223 Ar15 or 204 bolt action Varmint setup?

ltmcleoed · July 6, 2009, 07:03 PM

I have a AR15 varmint setup but I've been wanting a 204 some kind of bad. I dont want a 204 AR setup because i dont want a long heavy gun. I cant have both so which ever gets the most votes I'll go with! Thanks for you input!

kwells6 · July 6, 2009, 08:17 PM

i prefer a bolt gun. seems more accurate to me

gun nut · July 6, 2009, 09:13 PM

Most of my more accurate guns are heavy. For varmit shooting I like having ultra quick follow up shots(semi auto), for more or the same varmit. But my real precision gun is a heavy bolt gun (it is not for varmits 308).

liberty1 · July 6, 2009, 09:53 PM

I went with the AR but that is because I don't have one yet.

impalacustom · July 7, 2009, 03:00 AM

I own one of each, AR I pieced together and a Browning A Bolt in 204, and the 204 is a superior cartridge in my opinion for varmints.

Art Eatman · July 7, 2009, 08:55 AM

I've yet to hear or read any negative comments about the .204. Folks are pretty much happy with its results.

If by "varmints" you mean coyotes and such, a light sporter will work just fine. If you're going to do lengthy shooting on prairie dogs, with lots of shots in a relatively short period, a heavy barrel would probably be better. However, I've had no problems with a light sporter on prairie dogs; I just gave it a rest after every few shots.

ltmcleoed · July 7, 2009, 11:04 AM

its more along the lines of coyotes, fox and groundhog

Buzzcook · July 7, 2009, 11:56 AM

That is a really hard choice. The .204 is a great cartridge, fast as all get out. The AR platform is also real fun stuff.

In the end I choose the .204, tomorrow I'll pick the AR.

Catfish25p2000 · July 8, 2009, 10:09 AM

Well, to me,there is no doubt that a bolt gun most of the time is more accurate than a semi-auto. Having said that, I guess it just depends on in what application you are hunting. If you are set up at a table in the middle of a field waitin for ground hogs/prarie dogs, I would say the .204. If you are out in search of Coyotes on foot, I would definately say the AR. Fast follow up shots and decent accuracy on an animal that is big enough to still kill if you throw a round 3 or 4 inches off the boiler house.

nhm16 · July 9, 2009, 12:08 PM

You can get a AR-15 upper chambered in .204 from White Oak Armament.

camper4lyfe · July 9, 2009, 03:08 PM

I just got done getting rid of a handful of 'chucks today with my Model 700 ADL .22-250. Once we figured out the scope was off a bit, the 'chucks didn't stand a chance.

Art Eatman · July 10, 2009, 07:23 AM

Waxing philosophical for a moment, if ol' Phil doesn't get mad: I've been messing with centerfires for almost sixty years. I like to think I've figured ot a few things.

I'm gonna operate on the assumption that I'm not gonna hunt anything bigger than Bambi, and not beyond some 300 yards, okay?

So: I want the lightest rifle that balances well, and I don't see the point of a cartridge with more thump than a 7mm08. For the money, I figure that the Rem 700 Ti is a Really Neat Thing. Wish they'd had those critters available forty yers ago.

Coyotes and such? A .223 is good to around 200 yards, IMO. A .204, from what I'm hearing, is good to around 300 yards. For all practical purposes, about like a Swift or .22-250. To reach out farther is a skill argument, not a gun argument.

On coyotes, you generally get just one shot. A coyote can go from zero to not-here just really, really quick. And the devil will go into the ice-selling business before I worry about personal jeopardy from a 35-pound dog. But a coyote has one fatal flaw: He sees you; he heads away; but then just before he goes out of sight, he stops and looks back. That, Dear Heart, is when you explain to him the error of his ways.

Prairie dog sized critters? Most any splatter-bullet rifle will do. Google for "red mist", if you really want the gory details.

Nuff fer now...

View Poll Results: Which one for varmint hunting?
AR15	12	48.00%
204 ruger	13	52.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll

July 6, 2009, 07:03 PM	#1
ltmcleoed Member Join Date: March 9, 2008 Location: Monroe NC Posts: 65	223 Ar15 or 204 bolt action Varmint setup? I have a AR15 varmint setup but I've been wanting a 204 some kind of bad. I dont want a 204 AR setup because i dont want a long heavy gun. I cant have both so which ever gets the most votes I'll go with! Thanks for you input!

July 6, 2009, 08:17 PM	#2
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	i prefer a bolt gun. seems more accurate to me __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

July 6, 2009, 09:13 PM	#3
gun nut Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2009 Location: midwest Posts: 303	Most of my more accurate guns are heavy. For varmit shooting I like having ultra quick follow up shots(semi auto), for more or the same varmit. But my real precision gun is a heavy bolt gun (it is not for varmits 308). __________________ The only stupid question is the one not asked! (Unknown)

July 6, 2009, 09:53 PM	#4
liberty1 Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: colorado Posts: 281	I went with the AR but that is because I don't have one yet.

July 7, 2009, 03:00 AM	#5
impalacustom Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 492	I own one of each, AR I pieced together and a Browning A Bolt in 204, and the 204 is a superior cartridge in my opinion for varmints.

July 7, 2009, 08:55 AM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've yet to hear or read any negative comments about the .204. Folks are pretty much happy with its results. If by "varmints" you mean coyotes and such, a light sporter will work just fine. If you're going to do lengthy shooting on prairie dogs, with lots of shots in a relatively short period, a heavy barrel would probably be better. However, I've had no problems with a light sporter on prairie dogs; I just gave it a rest after every few shots.

July 7, 2009, 11:04 AM	#7
ltmcleoed Member Join Date: March 9, 2008 Location: Monroe NC Posts: 65	its more along the lines of coyotes, fox and groundhog

July 7, 2009, 11:56 AM	#8
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	That is a really hard choice. The .204 is a great cartridge, fast as all get out. The AR platform is also real fun stuff. In the end I choose the .204, tomorrow I'll pick the AR.

July 8, 2009, 10:09 AM	#9
Catfish25p2000 Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2009 Posts: 263	Well, to me,there is no doubt that a bolt gun most of the time is more accurate than a semi-auto. Having said that, I guess it just depends on in what application you are hunting. If you are set up at a table in the middle of a field waitin for ground hogs/prarie dogs, I would say the .204. If you are out in search of Coyotes on foot, I would definately say the AR. Fast follow up shots and decent accuracy on an animal that is big enough to still kill if you throw a round 3 or 4 inches off the boiler house.

July 9, 2009, 12:08 PM	#10
nhm16 Junior Member Join Date: June 15, 2009 Posts: 6	You can get a AR-15 upper chambered in .204 from White Oak Armament.

July 9, 2009, 03:08 PM	#11
camper4lyfe Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2008 Location: Fairport, NY Posts: 165	I just got done getting rid of a handful of 'chucks today with my Model 700 ADL .22-250. Once we figured out the scope was off a bit, the 'chucks didn't stand a chance.

July 10, 2009, 07:23 AM	#12
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Waxing philosophical for a moment, if ol' Phil doesn't get mad: I've been messing with centerfires for almost sixty years. I like to think I've figured ot a few things. I'm gonna operate on the assumption that I'm not gonna hunt anything bigger than Bambi, and not beyond some 300 yards, okay? So: I want the lightest rifle that balances well, and I don't see the point of a cartridge with more thump than a 7mm08. For the money, I figure that the Rem 700 Ti is a Really Neat Thing. Wish they'd had those critters available forty yers ago. Coyotes and such? A .223 is good to around 200 yards, IMO. A .204, from what I'm hearing, is good to around 300 yards. For all practical purposes, about like a Swift or .22-250. To reach out farther is a skill argument, not a gun argument. On coyotes, you generally get just one shot. A coyote can go from zero to not-here just really, really quick. And the devil will go into the ice-selling business before I worry about personal jeopardy from a 35-pound dog. But a coyote has one fatal flaw: He sees you; he heads away; but then just before he goes out of sight, he stops and looks back. That, Dear Heart, is when you explain to him the error of his ways. Prairie dog sized critters? Most any splatter-bullet rifle will do. Google for "red mist", if you really want the gory details. Nuff fer now...