looking for a new coyote gun

[Oh Mah]

Not sure if this is where i should put this.I'm in the market for a bull barrel rifle for coyote hunting and would like info from you hunters that know.What should i get?I have a .223 already and want something else.what do you all think of a 22-250?

[elkaholic123]

DPMS LR.204

[Oh Mah]

Pretty low grain bullet,how well does this work on yotes 400 yards out?

[birdshooter1189]

22-250's are tried and true for coyote hunting.  More powder/recoil/muzzle blast than a .223, but also higher velocity and further range.  Most of my coyotes on the wet side are shot at about 60-100 yds.  I prefer a .223 over a 22-250 because there is less recoil and muzzle blast.  For open areas where shots might be taken past 300 yds, I expect a 22-250 to out-perform a .223.  Maybe enough to make the different of a hit vs miss on a coyote, maybe not.

.204 ruger or 20 tactical or 20 practical might be nice if saving pelts.  I know a person who shoots an AR15 with a 24" barrel in 20 practical that sends .34 grain bullets at 3600-3900 fps and it's semi auto.  That could be a sweet coyote gun.

.243 is another great option for longer shots.  Might be a little tougher on pelts.

[Oh Mah]

I did a little research on the .204 ruger and i have to say i am impressed.The ballistics out perform the .223 and the 22-250 down range with velocity and BC.A little less energy but not enough.And almost zero on the recoil scale.

[Timberstalker]

Take a look at the 22 Nosler.

[MuleySniper]

.204, 22-250, 220 swift are all great choices. Compare the ballistics and find something you like. I’m partial to my .204, nasty little thing shooting Hornady V max.

[jjhunter]

.204 with 40 grain V-max or 39 grain Blitzking.

I’ve been shooting my Cooper since 2005 and haven’t gone back to my 22-250 since.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Are you saving pelts or only saving fawns?  If the latter,  I'd go 243.  A 22-250 is really nice if saving pelts if you use 40gr vmax but your range might not be much more than the 223.  I've got a22-250 Ackley with 55gr ballistic tips, it works well but tears hides too often.

[Oh Mah]

Thanks for all the advice,I'm gonna go ahead and order the complete upper for .204 Ruger.After looking at ballistics and comparing them the .204 shines pretty good.I jumped on what i found already last night after finding all this out and bought 300 35 grain match varmint HP bergers.3 boxes of Hornady superformance varmint v-max bullets.(since i found these)Ammo for these doesn't appear to be available at a lot of places as they don't even list them.

[nwwanderer]

22 creedmoor seems to be gaining a bunch of users

[Wanttohuntmore]

I think the 204 is perfect for yotes, hides,  and prairie dogs.

[jakeweb]

I tagged one at 40 yards last week in Montana, but may have been over gunned lol. Hit it at 40 yards with a 300 prc. He was chasing a group of does and fawns so didn’t really care to much

[follow maggie]

I’m a little late to the show on this one, but I was going to put in favor of the .22-250. My hunting buddy in college had one, and it was magnificent for coyotes on the Palouse.  But the .204 is a great choice, too. I hope you have a lot of fun with it!

[b23]

Thanks for all the advice,I'm gonna go ahead and order the complete upper for .204 Ruger.After looking at ballistics and comparing them the .204 shines pretty good.I jumped on what i found already last night after finding all this out and bought 300 35 grain match varmint HP bergers.3 boxes of Hornady superformance varmint v-max bullets.(since i found these)Ammo for these doesn't appear to be available at a lot of places as they don't even list them.

Bullets are the easy part to get for these things but finding 204 Ruger ammo or brass is nearly impossible.  I was finally able to snag 300rnds of Norma brass last week but up till then I couldn't find any brass, regardless of brand, anywhere. 

What twist does the barrel on the upper you ordered have?  Hopefully it's an 11tw barrel because the 12tw barrels are very hit or miss on if they'll shoot the 40gr bullets.

I just looked Midsouth still has Norma 204 Ruger brass if you're looking for some. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0001320255105100/204-ruger-unprimed-rifle-brass-100-count

[follow maggie]

I tagged one at 40 yards last week in Montana, but may have been over gunned lol. Hit it at 40 yards with a 300 prc. He was chasing a group of does and fawns so didn’t really care to much

 

[Oh Mah]

It is a12,Ad says it is specifically designed for 32 and 35 grain bullets.I will try 40 sometime and see if they work but from what i read they 32 35 grain .204 drop them if hit right and minimal fur damage is what i am after.

[BKMFR]

I have shot 100's of Coyotes, my main gun is a short barreled 204 or Sako 17 rem. I do save pelts and don't like recoil. I also have Fred Eickler Rock River AR.223, Tikka 22-250, Ruger HB 220 swift that are available, as well as a little Sako 6x45.... but use 204 Howa mini action, timney trigger, steel bottom metal with 10 shot magazine 99% of the time.... 204 is good as a rig gun or packing in to stands....17Rem next in line. My 

[NWShooter]

Put whatever case works for you behind a Hornady 88gr ELD-M in a 8 twist and destroy yotes as far out as you are capable of shooting them.

22-250
22-250 AI
.22 Creedmoor

If you want a 22-250 AI without the fire forming go 22x47 Lapua . A 77gr bullet @ 3600 is a yote killer.

[Windwalker]

Thanks for all the advice,I'm gonna go ahead and order the complete upper for .204 Ruger.After looking at ballistics and comparing them the .204 shines pretty good.I jumped on what i found already last night after finding all this out and bought 300 35 grain match varmint HP bergers.3 boxes of Hornady superformance varmint v-max bullets.(since i found these)Ammo for these doesn't appear to be available at a lot of places as they don't even list them.

Sold this DPMS LR204 with a 24" heavy barrel. Geissele 2 stage trigger was like breaking a glass rod.

It was accurate but a real PITA to pack - long, heavy and cumbersome.
Could shoot 5 shot 1'" groups at 300 yards. Closer groups were larger. Acted like the bullets stabilized further out.
Fun to shoot but - too fun.. cost a lot to own due to my lack of self control. 

[Oh Mah]

I love the new .204,Sure is an accurate little sucker.Dropped 3 coyotes this am up on the Wenas DRT.

only thing is.I wish i would have thought more on it as far as gun cleaning and reloading goes.

I could not find in stock any where a cleaning rod that would fit so i made one.Now i started to reload some rounds(i have 45 to load) and wouldn't you know it,My case trimmer does not have a 20 caliber tip lol.I'll have to make one of those as well.

[Blacktail Sniper]

 

[Oh Mah]

ahhhh the saga continues lol.I made the case trimmer nipple,worked very good buuuut now i just set up to load with powder and the funnel that i use for .223 is too big and the powder sits on the mouth so when i lift funnel some powder falls to the table.so i guess now i need to buy a smaller funnel.

[CastleRocker]

I used to have a 20 Practical upper.  It was a great round, and brass was easy...just resize LC 556, and load it.  I sold it to a guy who offered me way more than I had into it.  On the chrono, it ran right with the 204.  It was invented by a guy in the Brush Prarie area.  He talked me into it, and I'll probably put another one together at some point.

[Oh Mah]

All done.Just a heads up for anyone interested.

I said i needed a smaller funnel to load the powder.I went to the URM store in town and bought a cake decorating tip and bag kit.several shaped tips but one was round and small.worked great under $9. soldered a little ring on it for a handle and thats it.