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I'm looking for any input as to the ability of this cartridge to effectively kill coyotes. Let me know of your experiences, ranges, effects, etc.let me know the good and the bad. Is this a cartridge I should explore for this purpose or should I stay with a .22-250 or .243?
Some love it, others prefer a little more oooomph. I really don't care for the case but that's just me. I like a longer neck and the brass I've had kinda sucked. Have since sold my single shot 204 and re-chambered a Savage 204 barrel to 20x47 Lapua
Here's a fairly long discussion about it:
http://savageshooters.com/SavageForu...c,19834.0.html
I went through this with my 204. Sometimes it would anchor things, then I could put 3 in them and they ran away. I think the most telling bit, is the fact that hornady came out with a "Coyote" bullet for the 204. And it ISN'T a V-max.
While the 45 gr bullet came out AFTER I sold my 204. In my most recent mailing of The Varmint Hunter, they specifically talk about coyote hunting with THAT bullet. I had bullets fail, and work mostly in the 50-200 yard range.
I ended-up not wanting to cater to the(my) 204's quirks. I moved to a 22-250, or my 243 for coyotes. Of course I love my 25-06, and my 308 and my.... :)
Maybe I have been lucky but I love my 204 for yote work. I've killed 50-60 yotes with mine and the vast majority of those plopped at the shot. I've shot several over 400 yards that required 1 shot only. One of the benefits to the 204 is how it treats pelts. If you call in a bobcat or a fox, a well-placed shot won't destroy the fur. I exclusively use the 39 gr sierra blitzking but the 40 vmax and 45 gr hornady bullets will kill them just the same. One of my favorites has been the straight chest shot, shots to the sternum just buckle 'em with zero hide damage.
The 22-250 has and always will be a yote killing machine, can't go wrong there.
The 204 will, people use the .17 rem and kill yotes. The 204 will stay there with the 22-250 with light bullets as would a 223 improved. If you need more gun or heavier bullets for longer range id move up to a 243 or 250 cal. I wish i had a 20 tac which is similar to the 204 it would replace my 22-250. Funds permitting it will happen soon.