204 vs 22-250

I have both, use .223 a LOT more than either.

.204 is fine out to about 400 IMHO, the .22-250 a bit further, for predators. If I had to choose between the .204 and .22-250, I would choose the .204. Little less of a barrel burner, less powder, less recoil.
 
I'm in a different place, being firmly wedded to the .22 caliber, for many decades. .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball, .222Rem, .223Rem, & .22-250, in different rifles (and handguns).

No point for me to go to the .204, which doesn't feed from my existing stock of .22 bullets, and needs its own cleaning rod. ;)

I've been using the .22-250 as my "top end" .22 since just before Remington standardized it. If you are in a situation where you can use it to its potential, there is nothing that can quite match it.

If not, then its a bit of a waste, and one of the smaller rounds (case capacity) if a better choice, both for efficiency and economy.

Also, you might find your choice of rifles different, due to the calibers.
 
I am very fond of 22-250. It has everything I need. The .204 has to be a special pita to clean and I am too old for the aggravation. For those who gravitate to the .204, more power to you. I am sure it fills a niche for some.
 
Of those two I'd go with .22-250. Ammo and brass is far easier to come by. Very much doubt you'd find the .204 is small places. It is limited in bullet weights and availability too.
 
I'd go with the 22-250, and if you have the option, get a faster twist barrel so that you can shoot the Sierra 65 GK, the 60 gr Partition, or the Nosler 64 gr Bonded Solid Base.
 
The 204 will reach out to about 500ish yds quite handily, but I still prefer the 22-250. Even so, I do more shooting with my 223 than either of the others. And remember, very small caliber barrels are harder to clean. But if I were to buy a varmint rifle not owning the 22s already, I would consider a 204 very seriously.
 
Even so, I do more shooting with my 223 than either of the others.
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Exactly. I have many .223s, ammo is relatively cheap, why does someone like myself need a 22-250? I've thought about it but I can't justify it. Maybe if I had the opportunity to shoot p-dogs at 500 yards?

204?, I can't even think of a lame, weak excuse for that one. Doubtful it will even be around.
 
Here in Texas, varmint hunting means coyotes, hogs & jackrabbits, so a .22-250 makes a lot of sense for me.

My understanding of it, prairie dog & chuck shooters like the .204 because of the reduced recoil, even less than a .223. The shooter then has the added advantage of watching the bullet impact through the scope. Those tiny fast bullets are plenty to vaporize the smaller varmints.

FWIW
 
I've been using the .22-250 as my "top end" .22 since just before Remington standardized it. If you are in a situation where you can use it to its potential, there is nothing that can quite match it.
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The above quote from 44 AMP is a very good point and I agree with it.
That being said I've shot more coyotes with my heavy barrel 223 bolt gun, but I do limit my shots to around 350 yards with it.
I still use my 22-250 as a matter of fact just dropped a coyote with it the other day.

As for the 204, I have a friend that has one.
After shooting a few winter furred Missouri coyotes, knocking them down then watching them get up and run off he dose not use the 204 much anymore, other then shooting it for fun.
 
Personally I wouldn't rely on a .204 to be my go to yote gun. If I were you I'd get the 22-250, it has the power and bullet weight availability to make a great coyote rig.

This is all coming from the guy that has and loves the .204 but I use it mainly for shooting groundhogs on our farm and for that it is excellent.

Also, wind is a huge issue for a .204, and I typically only use it on calm evening hunts. I've smoked groundhogs to 500 yards with it though with no issue.
 
My coyote gun, for years, was my 220 Swift (like a 22-250+P). Worked great till the hogs moved in, so I switched to the 260 with 100 gr Ballistic Tips, and that was an improvement with the larger pigs.

Still, my 223 has been more than adequate with coyotes and pigs.

Bottom line...if you don't have either a 204, 223 or 22-250, I think the 223 (1-9 twist or faster) is the better choice for general varmint shooting and plinking. You can load the 35 or 40 grainers in the 223 very close to speeds you can get in the 204.
 
there is nothing that can quite match it.
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22/250 is the KING.
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Except for .220 Swift and .223 WSSM. So I guess it's the Prince's little brother. ;)

The .204 is superior in my view, for a dedicated LR varminter. Same performance for all intents and purposes as a .22-250, but less powder and less recoil (meaning more fun and you can see the hits through the scope).

That said, my long-range varminters are in .17 Hornet, .223 Rem, and .243 Win. First one for small; second two for larger.

Also, I will note that think the ultimate rifle build for southern and eastern whitetails - a dedicated rifle - is a 20" .22-250 with a 7 twist and 64-70 grainers. But I believe that would be a custom proposition; therefore mine is a .243 Win.
 
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That ultimate rifle idea about a 22-250 is a bit off from reality. It might work well on the little central Texas deer, like what I hunt these days, but I wouldn't trust it on the 250 to 275 pound bucks I used to hunt in NE Louisiana, along the Mississippi River. Trust me that you don't want those big fellows to run too far into some legendary briar patches like we have over there. My 270 was just the thing over there. I use a 260 here in central TX.
 
Unless you're hitting a jackrabbit at that 400 yards, you need the .22-250 for a clean kill. The .204 is too light for coyotes, in my opinion, and is not wind-resistant.

Both are equally accurate once you know how to shoot them and have your drop table memorized.
 
I love the .204 and it's a lot more wind resistant than I expected due to the higher velocity. I've only shot 2 coyotes with it, both were down almost immediately with shots in the vitals, BUT - with almost all of the available bullets being thin jacketed and explosive, I probably would not recommend it for a primary coyote rifle. Out to 300 yds a .223 will do just fine with less recoil and cheaper ammo than the .22-250. But if you want a .22-250 it's a fine choice as well.
 
.204Ruger is a 500 yard coyote gun if the shooter is a 500 yard shooter.

At 300 yards, there's hardly a difference worth mentioning between .22-250 and .204 with most common bullets.

If both use light bullets (32gr and 40gr respectively), they'll be within about a 1/2" trajectory and 3/4" in 10mph wind, advantage .204.

If you use heavier bullets (40 and 55gr respectively), there's about 1" trajectory and 1.2" wind, advantage .204.

A person so inclined could find bullets and load data to give whichever one they want the perceived advantage.

Some areas the .204 will always have the advantage is recoil, muzzle blast and powder charge (if you reload). .204 uses under 30gr for almost any load with any bullet, .22-250 can use over 40 even for 50gr bullets.
 
I would think either would do. But I would just stick with .223 as the others have stated.
If I was set on one of the two, I'd go 22-250. I know 204 owners and they certainly are fans of the cartridge. So I guess it's really up to you.
 
there is nothing that can quite match it.

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22/250 is the KING.

Except for .220 Swift and .223 WSSM. So I guess it's the Prince's little brother.
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I like the Swift, but the 220 Swift was near impossible to get ammo and brass for until about 15 years ago. 220 Swift (26" barrel) will give you an extra 50-80 fps (1.5% more or less) over a 22-250 (24" barrel), but uses about 6% more powder. Not a huge gain, but it's there. If you want that 50-80 fps back, put a longer barrel on the 22-250. Been there, done that.

223WSSM is a non-entity. Browning reported barrel erosion after 500 rounds as being "severe", so they quit chambering rifles for the round. Yes, you can launch them really fast, you just can't launch very many of them.

As far as the question of whether or not a 204 Ruger will kill a coyote, I can personally state that a 17 Remington will kill a coyote really, really dead, so a .204 should do just fine. But I will let people who have already done it speak for it's abilities.
 
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