204 or 223

furandfeather

Thinking of getting a rifle for foxes. I'd a 204 in the head but a mate reckons I'm mad and should buy a 223? Any real draw backs with the 204?

yubabill

204 has slight ballistic edge if you discount wind at longer ranges, but 223 has edge on ammo variety, availability and price.

clivej

223, has a better resale value IMO

swift220

With the 204 your limited with ammo that you can use

With the 223 if you get something with a fast twist like 1/8 0r 1/9 you will be able to use all the factory ammo available to you ranging from 40gr to 75gr.
For me the 223 would be a no brainer.

Mark.223

204 is a serious flat round, point and pull out to 300 yards. At 50 euro a box of 50 fiocchi 40 grain that cheap shooting...

Cass

The 223 edges the 204 everytime for me because of outside influences as mentioned above. IOW the availability of ammo, the selection of both rifles and ammo, the resale value, etc. Like the 220 Swift. Its a great caliber, but ammo limitations and cost put it at odds against other calibers to the extent some dealers won't even take them as trade ins.

The 204 is flatter and suffers slightly less wind drift when comparing like for like bullets/rounds in each caliber, but that extra inch of flat shooting would not be worth it to me to go for the 204 over the 223. If we had reloading widely available, if the licensing was not so convoluted, and a host of other factors not suffered outside of ROI then the 204 would not only be my choice but i'd imagine a lot more popular than it is.

A simple chart to show the difference between both rounds (204 in blue, 223 in green):

swift220

Mark.223 wrote: »

204 is a serious flat round, point and pull out to 300 yards. At 50 euro a box of 50 fiocchi 40 grain that cheap shooting...

My understanding and what i have heard of the 204 is that most have a 1/12 twist and dont like 40grainers and you might need a 1/10 twist to stablize them, but could be wrong.

270WIN

swift220 wrote: »

My understanding and what i have heard of the 204 is that most have a 1/12 twist and dont like 40grainers and you might need a 1/10 twist to stablize them, but could be wrong.

I had 2 204's and none would shoot 40 grain bullets.

furandfeather

270WIN wrote: »

I had 2 204's and none would shoot 40 grain bullets.

Which bullets worked best for you?

furandfeather

Thanks for all the replies lads, much appreciated.
Ammo price wouldn't really matter as I'd be shooting sub 100 rounds a year with it.
Resale wouldn't really bother me either as what I'd buy I'd plan on keeping it along time.
I guess my biggest fear would be availability of ammo in future years.

I wouldn't be one for chopping and changing ammo as long as I could find one that consistent at 100 -250 YDS I'd be more than happy

Cass

You seem to be leaning towards the 204 and if that is the case then i'd say to go for it because if you buy a 223 because it's sensible you'll end up resenting the rifle because it's not really what you want.

As for ammo. If you're not firing a big amount then test a few types and brands and then bulk buy then you avoid running out. I do this for my semi auto as the ammo it likes is hit and miss at times.

270WIN

furandfeather wrote: »

Which bullets worked best for you?

32 grain hornady and 39 grain federal. The federal cannot be got anymore. There was a winchester 34 grain that was fine as well. Its a bit of a pain when you are restricted to one bullet that will work. The 223 has a much more varied choice.

Hunter456

had a 223 for foxes and but in terms of ballistics the 204 ruger is a serious flat round point and shoot out to 300 yards with a inch high at 100 yards. its really up to your self.

deerhunter1

furandfeather wrote: »

Thinking of getting a rifle for foxes. I'd a 204 in the head but a mate reckons I'm mad and should buy a 223? Any real draw backs with the 204?

had a 204 went back to a 223,ammo choice/price availability,better wind management were my reasons

Ml cav

Ammo is a problem, there not popular,no one stocks them

BSA International

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118641855#Comment_118641855

Good few online dealers selling it and I have NEVER not been able to get ammo for it.

OP. For foxing only go with 204. You'll not regret it. Most dishing it have prob never even used it. If shooting target and foxes get 223.

furandfeather

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118642732#Comment_118642732

Thanks. Iv one bought just waiting for an alarm to be fitted to the house before I get to pick it up. Looking forward to it now