204Ruger

i am wondering how the 204 is for yotes. will it take them down at 400 500 yards. i think i might get one for yotes and for taget and how is it on barrel life.

Welcome to the forum predhunter. I've never shot one that far out, but I primarily use my .204 for yotes. Good mix of killin power and fur friendliness is my reasoning. From what I hear however, if just killin the dogs to save deer was my goal I would probably step up to a .243 or sim.
If fur is your goal, well, then be careful where you hit em with the .204. If you have an exit, it can be pretty ugly.

thanks for the info i will be trying to save the fur but alot of the shots would be closer then 300 yards just wondering if it could take them out a 400 or 500 yards.

I don't think it would be a problem.

The ballistics say over 370lbs of energy left at 400yrds. If the bullet hits vitals it should have the desired results way past 400.

predhunter,

My best to date has been 332 yards with the 39 BK. A guy I know shot and dropped one at 400 yards a couple weeks ago. I personally would feel confident on the killing power of the .204 at the 400 yard mark with the 39 or 40 grain bullets.

thanks for all the info.

Hey Guys, I have shot 7 coyotes this fall and I am shooting 39BK and 26.5 grs of H4895 powder ranges for approximately 80 yards out to 400 to 500 yards and I have not had many one shot kills. I have not used it since big game season has opened but I am going pheasant hunting at the end of the week so I am taking my Savage (204) as I know that we will see the dogs. I just read an article by Ian McMurchy advised that the plastic tipped bullet are tough on the fur but I did not check as they were not prime.
I was thinking of going to the 35 bergers as the 1-12 twist does not like the 40gr bullets as well.

Not a problem taking them at 400 yds. I shot one last week at 467yds. ( Ranged back to the truck ) It took 2 shots, first one was a little low, but he had no Idea where I was at. Second one DRT.

I was shooting a 39g Sierra BK. 28.0g Varget. Shoots very well from my Savage.

the longest kill i have had with my 204 was 287 yards (lasered) on a trotting coyote hit the ground and never moved was using hornady factory ammo 40 gr. Vmax's

Shooting coyotes at those distances is no problem with the 204. For minor pelt damage I would use a ballistic tip bullet. I like the 40gr v-max for a ballistic tip however some guns don't like em so then you would have to go with the 39gr BK or the 32gr v-max. Good luck!

32gr v-max

I just shot 2 yotes with my new 204 rem 700 sps. I used 32 gr hornady vmax bullets. The first was on the trot at 200 and the second called in to 70. Couldn't find the bullet hole on either. Great gun!

When I first looked at getting a .204 I ran the #'s on the different loads and saw that the .204 really shines with the 39 and 40gr bullets over the 32gr for longer ranges.


Be sure to note the energy #'s; the bigger bullets "hold their steam". The Noslers will make a large hole if it strikes at an angle (our fur's not worth saving in GA (coyote gods forgive me )), but none have run off. Here's a few I have taken (slide-show) (My first and my son's first was shotgun, the rest plus a couple were .204:

GAJoe