Ruger 204 vs 22 swift

[vanmedic]

Need some imput going to get into varmit hunting hard and heavy, thinking on the 204 cal what your thoughts on best cal. thanks

 

[dee]

.204 Ruger does not handle wind very well at all and I'm not sure about .22 Swift. I personally love .22-250 more than any other varmit round but thats my opinion.

 

[robocop10mm]

220 Swift is screaming fast. It also is hard on barrels. I would go .22-250

 

[Texas1911]

.223 Remington is an ideal varminting chambering. It's alot softer on barrels, has a WIDE selection of ammo, and can be used for other game as well.

.204 Ruger has about 3 - 4" of drop out to 300Ys. It is a death ray caliber, just the same as .220 Swift and the light .22-250. Either one is going to suck beyond 300Y and have alot of wind drift.

If I had to choose, I'd go .204 Ruger, but .223 Remington is a close second.

 

[Dawico]

I love my 204 Ruger. That being said, the 223 is a great choice as well.

 

[dee]

.223 Remington is an ideal varminting chambering. It's alot softer on barrels, has a WIDE selection of ammo, and can be used for other game as well.

.204 Ruger has about 3 - 4" of drop out to 300Ys. It is a death ray caliber, just the same as .220 Swift and the light .22-250. Either one is going to suck beyond 300Y and have alot of wind drift.

If I had to choose, I'd go .204 Ruger, but .223 Remington is a close second.

Don't get me wrong .204 is a badass round and a fast lil SOB but up here in north Texas it got pushed around alot most of the guys I shoot with use either .223 as you stated or .22-250.

 

[Texas1911]

Don't get me wrong .204 is a badass round and a fast lil SOB but up here in north Texas it got pushed around alot most of the guys I shoot with use either .223 as you stated or .22-250.

In my experience the .204 has slightly less wind drift than the heavier .224 caliber bullets.

 

[dee]

In my experience the .204 has slightly less wind drift than the heavier .224 caliber bullets.

Interesting up here in our every day average wind speed is 10-20mph our results were opposite but thats the way it goes sometimes.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

As a former 220 swift owner and a current 22-250 owner I can add little on the 204. I will say I bought a 25-06 for those heavy wind days like springtime up north of Amarillo. Yes the 25-06 beats you up, but the bullets have a lot less wind drift then the lighter 22's in my experience.

 

[Posit]

As questioned by the OP, the 220 Swift is a little faster, flatter and has more range than the 204.

Same applies in comparison to the 22-250, although marginally so.

The 220 Swift is an old caliber with a reputation as a 'barrel burner'. Given modern metals and cleaning products, barrel life is approximately the same as the other rounds; the reputation is undeserved today.

I have all three calibers, and probably shoot the 22-250 the least (nothng wrong with it - just because I have 220 Swift). My .204 has a shorter barrel, so take it for shorter range shooting. They're all three excellent rifles - sometimes just a matter personal preference.

 

[vanmedic]

Thank you all for the input !!