17 Rem vs 204 Ruger for Coyotes

[dakor]

I am on the fence with what do build for a coyote calling rifle. I want no pelt damage and something that can kill out to 300 yards. That said 90 percent of the shots will be 200 yards or less. So should it be 17 rem with 25gr or 30gr bullets or a 204 with 35gr to 40gr bullets.

I had a 17 rem many years ago and it worked great on fox but I never shot a yote with it. I have never shot a 204 at all.

 

[B23]

I had one of each, both were CZ 527 Varmint models and shot well, but I'm a bigger fan of the 204 than the 17 Rem. For me, I'd pick the 204 over the 17 Rem as my go to coyote gun every time. I'll be surprised if you don't get close to a 50/50 response on this, time will tell.

 

[Knifeman]

I would go with the 204. I hate loading 17 cal. Bullets. Use 40 gr Berger’s. I use them in a 20 Vartarg they are death on dogs.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

20 cal has a lot better bullet selection and the 204R will reach out farther when you need to make long shots.

 

[Whiskey4]

As Ledd Slinger said you will find a lot better bullet selection for the 204,Bullet brands are pretty close in my opinion but i prefer Hornady 40 gr, They provide good results and are pretty reasonably priced so you can plink with them also is you just want to shoot targets..IMHO....YMMV

 

[trader steve]

Never had a problem dropping coyotes with 17 Remington. Bang flop can't beat that with a stick.

 

[spencerhenry]

My fur buyer was always complaining about holes from the 223. So I had a 17-223 built. Lots of people, those who hunt coyotes and those who don't, told me that I would "lose a few". Well, that was 3 years ago, the 60 or so coyotes I shot with the 17 had no issues with bullet holes. And, I never lost a single one. Most shots were 150 to 175, but I killed several around 300 to 350.
Sure, you can't gut shoot them in heavy cover, but put the bullet where it needs to go and you will find them very very close to where they were when the bullet hit them.

 

[spencerhenry]

I run 25gr hornady HP, never had an exit at any range.

 

[Jordandavelaar]

If you are going to build a rifle. 17 caliber try a 17 tac. Can form from 223 brass. Or if you want a 20 cal try 20x47 lapua or 20 br. 20x47 lapua can launch 55 grain bullets very nicely. If you are still on the fence with either. Call Todd kindler and talk to him and order both his sweet 17 and terrific 20 books. Giver you a lot of info and calibers to choose from and bullets you could try.

 

[stacy]

I'VE SHOT MY FAIRSHARE OF BOTH AND 17 GREAT LITTLE ROUND BUT IT DONT MATCH THE 204 PREFORMANCE MY 204 THAT I HAVE NOW DOES WELL WITH VARGET AND 35GR BERGERS

 

[varget204]

Hands down the 204 ruger, affected by the wind alot less, hiting alot harder, more room for error

 

[varmintshooter]

I almost bought a 17 rem but got a 17fb instead. I was not impressed with the 17fb on ghogs and fox but never shot a coyote with it. My 204's act like a much bigger gun compared to the 17fb. I tried a wide range of bullets in both and both were very accurate so that wasn't the issue. Off course the 17 rem would be better than the 17 fb for yotes.

 

[jackson1]

I am not the wiliest yote hunter on the planet. Started with a Swift and moved on to the 17 Remington. My great uncle's (well connected custom gun builder) 17 caliber advice to me was "don't waste your money, the bullets explode when they hit a snow flake". I ain't a good listener. Remember reading PO Ackley's book regarding the great killing power of the 17 and got one. Was a Todd Kinder disciple and only every used 30 grain Kinder Gold bullets and 30 grain Berger's, sadly both discontinued. My 17 was more accurate than I had any right to expect and have many great memories with it. The 17 verses 20 discussion may be a Ford Chevy debate. Pick one and enjoy it. We are all victims of are on decisions.

 

[squirrelsplitter]

I shoot 17WSM, 17 Rem, 17-204 and 204 Ruger all of them AR 15. All of these will kill a coyote. If I had to choose one it would be the 204 with a 40gr V Max bullet or a 39gr SMK. Properly placed shot.....DRT.

 

[AckleymanII]

I killed a lot of coyotes with a 17 Mach 4 and 17 Rem with Berger 25g HP. They die quick as long as you don't hit them behind the diaphragm.

I can't compare a 17 with a 204.

If I were pelt hunting today, a 17/204 with 30g would be my "go to" pelt rifle.

 

[dakor]

Lots of good info so far thank you. The question I have for the guys running the 204 is does your bullet exit. Thats the main thing I am looking for is no exit on chest shots or broadside shots even down to 50 yards.

I have a 6x45, 223, and 220 swift and they all exit about 50% of the time. I am trying to find one that will not.

 

[spencerhenry]

Lots of good info so far thank you. The question I have for the guys running the 204 is does your bullet exit. Thats the main thing I am looking for is no exit on chest shots or broadside shots even down to 50 yards.

I have a 6x45, 223, and 220 swift and they all exit about 50% of the time. I am trying to find one that will not.

Then you are looking for a 17!

 

[steve123]

Loved my 17R using 30 Golds! Man those lay out a Yote hard and didn't exit.

 

[xswanted]

I’ve killed quite a few with both.

My personal opinion is if you’re going to go for a calling rifle, go with the 17. The 204r has just a touch of muzzle jump when shooting above a 35 grain bullet that, in many cases doesn’t allow you to see the hit on the coyote.

A 17 rem, with a 24-25” barrel will launch 25 grain bullets in the 4000-4100 neighborhood. That’s darn flat shooting with no recoil.

204 is also fun with 32s screaming out. I have a fast twist 204 that I use 50s with and that is a mean coyote rifle.

For my money, if you want a calling rifle, no fur damage and 300 yards and in, it’s hard to argue with the 17.

 

[Wagoner]

I hunted coyotes for 16 years full time during the fur season. Primarily I used a 220 swift with 55gr Ballistic tips and Sierra blitzkings. That being said I know a thing or two about fur damage and sewing. LOL

The 17 may well be fine in a lot of situations. It will do less damage to a pelt all things being equal. With the high velocity, fast expanding bullets of both calibers the damage from "exit" wounds is minimal. The trouble starts with bad hits and including high angle impacts. When you hit a coyote thin at an angle or on bone you get bullet splash. In other words the entrance and exit wound is all in one.

Logic will tell us that the smaller the bullet the less fur damage will occur. Without exaggerating the said ballistics too much this pretty much holds true.

If that can be agreed on, one must consider that the smaller bullets will do less damage inside of the coyote as well thus making it less lethal than a larger projectile.

A broadside coyoye will not know the difference between a 25gr hollow point or a 180gr ballistic tip if you tuck it behind the shoulder. That is not the point. When coyote hunting marginal shots must be accepted and accounted for because thats just the way it is in the real world. The direct trade off for a few less stitches can equate to a few lost coyotes.

I have found that there is no statistical gain in anchoring coyotes shooting anything above a 22-250/220 swift with a 55gr bullet. A 204 with a 39 or 40gr bullet anchors very well even with some marginal hits. The 17 kills quickly and cleanly with good shots but falls short on the less than ideal hits. With my experience, the 204 with a 39gr blitzking is the middle ground between to much and too little gun.