22BR or 204 Ruger?

[SmokinJoe]

In my own experience it would be hard to beat the 223AI or 20-223AI (AKA 20 Sploder). Those aren't far behind the BR in accuracy or velocity, and brass is so much easier.
When I go PD shooting I start with one of my 22 Spitfires w/40 gr bullet, then move to the 20-221AI w/32gr bullet, then to 20-223AI w/40gr bullet and if conditions/distance warrant it I will finish with one of my 6mm rifles. Everybody has their own game plan, this is just mine and has worked very well. Where I go I usually shoot 300-500 rounds/day so starting with the small stuff helps get a lot more shooting in before barrel heating becomes an issue.

 

[searcher]

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...

This is an excellent comparison. If targets are more important, opt for the 22 BR as heavier target bullets will do better. The term "casual" target shooting is a wide moat. If you compete with it in any way, again, the .22 BR will do you better. That said, the .204 Ruger (or my favorite .20 Practical) will EASILY smoke small varmints well beyond 300 yards, especially with those 40 V-Max and 39 Blitz King bullets - AND many rifles in these calibers, regardless of make, can be tuned to shoot well under 1/2" MOA with right powder. I'd think the Cooper is capable. Your barrel will last considerably longer with either .20, and cost far less to shoot from a brass and powder standpoint. As noted above - don't discount the effect of recoil - again the .20 really wins there.

 

[nakneker]

I don’t mind most old threads, the question is still valid. My answer is the same today as it would have been then. Simple, one of each, two of the best.

 

[Matt_3479]

Less powder, less recoil, less heat, less wear and tear on me with as good or better results

Well the 20 tac sports very similar powder consumption, heat; recoil and wear and tear as a 204 which is why I was curious as to why you take a 20 tac over. Brass being the obvious but I just wasn’t sure as to any other reason. The vartarg makes sense there. I’ve never owned or shot one but you hear phenomenal things about a vartarg. If I could get one to feed I’d build one.

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.

I wish I had a vartarg or an action that would feed from a mag and I’d build one in a heart beat!

The 20 br/bra just seems like such a sweet ticket for coyotes. 55gr, decent bc, running 35-3700. If I had ground hogs/prairie dogs any where near me I think you’d chew a throat wildly quickly!

 

[JSH]

Well the 20 tac sports very similar powder consumption, heat; recoil and wear and tear as a 204 which is why I was curious as to why you take a 20 tac over. Brass being the obvious but I just wasn’t sure as to any other reason. The vartarg makes sense there. I’ve never owned or shot one but you hear phenomenal things about a vartarg. If I could get one to feed I’d build one.



I wish I had a vartarg or an action that would feed from a mag and I’d build one in a heart beat!

The 20 br/bra just seems like such a sweet ticket for coyotes. 55gr, decent bc, running 35-3700. If I had ground hogs/prairie dogs any where near me I think you’d chew a throat wildly quickly!

I don’t run my 22BR continuously, nor do I have any plans to do that with the 20BR. The 22BR comes out when conditions and distance are making other cartridges struggle. Same plan for the 20BR.
Yeah yeah I know guys shooting 204R and 20-223 variations way out yonder. Taking a smaller case and saying it does what a case of larger case capacity does, there is no way around it, pressures have to be up there no matter what.
The 20BR plays with 39-40 grain bullets with ease, but barrel life will suffer from burning more powder. I don’t get hung up on any of the economic sides of it, many do. I run sane pressures and sane loads.
As always accuracy trumps speed, I chase both.

 

[chuckshooter]

Well the 20 tac sports very similar powder consumption, heat; recoil and wear and tear as a 204 which is why I was curious as to why you take a 20 tac over. Brass being the obvious but I just wasn’t sure as to any other reason. The vartarg makes sense there. I’ve never owned or shot one but you hear phenomenal things about a vartarg. If I could get one to feed I’d build one.



I wish I had a vartarg or an action that would feed from a mag and I’d build one in a heart beat!

The 20 br/bra just seems like such a sweet ticket for coyotes. 55gr, decent bc, running 35-3700. If I had ground hogs/prairie dogs any where near me I think you’d chew a throat wildly quickly!

I am a high volume prairie dog or squirrel shooter. all center fire, all single feed, so my choices might be different than those of you that want a repeater/ magazine feed coyote rifle. also, I usually shoot with a friend from a platform on the top of my truck. so as a courtesy to the other guy, no muzzle brakes allowed on the top of the truck. the 204r produces just enough more recoil compared to the 20 tac that I don't see the impact on quite a few shots. I know if I zoomed out my scope it would help but, I have a routine when shooting. zoom out, find target, zoom in, focus, shoot. I used to have five 204r's, now I'm down to three. I have three 20tacs and two 20p's and as I rebarrel the 20p's they will become 20t's. and the only reason to go with the 20tac , someone else also already said it. I think the 30 degree shoulder just looks cooler. plus I also have dedicated 20tac dies, where as my 20p dies are for my 223. I started out with a couple of 20p's, ended up buying a couple of coopers in 20t, that's the reason for both. now I want just one.

 

[maddysdad]

22 br using n135 powder.what are you shooting as far as loads and a 52 grain bullet

 

[dgeesaman]

I’m surprised more Varmint hunters don’t shoot 22ppc

 

[nilebartram]

22BR