xDom wrote:I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the 204. It sounds like my kind of rifle.
Do you think it’s got much over a good quality 223, which I already have, for foxes, rabbits, roos (where permissible)
I’m always interested in new calibres.
xDom wrote:Thanks, what is your longest distance kill from your 223?
I’m quite enamoured with those videos posted with that bloke popping bunnies at 500m off the bonnet off his v dub.
Bruiser64 wrote:I have a 204, which I love. I agree with Bladeracer that your .223 is more versatile. If your .223 will shoot a 40 grain pill, it would be very close to the 204 in performance in my view. Having said that, as you live in Victoria you probably wouldn’t have a hassle licensing the .204 and the .223. If I thought I could licence both, I would.
SCJ429 wrote:I am a fan of the 204 but I only shoot 39 or 40 grain bullets. They make a 204 into one of the most flat shooting wind bucking kick arse rounds about. Yes you could shoot a 40 grain pill out of your 223 but it wouldn't shoot as flat as the 204. The 223 is for sensible people and you already have one.
Make sure your 204 says Tikka or Sako on the side of it and you will never stop grinning.
xDom wrote:I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the 204. It sounds like my kind of rifle.
Do you think it’s got much over a good quality 223, which I already have, for foxes, rabbits, roos (where permissible)
I’m always interested in new calibres.
Bruiser64 wrote:I have a 204, which I love. I agree with Bladeracer that your .223 is more versatile. If your .223 will shoot a 40 grain pill, it would be very close to the 204 in performance in my view. Having said that, as you live in Victoria you probably wouldn’t have a hassle licensing the .204 and the .223. If I thought I could licence both, I would.
xDom wrote:Bruiser64 wrote:I have a 204, which I love. I agree with Bladeracer that your .223 is more versatile. If your .223 will shoot a 40 grain pill, it would be very close to the 204 in performance in my view. Having said that, as you live in Victoria you probably wouldn’t have a hassle licensing the .204 and the .223. If I thought I could licence both, I would.
I've got the 1:12 twist, that's good for the lighter rounds? Can you get factory 40gr .223? I might give that a go.
SCJ429 wrote:Yes I have a 223, and I shoot it heaps. Yes it shoots 80s very well but I don't hunt with them. I use 50 grainers which work quite well but it is nothing like a 40 grain bullet out of a 204. What is the wind drift difference between a 40 grain 204 compared to a 223 shooting a 50 or even a 70 grain bullet?
Like I said before, shoot the 223 because you are sensible. Shoot the 204 because it turns things inside out and it has awesome ballistics.
xDom wrote:Thanks Blade, the 40gr aren't cheap, hey?!
Stix wrote:Im no ballistics expert...at all...!!
But i fail to see how you'd get a 40gr out of a 223 going at comparable velocities to that out of a 204...
Isnt the 204 basically an elongated 223 case...?
Ive tried 40's out of my 222...now admittedly those loads are down around the minimum adi data, but still, so are my mild 204 loads...
And let me tell ya--they are two very different beasts indeed, especially out in the paddock....
With all due respect to your arguement about trajectory Blade...using them in a paddock is a very different thing than target shooting...
Its not just about the trajectory...its also about the authority the bullet hits with if you're using it for hunting/feral busting.
If that authority/energy wasnt a factor in hunting, no one would use 30-06's or magnums for larger animals--they'd just all be shooting 308's...
As for the wind drift arguement with a 223 shooting 50 or 55's...to my mind the added velocity from the 204 counteracts a good bit of the wind...!!
The 32's out of mine are hard to shoot with in decent wind or in gusty conditions, but move up to the 40's & its way more predictable than my 222 in the same wind.
The 204 is a disease that many recreational spotlighters are susceptable to... once you've used one on a few occasions, your ammune system grows weak & resistance is just denial...
xDom wrote:I’ve only ever used the 55gr Sierra Blitzkings. It’s what the shop owner recommended.
Are they the most popular “ default “ round for the 223? I can get them for under a buck a round.
xDom wrote:I’ve only ever used the 55gr Sierra Blitzkings. It’s what the shop owner recommended.
Are they the most popular “ default “ round for the 223? I can get them for under a buck a round.
Cooper wrote:xDom wrote:I’ve only ever used the 55gr Sierra Blitzkings. It’s what the shop owner recommended.
Are they the most popular “ default “ round for the 223? I can get them for under a buck a round.
What can you get 204 Ruger ammo for ? The cheapest factory ammo I can get is probably the Sellior and Bellot at around $24-26 per 20. So over a buck a shot. If you reload the gap tightens. The 204 only uses a few grains more powder and the projectiles similar ( I have a few thousand of the 32 Z-max before they were discontinued) otherwise it heaps easier to find cheap 22cal projectiles. 20 cal not as common. Therefore not as cheap.
xDom wrote:You would’ve been pretty happy with that 300 yard bunny shot, hey Stix?
This is what I wanna get into on my next trip out to the farm. Set myself up looking over a burrow.
bladeracer wrote:SCJ429 wrote:
A lot of US hunters have found the ELDM to be a great hunting bullet but I haven't used it on foxes yet.
40gn .204" VMax has BC of .275, 40gn .224" VMax has BC of .200. 55gn VMax is .255, 60gn HP is .271, 80gn ELDM is .485.
The .204 40gn at 3900fps drifts 70mm at 300m and 130mm at 500m in a 10mph crosswind.
The .223 40gn at 3800fps drifts 110mm at 300m and 215mm at 500m.
55gn VMax at 3250fps drifts 95mm at 300m and 195mm at 500m.
80gn ELDM at 2800fps drifts 58mm at 300m and 105mm at 500m.
SCJ429 wrote:bladeracer wrote:SCJ429 wrote:
A lot of US hunters have found the ELDM to be a great hunting bullet but I haven't used it on foxes yet.
40gn .204" VMax has BC of .275, 40gn .224" VMax has BC of .200. 55gn VMax is .255, 60gn HP is .271, 80gn ELDM is .485.
The .204 40gn at 3900fps drifts 70mm at 300m and 130mm at 500m in a 10mph crosswind.
The .223 40gn at 3800fps drifts 110mm at 300m and 215mm at 500m.
55gn VMax at 3250fps drifts 95mm at 300m and 195mm at 500m.
80gn ELDM at 2800fps drifts 58mm at 300m and 105mm at 500m.
Thanks for the data Blade. I was thinking that you would need a fairly heavy pill to beat the ballistics of a 40 grain 204 projectile. To 300 metres which is about the limit of what I would try to shoot a fox the 204 will shoot comfortably inside the 223 if you were using 70 grain or lighter projectiles. For hunting the 223 is not really the platform for shooting heavy 80 grain projectiles.
The OP has a 1:12 twist and that should shoot 50 or 55 grain projectiles extremely well. I am sure that if he bought a 204 he would enjoy the change that this excellent little case brings to the table.
Nice ginger Tom you have there Stix. Did you keep the pelt?
SCJ429 wrote:Nice ginger Tom you have there Stix. Did you keep the pelt?