Talk me into/ out of a new Varmint Caliber

[Ken]

I went through the "get different calibers" phase. To me the downside was the number of calibers I have to load for. I am trying to stick to 223, 6BR,243

 

[MikeT49]

Get a barrel nut bolt gun in 223. Get a prefit 20P barrel later. Put the 20P barrel on, it'll probably stay on. The point is, you would have a switch barrel platform. You can also get additional barrels for other 223 bolt face cartridges later.

 

[Damon555]

I love and shoot the 204...... it's great, but if I didn't have a 223 Remington or 223 AI I would go with the 223 for sure......Haven't been without a 223 Remington since I started shooting about a bazillion years ago and don't foresee myself without one in the future. Whether it's one of my AR's or a bolt rifle a 223 of some flavor is always with me in the dog towns........my 204's and 6XC's didn't come until later in my varminting career......but they are also staples now too. Plentiful ammo is reason enough to give it a go!

 

[Oso]

.223 Rem should be in everyone's collection... it is the small caliber workhorse. Accurate and flexible (40gr - 90gr bullets depending on the twist rate). I think of it as the adult version of 22lr. Cheap, easy and fun!!!

 

[Hohn]

I went through the "get different calibers" phase. To me the downside was the number of calibers I have to load for. I am trying to stick to 223, 6BR,243

Yeah, these days I have a pretty high bar to proliferate another caliber, because to me that means not just dies, but likely another powder and bullet, and more load development. I'm starting to not like load development, I just want to go shoot.

Which means my calibers are pretty far apart, with with the next one up or down being at least 50% more or less energy.

 

[PBking51]

I am more a hunter than plinker or target shooter when it comes to rifles these days. I am actually just now deciding that at 250+ guns I should be toning it down. I too hate load development and if all my guns are moa up to 600 yards I am happy. Now 35% of that arsenal are pistols and shotguns and each holds their purpose as far as I am concerned about 15% are 22s and I'm just addicted to unique 22 rifles so that amount won't go down. I recently started buying some pieces as investment guns that are rather rare or unique low production models and that's about 25% so by my math I have about 65 or more center fire rifles including 22hornet, 222, 22-250, 223 (ar) 243, 257 wtby, 6.5 sweede , 6.5 CM, 270, 280, 7mm-08, 7x57, 7-30 waters, 7 mag, 308, 30-30, 30-06, 300 mag, 300wsm, 300 wtby, 32-20, 35 rem, 357, 358, 40 S&w, 44 mag.. all of these I load for and consider shooters and have used hunted with

I have just decided to part ways with my 6.5 Grendel so there's some progress

For anyone wondering I have sold and never reattempted to buy a 25-06, 338 win mag, 257ai, 6mm, 300 H&H, 300 RUM, and 30-378 wtby..I think all of these calibers are already very closely mimicked in what i have

That was my 223 or 204 debate. I have the 22-250 but the reasons the 204 stands out are, as others have said, even less recoil and muzzel blast , recoil and heat generated over the 22-250. 223 would be so simple to load for and I can shoot heavier bullets but maybe it's because I have the 222 and have previously owned a Howa 223 and 700 223 that they didn't do anything for me that I am not seriously considering one.

 

[garandman]

Yer smart.

Unless you lluuuuuvvvv reloading....stay away from 224 Valkyrie.

Now that I'm "there" (half moa out to 400 yards thus far) I love my 224 V. Took me 750+ handloads to find loads for both 80.5 and 85.5 Bergers.

 

[linebaugh]

I vote to talk you into the .204 in the Howa. Just tell the wife you had enough votes now and "need" it.

 

[Hohn]

Given the ease of making from more-abundant-than-water 223 brass, I'd say a 20 practical or nothing.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Get yourself, a 1-10 Twist Tikka T3, in .243 Win and shoot 87 grain V-maxes or, Berger 87 grain, HVLD's at, 3,150 - 3,200 FPS and with low recoil and DEFY, the Wind,..as good as, anything, "can" ! Wipes Coyotes off, the Map to, 600 yds ! ( Skins not, use able ).
.223's and .22-250's are NOT, in the Class of, a .243 at,.. 300 yards, Plus !

 

[Ironworker]

CZ-527 204 Ruger Varmint bbl . Mine blow up squirrels 300+ yards .

 

[JSH]

I went through the "get different calibers" phase. To me the downside was the number of calibers I have to load for. I am trying to stick to 223, 6BR,243

I am happy for ya Ken! I admire a fellow that can stick to a plan. I tried it for a while, think I lasted about a week ;-).

To the OP.

I won’t bang my drum on what the 204 is or should have been. It is what it is and happy to see that type brass available for those that have other things to put it to use for.
I blew the 204R off for a fairly long time. I thought it was a ho hum fad that would pass. Buddy had a custom built and I had the opportunity to use it. Point and shoot, seemed like a real laser and made colony varmints fly.
I have two at the moment, factory chambered savages and they are doing well, even though some dislike them.
When I wear these two out I will have a new custom barrel with a proper twist.
Like I have said before, rifles are like wrenches in a tool box, right tool for the job. Yes there are some “adjustable wrench” type cartridges. At times though they can be too big or too small.

What ever your choice remember you can always load a bigger cartridge down, tough to load a little one up.

 

[PBking51]

Do you have any dislikes?

 

[McFred]

I might be late to the .204 game, but looking at some Western Powders load data I see the following:

.204 Ruger 28gr AA2520 40gr vmax 3762fps 59,900psi 24" bbl.
5.56mmx45 27.4gr AA2200 40gr vmax 3919fps 61,000psi 24" bbl.

I run the numbers for my elevation and the 5.56 has less drop, more temrinal energy and is within 5/8" inch in a 10mph wind at 500 yards using less powder. So with that data, why should I go with the .204R over a 60ksi .223 Remington? Not trying to start a debate just wanting to understand the rationale/favoritism I see with the .204 caliber. Remember, I have both .223Rem and .204R bolt guns.

 

[jpx2rk]

If you just want something to experiment with that's one of the cheaper guns out there but usually sub moa right out of the box is the Cabela's FV12 in 204R. Or buy a FV12 in 223 and make a 20 whatever out of it using 223 brass.

 

[Hohn]

If you just want something to experiment with that's one of the cheaper guns out there but usually sub moa right out of the box is the Cabela's FV12 in 204R. Or buy a FV12 in 223 and make a 20 whatever out of it using 223 brass.

The cabela's 12FV isn't offered in .204, you'd have to rebarrel the .223. They only offer it (as of now) in 22-250, .223, 6.5cm, and .308.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/SAVAGE-FV-VARMINT-RIFLE/1994604.uts?slotId=0

 

[PBking51]

I'm actually now staring in the face of a 223. I forgot I snagged a model 7 on GunBroker that needed a bolt and luckily I have a few model seven bolts. Any thoughts on if a 22" barrel will hurt my 500 yard shots? Again, I'm not looking at taking shots anything further than 500 yards

 

[Oso]

I'm actually now staring in the face of a 223. I forgot I snagged a model 7 on GunBroker that needed a bolt and luckily I have a few model seven bolts. Any thoughts on if a 22" barrel will hurt my 500 yard shots? Again, I'm not looking at taking shots anything further than 500 yards

People are shooting 16" barrels at plates well past 500 yards with AR15's with 16" barrels and 4x optics. The +20" barrel lengths are not necessary for most shooting distances... Only need extra length if trying to gain every last fps for shooting 1000 yards. For practical shooting you might want to consider 20".

 

[jpx2rk]

The cabela's 12FV isn't offered in .204, you'd have to rebarrel the .223. They only offer it (as of now) in 22-250, .223, 6.5cm, and .308.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/SAVAGE-FV-VARMINT-RIFLE/1994604.uts?slotId=0

Was not aware of that change, earlier this year they still offered the 204R, probably some in the stores but would have to check at that level.

 

[Big Mc]

So while being stuck indoors and loading all of my brass I have started thinking I could use a new rifle for informal target and varmint hunting 500 yards and closer. I have a 22-250, 22 hornet and 222. I know very well what the 22-250 can do but I am intrigued by the 204 Ruger or may even slide into a 223 bolt action. I have never bought a "budget rifle" before, but as I truly don't need a new rifle I was thinking about possibly a Savage axis, Howa 1500, Ruger American, or tc venture. Think something in a synthetic stock with minimal upgrades and maybe a voted or Burris 12x scope on top that would likely become a truck gun. I threw in 223 because of how cheap and plentiful brass and bullets, let alone loaded ammo is.i also have a few sets of 223 dies from a Sako I owned years ago.

I am not interested in the 224 Valkyrie or anything not offered in a factory rifle.

I read that the 204 barrel life is pretty good but again, I wouldn't think of sending more than 100-200 rounds a year through this once a load is found.

A reason I would pursue the 204 is the reduced recoil, albeit not terrible from the 22-250, as well as pushing that 4k fps envelope and worrying more about wind drift than hold over.

Like jaytee The SWIFT.