204 or 223 for Prairie Dogs

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

We shoot a .204 Ruger with 39gr SBK out to 500 yds for Chucks with a 26" barrel
A variety of .223 bullets from 50gr Hornady ZMax to 65gr SGK with a AR 20" barrel to 400-500yds easy.

If we build another 20cal it will be a 20 Particle due to getting .223 Lapua brass and forming.

If going LR for chucks we use our .260s out to 1K.

LOVE the .204 the most for PD and Chucks!!!!!!

 

[del2les]

We shoot a .204 Ruger with 39gr SBK out to 500 yds for Chucks with a 26" barrel
A variety of .223 bullets from 50gr Hornady ZMax to 65gr SGK with a AR 20" barrel to 400-500yds easy.

If we build another 20cal it will be a 20 Particle due to getting .223 Lapua brass and forming.

If going LR for chucks we use our .260s out to 1K.

LOVE the .204 the most for PD and Chucks!!!!!!

on the 20 P

Using the heavy arty on those chucks. Typically, we use 22/250AI with 80-88's, or the 243/6mm varieties with 95's - 115's. Although, I do drag out my trusty 25-06's from time to time.

 

[sw282]

Fell into a 20TAC cooper 21 last year. lts speed/accuracy matches a 204 Ruger. Tis a wildcat formed from 223 brass. Predating a 204 Ruger by maybe 25 yrs. 32gr at 4000fps bucks the wind just fine. I missed trying it out on PDs due to wife's illness. Hope for 2024

 

[Aussie Hunter Steve]

Life's too short to use a 223 if you can get your hands on a 204!

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Life's too short to use a 223 if you can get your hands on a 204!

We have several of each!

 

[USN2TN]

Fell into a 20TAC cooper 21 last year. lts speed/accuracy matches a 204 Ruger. Tis a wildcat formed from 223 brass. Predating a 204 Ruger by maybe 25 yrs. 32gr at 4000fps bucks the wind just fine. I missed trying it out on PDs due to wife's illness. Hope for 2024

I have a 20 Practical (AR upper) that uses reformed 223 brass. Love it early in the day before the wind picks up. Then I use a 243 bolt gun. Both are laser beams.

 

[bonie]

my buddy has a 204 he using on wood chucks here in the north east and he recks them, any ware from 8 to maybe 15 pound animals

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

my buddy has a 204 he using on wood chucks here in the north east and he recks them, any ware from 8 to maybe 15 pound animals

I put up a lot of posts on the .204 Ruger. One of the best cartridges Ruger came out with. A 222 Mag necked down to .204.
Awesome with SBK 39 gr sitting on top of 26.8 gr of H-4895. Shot many a chuck in NE PA and PD in SD. Great on Yotes too!

 

[Kkeene]

15 plus years of shooting PD's.

204 or 20 practical w 39 or 40 gr bullets. Hands down better performance than 223 and most 22-250's. 450 to 500 yds performance depending on elevation your shooting at.

Slower to heat up barrel, but u still need a matching pair of rifles when shooting PD's.

Less recoil allows u to see most impacts. If u can't see impact you don't know how to correct for a follow on shot of necessary.

 

[Kkeene]

Long time PD shooter here...

204R or 20 practical w 39 or 40 gr bullets.

Better at PD's than 223 or 22-250 ( what I USED to shoot). Bucks wind better common bullet weights and flatter trajectory.

Need a pair of MATCHING rifles so u only have to learn one trajectory.

Good for 450 to 500 yards depending on elevation. If you want to shoot farther you need a 6mm BR or varaint.

 

[Kkeene]

Sorry for the duplicate post, I thought the first one got lost...

 

[VarmintBob]

22-250 - 53 gr Vmax @ 3970 fps with a G1 BC of .290
204 Ruger - 40 gr Vmax @ 3820 fps with a G1 BC of .275

The 22-250 wannabe 204 Ruger will always be in the backseat compared to a 22-250.

 

[Aussie Hunter Steve]

22-250 - 53 gr Vmax @ 3970 fps with a G1 BC of .290
204 Ruger - 40 gr Vmax @ 3820 fps with a G1 BC of .275

The 22-250 wannabe 204 Ruger will always be in the backseat compared to a 22-250.

Not in the fun department it doesn't!

 

[comfisherman]

22-250 - 53 gr Vmax @ 3970 fps with a G1 BC of .290
204 Ruger - 40 gr Vmax @ 3820 fps with a G1 BC of .275

The 22-250 wannabe 204 Ruger will always be in the backseat compared to a 22-250.

Well I'll never diminish the greatness of a 22-250... my 24-inch 204 post that velocity or close enough but even my 22-250 Ackley in a 26-in barrel would have a hard time posting that velocity with a 53 grain v max. And it's predecessor the 24 inch slow twist straight 250 only hit 3700 and change with the pixie powders.