I have bolt rifles in .223, .204, and .22-250. Love them all, but the past two years the .204 has gravitated to the front of the safe.
So… I’m in the position to add an AR to the stable. I’ve never really considered an AR in anything other than .223 Rem. But the more I think about it and the closer this project comes to being a reality, I’m really thinking of opting for the .204.
Help me make the right call guys. Primary usage will be as a call rifle for coyotes and the occasional red fox.
99.9% of my shots are less than 200 yrds, 70% are less than 100 yards. So why do I need the ballistics of the .204. At those ranges the .223 will get me there without even any hold over. Then again, there is the occasional woodchuck that I take a long poke at.
I am a hand loader. Currently I’m using the 35gr Berger .204 and the 52gr Speer MHPBT .224 in the .223. Both loads have been pretty fur friendly on coyotes and pretty destructive on fox. Perhaps the edge goes to the .204, but it is close.
Pros of the .223 AR – mil sur ammo for those days that I really want to pore through the lead. Time tested and proven.
Pros of the .204 AR – trajectory and drift. Muzzle jump (do you think a compensator is even necessary with this round?)
Cons of the .223 AR – can’t really think of any.
Cons of the .204 AR – no “cheap” ammo available. My handloads are not expensive to produce until you factor in time. I enjoy the process, but it could get tedious feeding an AR all hand loads. I guess I would just shoot it less than a .223 AR.
Would you worry about burning out a .204 bbl in an AR. I believe this to be hype in my bolt guns, but an AR? Might just have to lay off the happy trigger.
I understand the differences between the two cartridges. Just trying to decide how it applies to an AR.
Thanks for helping me sort this out in my head. And before the first guy tells me "just buy them both," in due time my friend, in due time. But which one first /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
So… I’m in the position to add an AR to the stable. I’ve never really considered an AR in anything other than .223 Rem. But the more I think about it and the closer this project comes to being a reality, I’m really thinking of opting for the .204.
Help me make the right call guys. Primary usage will be as a call rifle for coyotes and the occasional red fox.
99.9% of my shots are less than 200 yrds, 70% are less than 100 yards. So why do I need the ballistics of the .204. At those ranges the .223 will get me there without even any hold over. Then again, there is the occasional woodchuck that I take a long poke at.
I am a hand loader. Currently I’m using the 35gr Berger .204 and the 52gr Speer MHPBT .224 in the .223. Both loads have been pretty fur friendly on coyotes and pretty destructive on fox. Perhaps the edge goes to the .204, but it is close.
Pros of the .223 AR – mil sur ammo for those days that I really want to pore through the lead. Time tested and proven.
Pros of the .204 AR – trajectory and drift. Muzzle jump (do you think a compensator is even necessary with this round?)
Cons of the .223 AR – can’t really think of any.
Cons of the .204 AR – no “cheap” ammo available. My handloads are not expensive to produce until you factor in time. I enjoy the process, but it could get tedious feeding an AR all hand loads. I guess I would just shoot it less than a .223 AR.
Would you worry about burning out a .204 bbl in an AR. I believe this to be hype in my bolt guns, but an AR? Might just have to lay off the happy trigger.
I understand the differences between the two cartridges. Just trying to decide how it applies to an AR.
Thanks for helping me sort this out in my head. And before the first guy tells me "just buy them both," in due time my friend, in due time. But which one first /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif