22BR or 204 Ruger?

[got6x47L]

I am considering buying a Cooper in either .204 or 22BR and would appreciate any feedback on experience with the small caliber Cooper rifles.
I have some custom rifles in 220Swift, 6x47L, and some larger calipers. Not interested in spending the $ for a full custom rifle for this caliber. A friend has several of the Coopers in larger calibers. Rifles do shoot well.
I just want to try a Cooper and am not interested in larger calibers.
Rifle will be used for casual paper and varmints out to 300 yards max.
Have reloading capability for either. I have a 6BR barrel that was switched out some years ago. Not interested in going the switch barrel route for the new rifle.
Friends with 22BR's in custom rifles show them to be extremely accurate. No experience with the .204.
I realize that will not get the accuracy as from a custom rifle, but Cooper claims 1/2 MOA with custom ammo.
I would expect in the Cooper I would get better accuracy with teh 22BR, but would I be disappointed in the .204?
Comments welcome.
Thanks

 

[Phil]

Do the 22br and don't look back.

 

[Preacher]

Plus one on that....

 

[Geronimo Jim]

22 BR get's my vote.

 

[ReedG]

I have a Cooper Model 22 in 22BR and like it very much. The Cooper package is quite impressive. My vote would go to the 22BR on several counts ...

1. The .204 requires special cleaning rods/accessories if you don't already have them.

2. .22 cal. has a far greater choice of bullets, both weight and design.

3. The 22BR is devastating on varmints and targets.

 

[A_Gamehog]

I shoot only Varmints so my opinion might be slanted. I favor the Cooper in 204 Ruger for many reasons.

1). Barrel life
2). Better BC on smaller bullets
3). Better splat factor with speed.
4). Able to see hits (or misses) thru scope on P-Dogs and make adjustments.
5). Less barrel heat, longer shooting periods before stoppage due to heated barrel. You keep shooting while the 22BR is stroking it...
6). I have shot over 300+ shots without cleaning in the field without a major loss in accuracy (R-10X)
7). Decent BR accuracy out to 250 yards. great for Varmints to 300 only..
8). Brass is easy to locate and Nosler and domestics make it.
9). Cleaning rod 25$ none issue. 1/4 tank of gas is more?

Head to head comparisons:

Ideal bullet for winds and velocity in the 204 Ruger is the 39 Sierra BK BC 287 3700-3800 FPS

Ideal bullet for winds and velocity in the 22 BR is the 53 V-Max 290 BC 3400-3550 FPS

The 204 shoots the 34's at 4000+
The 22 BR shoots the 34's at 3800+

my 2 cents...

 

[coonhunter70]

At 300yds max you'll have fun with a 204.

 

[Shynloco]

got6X,
I shoot strictly paper these days due to age, plus been there-done that! There are pluses and minuses for both, many of which others have already pointed out. Personally, I don't like the fact that you need special stuff for the .204 that only gets used with that caliber. On the other hand, you don't want to be dragging around a BR rifle with those BR stocks if you are out varmint hunting. So if rifle accuracy and target shooting is NOT the priority, then go with the .204. But the better all around rifle is the .22 that you could get in other than in a BR stock that can be adapted vis shooting bags to target shooting. IMHO, those Coopers are very nice, but a little pricey. But then I guess an Anschutz is too if you are a Target Shooting accuracy freak which I am. SO you can guess which one I shoot. Also, might want to take a look at an Anschutz 64 MPR (Multiple Purpose Rifle) that is a bit heavy, but works extremely well for both purposes you mentioned and will outshoot a Cooper any day of the week. They cost about $1200 dpending on where you buy it. I use my 64mpr strictly for Target shoot and the groups are incredibly tight when using the good Match Target ammo. When hunting, lesser expensive ammo can be used and the groups are still outstanding though more to the 1/4" - 1/2" variety for 5 shots @ 50 yds. In any case, I think you'd be please with either rifle, except one with a BR stock when Varmint shooting.

 

[got6x47L]

Thanks for all the great feedback.

The Cooper is a varmint style, not a BR stocked rifle, with weight in the 8 lb range.

Reed, what weight bullets are you typically shooting in your 22BR and did you go with the standard 1:14 twist?

thanks again to all.

 

[Phil]

You can shoot the 40gr bullets at 4000fps.

Take a look at the 22BR section on the home page,it will have some answers for you.

 

[Eddie Harren]

In my opinion, if you already have a 220 Swift, a 22 BR would be redundant.

 

[JohnHenry]

May want to check with Cooper ref. the current chamber neck diameter of their 22BR chamber. I believe the necks will require turning if using Lapua 6BR brass. Neck turning may not be required if starting with Norma 6BR brass. I have a 2003 vintage model 22 varminter in 22BR and the .250 chamber neck diameter requires neck turning if using Lapua brass. As you know the Cooper model 22 action(0.7 bolt dia) is appreciably larger than the model 21(0.55 bolt dia).

 

[areaone]

I bot a Rem 204 SPS about three years ago, immediately replaced the the factory stock with a B and C varmint stock(alum bedding block) screwed it in the stock, no bedding and shot it. Using Benchmark and 32 gr Hornady it will shoot three shot groups all day in.25 or less(100yds). A "fun" PD rifle. Now the drawbacks:
those 20 cal bullets a are somewhat awkward to reload for me, guess my fingers are too large. Cleaning the barrel with a smaller rods is a little more tedious(patch size needs to be just right). Do I like the 204....YES. I am happy with the Cheap SPS and its ability to put the bullet where I want it. I have shot it out to 300 yds without any issues, just wind sensitive, but you will get redmist on a PD with one. Reasonably inexpensive to shoot, especially the brass if you are going to shoot volume in Varmint (PD).
Good selection of bullets from 25 gr to 40+.
Sierra and Hornady are my favorites,big splat. given a choice-rem 700 204, 1/2 price of a Cooper, ammo
friendly, low investment, with and if you want to sell it at a later date you won't take as much a lit on rem 700, IMO.

 

[fdshuster]

Have had both and much prefer the 22BR for the accuracy advantage alone. The most consistantly accurate 22CF cartridge I've ever had, and the others include: 222 Rem. 222 Rem. Magnum, 223 Rem. 22ppc & 22-250.

28.5 grs. of H322 w/ 50 to 53 gr. match bullets averaged 3510 fps with 1/4 moa groups.

Not nearly as wind sensitive as the 39 gr. BlitzKings in the 204. Also had a lot of carbon fouling problems with the 204.

 

[Ackman]

I'd choose the 22BR. Never had a .204 and not really interested in one. But I've had a 22BR since the late 80's and know what it'll do. Accuracy loads with a 50gr bullet use 30-33gr depending on which powder and shoot groups so small that people would call bs if I posted them. In my rifles, velocity with accuracy loads are from 3800-4000 again depending on which powder and which 50gr bullet. Compared to a 22-250 it gets the same or better velocity and whole worlds better accuracy, using about 5gr. less powder.

 

[A_Gamehog]

Those who shoot P-dogs and Squirrels are in agreement, it's very windy most days. You can use that to your advantage with a fast, high BC bullet in the 204.
BC of the Sierra 39's in .204 cal is 287
BC of the V-Max 40's in .224 cal is 200

That's a big difference in the winds.

 

[Kenny474]

Of the two, 22br, all the way. Personally, if I was to go to a .20, it wouldn't be a .204 Ruger. 20br, maybe. Or even a .20 practical. But between the two, I'd go for the .22BR. Easy to load, good barrel life, great brass available. Just too much good going for it not to look at it real hard. Not saying the .204 is a bad round, as it's not. I just have no interest in them whatsoever. But, that's just my opinion, yours may differ.

And although I haven't been following things as much as I once did, I don't ever recall seeing the .204 at the top of any leader boards or on any equipment lists of any top shooters. Just food for thought.

And one last tidbit: BC, while important, isn't the most important thing in the world in every situation. Consistency, however, is key.

Kenny

 

[SongdogHunter]

20 BR. best of both worlds.

SDH

 

[fdshuster]

As Kenny said: Just checked the cartridges used at a local VHA benchrest varmint for score match, fired at 1,3,& 400 yards. Not a single 204 to be found. Of the 64 rifles/cartridges used, one 20TAC in custom class, nothing in factory, where the 223 was the majority used. 22-250 took the top three wins in factory class. Just stating the facts in this one match.

 

[SongdogHunter]

Not a single 204 to be found. Of the 64 rifles/cartridges used, one 20TAC in custom class, nothing in factory, where the 223 was the majority used. 22-250 took the top three wins in factory class. Just stating the facts in this one match.

Could that be due to the fact that the only commercially available factory rifle is the .204R? I'm not up on VFS rules but doesn't it have to a true factory gun?

I don't think is much of argument in stating the 20's offer better ballistics than the .224

SDH