SDH: I'm not current on what factory chamberings are available in 204 Ruger, not much interested in factory rifles. Of those that I've had, quickly became disgusted with them & rebarreled with Krieger, Bartlein etc., chambered in benchrest cartridges. Are not Remington's, Savage's, Winchester's, Cooper's ( I know for sure) Kimbers and others available in 204 chamberings? So there are many choices to enter some of these match's with a factory rifle chambered in 204, but I seldom see them. Even at that, someone is free to build a custom rifle in 204 & compete in the custom class ( against the ppc's, BR's, and 22BR's), something else I've never seen. So, we're back to the original question as to the choice of 22BR or 204? If that choice relates to accuracy, then the 22BR is the logical one. If someone is more interested in the "splat" factor then the 204 may be their choice.
22BR or 204 Ruger?
- Thread starter got6x47L
- Start date
SongdogHunter
Gold $$ Contributor
I believe the .204 Ruger is the only commercially available factory cartridge available in the stock factory rifles. I too am not interested in factory rifles or cartridges. In fact I don't think I have a single rifle I can buy off the shelf ammo for. Most of mine center around the PPC or BR, usually on Bat actions.
I still say the .20 BR or .20 Dasher is a better choice than the 22 BR due to BC alone. I have owned a couple 22 BR's and it's no slouch but in the wind I will pick a 20 over 22 any day of the week.
SDH
I still say the .20 BR or .20 Dasher is a better choice than the 22 BR due to BC alone. I have owned a couple 22 BR's and it's no slouch but in the wind I will pick a 20 over 22 any day of the week.
SDH
tjtjwdad
Gold $$ Contributor
It depends on what you want.
-If you want a 22BR as a Varmint Rifle (and have it set up as such) I think you would find that it would perform very similar to 22-250 or 220 Swift. There are plenty of opinions out there on the 22-250/220 Swift vs the 204 Ruger. This is probably as close to an “apples vs apples†comparison. The 204 may shoot flatter over a longer range but the 22BR arrives with more horsepower.
-If you want a 22BR set up as a Target Rifle (and have it set up that way) to use occasionally on varmints I don’t believe you would be disappointed. As you probably know, there are some darn good 22 cal bullets out there. IMO, this is-not an equal comparison. The 22 cal just have better bullets for long range due to their target world heritage. Some 20 cals are starting to show up as well as the fast barrel twist to support them.
-If you want a good solid varmint round get the 204. It uses less powder with very little recoil, in fact more often than not, you can see the impact. Not sure if that can be done with the 22BR. Don’t think for a second that 204’s aren’t accurate. I have three of them, all factory rifles (CZ & 2-Remingtons) with factory barrels. Other than bedding, free floating and barrel crowning, they’re right out of the box. Each one, with a 39 SBK easily shoots ¼ to ½†groups @ 200 yds, consistently â€as long as I do my partâ€. A good 204 load is like a laser. I was skeptical at first myself but they do shoot well. I’ve killed ground squirrels @ 490 yds with them. Yes, one has to dope the wind on a critter that size at that distance with a small bore bullet. That’s a mighty small target that far out.
In the end, just have to add up the pro’s & con’s and pick one.
Out of curiosity, why a 22BR over a 22-250? The reason I’m asking is I find myself in a similar but different predicament. In my case, mine would be primarily for target shooting and maybe a occasional varmint outing.
HTH,
-If you want a 22BR as a Varmint Rifle (and have it set up as such) I think you would find that it would perform very similar to 22-250 or 220 Swift. There are plenty of opinions out there on the 22-250/220 Swift vs the 204 Ruger. This is probably as close to an “apples vs apples†comparison. The 204 may shoot flatter over a longer range but the 22BR arrives with more horsepower.
-If you want a 22BR set up as a Target Rifle (and have it set up that way) to use occasionally on varmints I don’t believe you would be disappointed. As you probably know, there are some darn good 22 cal bullets out there. IMO, this is-not an equal comparison. The 22 cal just have better bullets for long range due to their target world heritage. Some 20 cals are starting to show up as well as the fast barrel twist to support them.
-If you want a good solid varmint round get the 204. It uses less powder with very little recoil, in fact more often than not, you can see the impact. Not sure if that can be done with the 22BR. Don’t think for a second that 204’s aren’t accurate. I have three of them, all factory rifles (CZ & 2-Remingtons) with factory barrels. Other than bedding, free floating and barrel crowning, they’re right out of the box. Each one, with a 39 SBK easily shoots ¼ to ½†groups @ 200 yds, consistently â€as long as I do my partâ€. A good 204 load is like a laser. I was skeptical at first myself but they do shoot well. I’ve killed ground squirrels @ 490 yds with them. Yes, one has to dope the wind on a critter that size at that distance with a small bore bullet. That’s a mighty small target that far out.
In the end, just have to add up the pro’s & con’s and pick one.
Out of curiosity, why a 22BR over a 22-250? The reason I’m asking is I find myself in a similar but different predicament. In my case, mine would be primarily for target shooting and maybe a occasional varmint outing.
HTH,
.22BR all the way. I have 5 and every one of them is a tack driver. Paul. 8)
http://proprecisionrifles.com/
http://proprecisionrifles.com/
.204 with a 1:10 twist, end of story 8)
The 20 BR with the 55 gr Barnes bullet will get about 3300 ft/sec at the muzzle and buck the wind better than the 175 gr .308 match bullets out to beyond 1000 yards.
The 22 BR will do as well or better with 75-80 gr bullets.
So, a lot will depend on what you want to do with the rifle -- do you want to "merely" hit the varmint and take him out, or do you want to "explode" him with hydrostatic shock?
Hitting at long range will be more reliable with the heavy bullets because they buck the wind better. Exploding them is best served with very fast bullets but your reliable hit range is somewhat decreased.
Cheers!
The 22 BR will do as well or better with 75-80 gr bullets.
So, a lot will depend on what you want to do with the rifle -- do you want to "merely" hit the varmint and take him out, or do you want to "explode" him with hydrostatic shock?
Hitting at long range will be more reliable with the heavy bullets because they buck the wind better. Exploding them is best served with very fast bullets but your reliable hit range is somewhat decreased.
Cheers!
One problem we always have with questions like this is that it is difficult to find a shooter who has personal experience with all of the equipment being compared.
I, for example have owned rifles in 218 Bee, 204 Ruger, 220 Swift, 222 Rem. and .223 Rem. Of those, my best results out to 200 yards have been with 222 Rem. The 204 Ruger gives my best at 300 yards, while the 218 Bee comes in last at any distance.
Even then, the rifles were not identical, so how could I make a direct comparison among those cartridge options.
I, for example have owned rifles in 218 Bee, 204 Ruger, 220 Swift, 222 Rem. and .223 Rem. Of those, my best results out to 200 yards have been with 222 Rem. The 204 Ruger gives my best at 300 yards, while the 218 Bee comes in last at any distance.
Even then, the rifles were not identical, so how could I make a direct comparison among those cartridge options.
22Br for all reasons above
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
34gr 22 cal bullets? You might just have mis-typed that comparison. The high node on my 22BR with 50BK is at 3850-3900. Tiny-tiny bughole groups. Never shot 40's with it, never needed to, but 4200 would be quite realistic.
chuckshooter
Silver $$ Contributor
12 year old thread brought back to life
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I will admit to grumbling about such.
I will also admit to saying that from the original date to today, there has been some advancements made.
I have 204 and 22BR, both have their place. I am a 204 fan, but make me take one of the other day in and day out, 22BR hands down.
My 20BR patiently awaits much needed attention.
Throwing into the mix, if I were to start all over, 20 BR one and done. It will do with ease what a 204 struggles to do with sane loads. Built heavy enough, I would venture to say even the 20VT would be looking for a new home. Shooting nothing but 40-55 grain pills in the 20.
chuckshooter
Silver $$ Contributor
Then your options are limited, Thompson is one of the few that offer that, and you are 100% correct Thompson got it right many other big names did not.
Out of curiosity why take a vartarg or a 20 tac over the other two? Why not just do the 20 br and have that happy inbeteeen?
I run a 22bra and 20 tac so just curious here
For me the magic of the Vartarg is how much I can shoot it before the barrel heats up. I’d say it’s in the ballpark of 20 rounds to equal one 5 shot group with my 22BR. Both are exceptionally accurate but the 22BR reaches a bit further. I would never do a 20BR; it’s way too overbore.
chuckshooter
Silver $$ Contributor
Less powder, less recoil, less heat, less wear and tear on me with as good or better results
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I honestly thought pretty much the same. I had a couple of 221’s some years back, I never did dote on them the way some do, still don’t. However I came across a great deal on a 17FB barrel,dies and brass when I was waiting on my 17 Remington barrel. The small case has its place, it I don’t crowd it or try to run a heavy bullet, I use only 20 grain in mine. It doesn’t heat up fast and is a laser in the average day out to 200. Yeah it will go past that but it loses any advantage quickly. So, I swap to the 17 Remington and a 25 or heavier bullet.
I do the same with 20 and 22 caliber rigs. I shot some 6mm on occasion, but the recoil I do t get to see my impacts as well.
I look at it like a tool box. You have some wrench sets and specialty tools, or you have a hammer and a pair of pliers.
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