 😂

If don't go 223 ..... much more factory ammo to pick and a variety of sizes

204 might not like the 40 grain bullets which buck the wind much better than the 32s ( such as my 204 ..... but still slayed plenty of yotes with it , but left it behind in favour of heavier caliber rifle or cancelled a trip cause of wind b4 )