.204 Vrs .223

[cabelas90]

What is the muzzel energy for the .204 vrs the .223 from 100 yrds to 600 yrds with both guns shooting 40 gr V-Max
.204 B.C .275 .223 B.C .200! Im trying to prove that the .204 is better for the 400-600 yrd rang! I know this is going to Controversial subject for many people and im not trying to start a ****ing match! Im also trying to prove that the .204 is just as cost efective as the .233 , it cost me .67 cents a round to reload!

 

[Kevin Thomas]

Not a fair comparison here; you're shooting a heavy bullet in the .204 and a very light bullet in the .223. To be a bit more even handed about this, ytou'll need to compare the bullets with the closest SDs between these two.

In the meantime, you say you want to prove the .204 is just as cost effective, but why? If that's what you want to use, have at it! Don't have to justify anything.

Kevin Thomas
Berger Bullets

 

[cabelas90]

It's a freinly disput between freinds! The 45 gr soft point hornady is pretty close. dose anyone have any info on muzzle energy!

 

[Chopaka81]

Ditto what Kevin said.

I have found a huge variation in data on the 223. One barrell does such and such, while another does something else.

The difference between the two is great.

In my humble opinion the bigger distractor for the 204; is barrel life.

My dad has a M70 pre-64 in 220 Swift, he bought it new in Bozeman. He has been very careful to never push it past 3700 fps in order to preserve the barrel. We will be taking it to Wyoming this summer on a Grandfather, Son, Grandson PD shoot. It will be a very special shoot/road trip. The rifle still shoots 1/2 moa.

Point being, push anything at 4000 fps on a steady basis and you will looking for a new barrel.

So if you down load a 204 to preserve the barrell, how does it then compare to a 223 Rem? Fine for PD's and etc.

 

[cabelas90]

Ditto what Kevin said.

I have found a huge variation in data on the 223. One barrell does such and such, while another does something else.

The difference between the two is great.

In my humble opinion the bigger distractor for the 204; is barrel life.

My dad has a M70 pre-64 in 220 Swift, he bought it new in Bozeman. He has been very careful to never push it past 3700 fps in order to preserve the barrel. We will be taking it to Wyoming this summer on a Grandfather, Son, Grandson PD shoot. It will be a very special shoot/road trip. The rifle still shoots 1/2 moa.

Point being, push anything at 4000 fps on a steady basis and you will looking for a new barrel.

So if you down load a 204 to preserve the barrell, how does it then compare to a 223 Rem? Fine for PD's and etc.

I have shot 600 rds out of my .204 in 3 month all over 4000 fps. when i load 40 g bullets i shoot them around 3800 fps ive shot about 300 rds of these with no sign of barrel wear. ive head of many people shooting thousands of rds through there .204s with no efect on acurracy. i dont see the .204 being a barrel burner! just my 2 cents!

 

[whitely]

I ran some numbers a while ago with pointblank to calculate wind drift of various PD loads. Here are the results:

Bullet Weight/Type BC Cartridge Name Velocity 400 yd 10 MPH wind Drift
39gr Sierra Blitzking 0.287 .204 Ruger 3750 11.5"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.275 .204 Ruger 3900 11.5"
40gr Nosler BT 0.239 .204 Ruger 3750 14.3"

40gr Sierra Blitzking 0.196 .223 Rem 3700 18.6"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.200 .223 Rem 3700 18.2"
40gr Nosler BT 0.221 .223 Rem 3700 16.0"

40gr Sierra Blitzking 0.196 .220 Swift 4250 15.6"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.200 .220 Swift 4250 15.2"
40gr Nosler BT 0.221 .220 Swift 4250 13.5"

40gr Sierra Blitzking 0.196 .22-250 Rem 4150 16.1"
40gr Nosler BT 0.221 .22-250 Rem 4150 13.9"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.200 .22-250 Rem 4150 15.7"
55gr Sierra Blitzking 0.237 .22-250 Rem 3680 14.8"
55gr Nosler BT 0.267 .22-250 Rem 3680 12.8"

As you can see, the .204 really shines (the 3900 fps 40 gr vmax is from the Hornady factor ammo).

 

[cabelas90]

I ran some numbers a while ago with pointblank to calculate wind drift of various PD loads. Here are the results:

Bullet Weight/Type BC Cartridge Name Velocity 400 yd 10 MPH wind Drift
39gr Sierra Blitzking 0.287 .204 Ruger 3750 11.5"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.275 .204 Ruger 3900 11.5"
40gr Nosler BT 0.239 .204 Ruger 3750 14.3"

40gr Sierra Blitzking 0.196 .223 Rem 3700 18.6"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.200 .223 Rem 3700 18.2"
40gr Nosler BT 0.221 .223 Rem 3700 16.0"

40gr Sierra Blitzking 0.196 .220 Swift 4250 15.6"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.200 .220 Swift 4250 15.2"
40gr Nosler BT 0.221 .220 Swift 4250 13.5"

40gr Sierra Blitzking 0.196 .22-250 Rem 4150 16.1"
40gr Nosler BT 0.221 .22-250 Rem 4150 13.9"
40gr Hornady Vmax 0.200 .22-250 Rem 4150 15.7"
55gr Sierra Blitzking 0.237 .22-250 Rem 3680 14.8"
55gr Nosler BT 0.267 .22-250 Rem 3680 12.8"

As you can see, the .204 really shines (the 3900 fps 40 gr vmax is from the Hornady factor ammo).

Thanks for the numbers Visigoth The only reson I ask was to get these numbers because I can't get my ballistic program to work!
What do you think of the .204 being a barrel burner?

 

[Kevin Thomas]

Hey gang,
just another two cents worth here, but yeah, the .204 will be a bit harder on the bore than will a .223. Simple fact of life; you're burning slightly more powder per round (marginally) in the .204, and doing it in a smaller diameter bore.

Gotta consider the bullet weight, too. The heavier bullets (in any cartridge) will wash out a barrel faster than the lighter projectiles in the same gun. Just a basic law that we can't get around.

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not a big fan of firewalling my loads (it ain't safe!), but I do believe in using a cartridge to it's designed potential. Loading a .22-250 down to .223 type speeds to conserve the barrel? What's the point? Don't mean to be glib here, but those things are threaded on one end. They come right off, and you can screw a new on on in it's place. Only way I know of to make a barrel last forever, is to not shoot it.

Kevin Thomas
Berger Bullets

 

[cabelas90]

Hey gang,
just another two cents worth here, but yeah, the .204 will be a bit harder on the bore than will a .223. Simple fact of life; you're burning slightly more powder per round (marginally) in the .204, and doing it in a smaller diameter bore.

Gotta consider the bullet weight, too. The heavier bullets (in any cartridge) will wash out a barrel faster than the lighter projectiles in the same gun. Just a basic law that we can't get around.

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not a big fan of firewalling my loads (it ain't safe!), but I do believe in using a cartridge to it's designed potential. Loading a .22-250 down to .223 type speeds to conserve the barrel? What's the point? Don't mean to be glib here, but those things are threaded on one end. They come right off, and you can screw a new on on in it's place. Only way I know of to make a barrel last forever, is to not shoot it.

Kevin Thomas
Berger Bullets

Thats the way I look at it! When I think of a gun being a barrel burner I think around 1200 rounds and im shure i'll get alot more than that out of my .204!

 

[Kevin Thomas]

I'd expect a good bit more than that out of it, so we're definitely on the same page here. Hey, use it to it's potential. After all, that's what you got it for, right?

Have Fun!
Kevin Thomas
Berger Bullets

 

[whitely]

Thanks for the numbers Visigoth The only reson I ask was to get these numbers because I can't get my ballistic program to work!
What do you think of the .204 being a barrel burner?

I have around 1000 rounds through my .204 and it still shoots like a dream. I don't let my barrel over heat, and I'm pretty careful when I clean. I expect to get at least 5000 rounds out of this barrel, based on what other people have seen.

I shoot 24.8 grs of Reloder-10x with the 39 gr BlitzKing (Hornady brass, and 205M primers). I have timed this load at 3775 fps during the summer, and I'll probably stick with it for a while.

 

[Chopaka81]

I see some guys run the rifles the same way I used to run my boat - full throttle.

To each his own.