204 Ruger vs 22-250?

[Ldsh_tanker]

Cant decide. Both ballistically are about the same
However the 204 is alot easier on pelts.

Whats your guys opinions?

Dedicated varmint gun

[Ranch11]

In my experience, and I've shot hundreds of coyotes, go with a 243 shooting a 100 grain deer bullet.
I've used the 204 and have had way too many runners. I've hit em good too, right in the boiler room and they have a tendency to run off, more than I like.
The 22-250 is fine but it makes a mess of em, even you hit em right. Too fast.

243, shooting a 100 grain sako gamehead, I've had my best yr on pelts. I should've taken pics to show. But man, this year was my easiest year on pelts using that bullet. And no big bleed out either. Just a nice little hole in and out. And it lays em down. They don't move, they don't run, they just die.

[Ldsh_tanker]

To be totally honest i hAvent even thought about 243.
After that advice i think ill look more in that direction! Plus more gun options!
Thanks so much!

[6.5 shooter]

If your just shooting gophers go with the .204 VERY little recoil easy to see your hits or misses and 40gr vmax (if your gun will stabilize them) have great BC and open quick.

[Ldsh_tanker]

Its strickly a coyote gun

[Opa]

Originally Posted by Ranch11

In my experience, and I've shot hundreds of coyotes, go with a 243 shooting a 100 grain deer bullet.
I've used the 204 and have had way too many runners. I've hit em good too, right in the boiler room and they have a tendency to run off, more than I like.
The 22-250 is fine but it makes a mess of em, even you hit em right. Too fast.

243, shooting a 100 grain sako gamehead, I've had my best yr on pelts. I should've taken pics to show. But man, this year was my easiest year on pelts using that bullet. And no big bleed out either. Just a nice little hole in and out. And it lays em down. They don't move, they don't run, they just die.

I like my Ruger Hawkeye .204 with Zeiss HD 5, 3x15x42 Rapid Z-600 glass on top. I have used it on a lot of coyotes for some 10 years now, using Superformance 32 gr. V-Max with good success. If memory serves me, I can only recall 3 runners, all angle shots, with splash marks on their shoulders. I followed them and was able to recover them. I have also taken 2 wolves with it, gutshot them intentionally to prevent a runner. Dropped like a rock, at 130 yds +/-. Distance, wind, & shot placement mean everything!!!

[J0HN_R1]

Originally Posted by Ldsh_tanker

Its strickly a coyote gun

Then, of the two, 22-250.

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by Ranch11

I've used the 204 and have had way too many runners. I've hit em good too, right in the boiler room and they have a tendency to run off, more than I like.

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

If your just shooting gophers go with the .204

Originally Posted by J0HN_R1

Then, of the two, 22-250.

that about sums it up really. i still have a 204 because it's an accurate fun round and for gophers it's really hard to beat

but all my coyotes are 22 cal and up

[nube]

I shoot a 22-250 and have shot hundreds with it. At first it wasn't a gun I bought to keep fur. Then I got into fur handling and wanted the fur but with a 22-250 %70 of the time they were blown to bits. If you hit bone with a 22-250 you are done fur wise.

I have multiple friends who shoot a ton of coyotes with a 204. I have seen the holes they make and would bet less than 10% get any decent sized hole in them. They shoot flat and I don't hear stories of coyotes running away. Most times there is an entrance hole is all.

I have a friend who hunts beaver with his and body shoots them. The hole going in is the size of the bullet and there is no exit. Usually the beaver dies right on the bank of the river or pond and doesn't make it back into the water.

[100zero]

I shoot a 22-250, does the job. My hunting buddy uses the 204, also does the job. I'm a believer in shot placement. You can get different kinds of bullets so you don't ruining the fur.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by nube

I shoot a 22-250 and have shot hundreds with it. At first it wasn't a gun I bought to keep fur. Then I got into fur handling and wanted the fur but with a 22-250 %70 of the time they were blown to bits. If you hit bone with a 22-250 you are done fur wise.

I have multiple friends who shoot a ton of coyotes with a 204. I have seen the holes they make and would bet less than 10% get any decent sized hole in them. They shoot flat and I don't hear stories of coyotes running away. Most times there is an entrance hole is all.

I have a friend who hunts beaver with his and body shoots them. The hole going in is the size of the bullet and there is no exit. Usually the beaver dies right on the bank of the river or pond and doesn't make it back into the water.

Have you tried the Barnes 50 or 55 Grain TSX out of your 22-250. They kill well, controlled expansion and small hole in and out, even if you hit major bones. Too expensive for a plinking load but great for flat shooting and keeping fur.

[Ldsh_tanker]

God this is a horrible decision!

I have tons of pm's about which calibre!
They're all awesome in their own way!

204, 22-250, 223, 243?
I know 243 is alot bigger. But damn this is hard!
Cant decide!

[Little red riding hood]

Do you reload? If so you can adjust to whatever velocity you are comfortable with, if you're blowing a fist size exit wound, step it down a bit.

[Ldsh_tanker]

Not reloading currently but i will be down the road.

[nube]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Have you tried the Barnes 50 or 55 Grain TSX out of your 22-250. They kill well, controlled expansion and small hole in and out, even if you hit major bones. Too expensive for a plinking load but great for flat shooting and keeping fur.

I couldn't get them to group well but yes that is about the only bullet I think I would try to save fur with. Most barnes punch small holes for the most part.
To me after seeing the difference in the 204 from the 250 I wouldn't bother with the 250 again. They shoot pretty much the same. The downside of the 204 is longer distance with a wind. The 250 will do better but really you shouldn't be shooting at yotes at 400+ yards anyhow. My 2 cents worth. Do what you feel will suit you best.

[nube]

Originally Posted by Little red riding hood

Do you reload? If so you can adjust to whatever velocity you are comfortable with, if you're blowing a fist size exit wound, step it down a bit.

Then what would be the reason for going with the bigger gun if you are going to tame it?
If fur saving is what you really want then it is a no brainer.

[Eastgoeswest]

Man I wish I didn't open this thread. I had been set on 243 then was firmly talked into a 22-250 and even tracked down the gun now I'm thinking I want the 243 again.

[Camdec]

Originally Posted by nube

I couldn't get them to group well but yes that is about the only bullet I think I would try to save fur with. Most barnes punch small holes for the most part.
To me after seeing the difference in the 204 from the 250 I wouldn't bother with the 250 again. They shoot pretty much the same. The downside of the 204 is longer distance with a wind. The 250 will do better but really you shouldn't be shooting at yotes at 400+ yards anyhow. My 2 cents worth. Do what you feel will suit you best.

Completely agree. Been shooting a 22-250 the last 10 yrs, but picked up a 204 in Ruger predator this past year as I understood it to be more fur friendly. It is. No question. Several pencil entries with no exit. I had way too many baseball size exit holes with the 22-250. Even from 300+ yds. I don't reload, so taming down 22-250 loads wasn't an option. Also bought a 243 for my son as a combo coyote/deer rifle several years ago. Its a deer rifle only if you are saving fur in my opinion.

I'm sure anything works to save fur if you don't hit bone, but if you can shoot a coyote between the rib bones every time then you are a way better shot then me.

[elkhunter11]

If you use the right bullet, the 39gr Blitzking for example, the 204 actually drifts less in the wind than a 22-250 shooting 55gr bullets. You have to go to a faster twist barrel than the standard 1 in 14" twist rate that most 22-250s come with, to achieve less wind drift with the 22-250.

I haven't shot a lot of coyotes yet with my 20 tactical, but so far , it has done as well as my 22-250 did.

[Little red riding hood]

Originally Posted by nube

Then what would be the reason for going with the bigger gun if you are going to tame it?
If fur saving is what you really want then it is a no brainer.

Well then let me explain it to you, it goes like this...I shoot coyotes all year round, I do predator control for cattle ranchers, so in winter when pelts are prime and I'm hunting primarily close quarters and over a bait pile at a set range, I load light to preserve pelts, but as someone who shoots them to stop them from feasting on newborn calves... when I start up the old foxpro and wile e coyote pops his head up a half mile away to see what all the fuss is about but shows no interest in taking a closer look, I reach into the left pocket for the heavy hot rods, because that little fur friendly pill is just not gonna cut the mustard and my primary objective is predator control, so at this point I don't really care if I gotta blow his spleen out a baseball size crater on the exit side.

[Smokinyotes]

I have been shooting coyotes for the last 15 years with a 22-250. Many have been blown to crap. This year i switched to a 243. I am using 55 gr ballistic tips and i thought they may be blown up pretty bad but from what i see the damge is significantly less than the 22-250 with 50gr vmax.

[Ldsh_tanker]

Well i think ive made my decision.
204 ruger.
Thanks all for the help! Very helpful! I just hope i didnt make people loose their minds on this post

Happy hunting brothers and sisters!

[Hunt4Ever]

Originally Posted by Ldsh_tanker

Well i think ive made my decision.
204 ruger.
Thanks all for the help! Very helpful! I just hope i didnt make people loose their minds on this post

Happy hunting brothers and sisters!

You made a wise decision

[johnschmidt]

Personally, I'd go with a 300 RUM, and that's only because the 50BMG is too expensive, by the time you're done paying for ammo you're behind the game with a 50, but the 300 is still cheap enough to be reasonable for coyote, and you don't have to worry too much about shot placement or penetration, if you happen to find any remains of your coyote you will notice that the fleshing has already been done! So you'll save yourself a ton of work! Hope this helps in your decision!

P.s. just kidding! I personally like a 223, ammo is cheap and they are fur friendly.

[KBF]

Great success with 22-250 and 50 gr vmax. Have shot from 4yds all the way out 530. Shot several this year where you had to part the hair by hand to find hole.

[Powder monkey]

I shoot both.
The .204 is a fine cartridge,however it will never be a .22-250.
I shoot 50 gr. Nosler bts. Just under 4000 fps. Don't hit the shoulder and no problems. Almost always just entry hole.

[pikeslayer22]

Also have both and 22-250 for me...204 is a fun round for targets and gophers but way to many runners for me also

[Alberta Bigbore]

Originally Posted by Eastgoeswest

Man I wish I didn't open this thread. I had been set on 243 then was firmly talked into a 22-250 and even tracked down the gun now I'm thinking I want the 243 again.

I would still go with 243 over a 22250......... if ur Coyote or wolf hunting...and haven't filled your buck tag yet...... at least you have a cartridge u can use if a trophy buck walks out

[Little red riding hood]

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

I would still go with 243 over a 22250......... if ur Coyote or wolf hunting...and haven't filled your buck tag yet...... at least you have a cartridge u can use if a trophy buck walks out

You make a very valid point, I have had several deer come in with the afterburners on when I start up a rabbit distress.

[sioux 1876]

I was in the same dilemma. So i did the easiest thing and got both😎 And the wife still hasn't found out.😎