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17 Rem vs 204 Ruger for Coyotes

I'm happy with my 17 Mach IV. But if I was building a rifle today for Varmint with minimal pelt damage, I would build a 17, and find the Mach IV with a 20 grn VMax to do no pelt damage out to 225 or a little further to do no pelt damage and be an aim dead on cartridge that drops dogs and smaller Varmint in their tracks. Never used on anything bigger than ground hogs beyond that.

Saying this if I were building today, I would build a 20, probably vartarg, and would use the lighter bullets.
 
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I have never shot a 17 Rem. I have been an avid 204 Ruger shooter since it started. I have shot an uncountable number of coyotes with this round, 350-400 yds is my max range. This is a picture of one I shot a 270 yds, no splat just dead.big dog.jpg
 
I tried the 204 on several coyotes. I lost one and had runners even under 50 yards even with 39gr speers. So I sold that rifle.

My 6x45 hits way harder and I do not get runners, same with the 220 swift. I built a 6-204 that I am going to try out this week on yotes.

With 55 ballistic tips leaving the muzzle at 3707fps I do not think I will have any runners.
Let us know how that 6mm-204 works out?

I bet it does super well as i shoot the 22-204 now for my coyote rig!

Im running 55 NBT at 3650 fps in the 22-204

Thats 6mm at 3700 fps should be Deadly!

Let me know how that works out
 
Let us know how that 6mm-204 works out?

I bet it does super well as i shoot the 22-204 now for my coyote rig!

Im running 55 NBT at 3650 fps in the 22-204

Thats 6mm at 3700 fps should be Deadly!

Let me know how that works out
I have had a 6x45 for the past 8 or nine years and shot a bunch of yotes with it and it just works period. This 6-204 is about 200fps faster bullet weight for bullet weight so I know its going to be a hammer. Hopefully I find a yote later today.
 
Wouldnt a 22-204 be a 222 rem mag? I’ve had 3 .17 Rem. Currently have 2. A Sako AI and a Matt Salm LW bbled AR.

If I were to build another AR in 17, I would make it a 17 tactical and I wouldn’t have to worry about brass. I doubt that I will ever try a 20 caliber at my age, as I am flush with 17 caliber components.
 
Wouldnt a 22-204 be a 222 rem mag? I’ve had 3 .17 Rem. Currently have 2. A Sako AI and a Matt Salm LW bbled AR.

If I were to build another AR in 17, I would make it a 17 tactical and I wouldn’t have to worry about brass. I doubt that I will ever try a 20 caliber at my age, as I am flush with 17 caliber components.
Its close and can be fire formed from it but not the same. The 204 case has a shorter neck less body taper and more case capacity over the straight up 222 mag. See below.

1705956064309.png
 
Hillbillyloing rifle, the 6/204 with 70g Nosler ballistic tips hit an accuracy node at 3500 fps, my reamer is Open to the public at JGS Reamer company as 22-204 KC and I used a PTG piloted neck reamer to open up the neck in the chamber,then throated the way I wanted...easy.

Where you were needing bullet weight, the 6/204 is a winner. The barrel is a Schneider barrel on mine at 24" length.
 
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.
I will take the 22 cal or better yet the 6 mm over the 204 or 17 but if had to pick it would be the 204 northern coyotes are tough .
 
It never ends with the 222 Magnum crap does it? Hard to fathom why people cannot look at the 2 cartridges a figure out that they are in no way close to being the same and never has a 222 Magnum produced the 22-204 velocities. I guess it will never end.
So how much difference is there? No dog in the fight but they look like they are close enough for the girls I date!
 
So how much difference is there? No dog in the fight but they look like they are close enough for the girls I date!
At least 300fps difference without pushing it hard...the long neck on the 222 magnum is all case body in the 204 casing which relates to more powder volume which relates to more velocity. I think it is very obvious if you look at the picture. And as stated, show me a 222 magnum load with a 50gr bullet that will do 3800fps.
 
I tried the 204 on several coyotes. I lost one and had runners even under 50 yards even with 39gr speers. So I sold that rifle.

My 6x45 hits way harder and I do not get runners, same with the 220 swift. I built a 6-204 that I am going to try out this week on yotes.

With 55 ballistic tips leaving the muzzle at 3707fps I do not think I will have any runners.
Might be surprised !!!!! We all know how tough they are. Good luck
 
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.
Bullet construction may be as big a factor as anything here IMHO. Another-words if you are able to find a proper weight & construction bullet, either can shine with the task at hand. Trouble here is most bullets available today are less than ideal for your intended task.
My concern with most bullets out there today is, splash on impact in either caliber. Not sure if anyone is making a good non plastic tip 25 or 30 grain hunting bullet in 17 caliber today. Years back Berger offered a 35 grain target bullet in 20 caliber that was the preferred offering for taking fur.

Not sure what if anything on the market today is built for the taking of fur. What are folks seeing out there today? For the in close work I have to wonder if a all coper construction may be as good as it gets with current offerings.

Personally, I stocked up on 17 caliber 30 grain target bullets on their last run a long time back & they are wonderful for the task of taking fur. Not sure what I would do if I had to shop from current offerings. Right at 3600 FPS is the sweet velocity for the 30 grain Bergers in my experience. Hornady did a 17 cal 25 grain target HP that did well also. If you could luck in to a supply of those you would be sitting fine.

Nagel did 25 & 30 grain offerings that did well if you were to find some of those. As I recall he had trouble sourcing jackets for his bullets towards the end of his production.
 

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