Wow, 90% would run on, I would have been disappointed in that myself, I have had the odd 1 and that is from shooting around 100 a year, In the odd 1 I have had run off it has been more so by me pulling the shot or trying silly distances than the gun or the bullet.
204 Ruger
- Thread starter northern1
- Start date
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
I have shot plenty of foxes with my 20 Tac. Even with the 50 grain Berger bullets (much less frangible) I have never had one go more than a yard or two.
I would be disappointed too if I had that result. The 39 blitz kings are particularly savage in my experience. My mate refused to go pick any more of my carcasses anyway.
Ttocs
Well-Known Member
90% run on???? I’m using 32gr SBK’s and shoot a lot of 
, yes I’ve had the odd run-on but they’re few and far between and usually down to poor bullet placement due to a pulled shot, strong winds or loss of zero. i did use 32gr V-max when I first got the rifle and experienced a number of ‘splashes’ but even then, very few didn’t drop on the spot. Foxes I’ve shot, in the chest, with 32gr SBK’s, are just a bag of ’goo’; the contents of the thorax is turned to liquid.
The ‘hardest’ frangible 32gr bullet is the 32gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, when I started loading for the rifle and swapped to the SBK my next try was to be the Nosler, having shot a good number of foxes with the Nosled 32gr BT factory loaded offering. However, over the last couple of years, I’ve found the 32gr SBK to give a reliable ’bang-flop’. At longer rangers, I’ve found the 32gr SBK’s ‘pass through’ but every fox dropped on the spot.
I don’t think there’s an advantage to be gained by using a 223 nor any advantage to be lost by using a 204; it’s simply a matter of choice. From a scientific perspective, if the bullet from either 204 or 223 doesn’t exit the target, then it has ‘dumped’ all its energy in the target. Both 223 and 204 have way more energy than is required to kill a relatively small animal like a fox. Not that it matters in the least, if we’re comparing numbers for a 40gr 223 with a 40gr 204, the 204 has a higher muzzle energy and a higher bullet bc.
N
, yes I’ve had the odd run-on but they’re few and far between and usually down to poor bullet placement due to a pulled shot, strong winds or loss of zero. i did use 32gr V-max when I first got the rifle and experienced a number of ‘splashes’ but even then, very few didn’t drop on the spot. Foxes I’ve shot, in the chest, with 32gr SBK’s, are just a bag of ’goo’; the contents of the thorax is turned to liquid.The ‘hardest’ frangible 32gr bullet is the 32gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, when I started loading for the rifle and swapped to the SBK my next try was to be the Nosler, having shot a good number of foxes with the Nosled 32gr BT factory loaded offering. However, over the last couple of years, I’ve found the 32gr SBK to give a reliable ’bang-flop’. At longer rangers, I’ve found the 32gr SBK’s ‘pass through’ but every fox dropped on the spot.
I don’t think there’s an advantage to be gained by using a 223 nor any advantage to be lost by using a 204; it’s simply a matter of choice. From a scientific perspective, if the bullet from either 204 or 223 doesn’t exit the target, then it has ‘dumped’ all its energy in the target. Both 223 and 204 have way more energy than is required to kill a relatively small animal like a fox. Not that it matters in the least, if we’re comparing numbers for a 40gr 223 with a 40gr 204, the 204 has a higher muzzle energy and a higher bullet bc.
N
Hunterfisher
Well-Known Member
I use my 204 for fox and it does the job great. I also love the 39gr Sierra blitz kings
Releasing all there energy on impact.not carrying on. Nice safe round and cheap to reload only using 23grns of powder.
Love it for the long range bunnies as well
Highly recommended
Releasing all there energy on impact.not carrying on. Nice safe round and cheap to reload only using 23grns of powder.
Love it for the long range bunnies as well
Highly recommended
Out of interest longrange if you don't mind sharing ... What powder would that be, and what sort of velocity are you getting ?
Hunterfisher
Well-Known Member
Vihta vuori n133 FPS on crono 3609 average 39gr SBK
Great powder with 35g and 39g bullets.
Neddle
Well-Known Member
Sounds like poor bullet placement to be honest, that combined with knockdown power of your other foxing rig, i haven't had a runner yet
Was on shoulder. H/L would be clearly visible on the exit but would still run, not far admitted but fair enough so I’d go back the next morning with dogs.
tikka_shooter
New Member
Use a CZ 527 204 for foxing. Shooting 32 grain VMax loaded with N133 giving 3815ft/sec. Totally destroys foxes. Can't understand 90% runners mentioned above, never had a runner yet. Hit them in the engine room and they are dead on their feet regardless of the size at ranges out to 400 yards.
204rips
Well-Known Member
I use a tikka T3x super varmint in .204r, shoots federal factory 40grain ammo at sub 3/4” moa and hits very hard.
No recoil so you can clearly see the impact through the scope, I’v shot many a rifle over the years and can’t really say it’s better than anything else as a dead fox is a dead fox, but you certainly wouldn’t need anything more than a .204r, speed kills!
No recoil so you can clearly see the impact through the scope, I’v shot many a rifle over the years and can’t really say it’s better than anything else as a dead fox is a dead fox, but you certainly wouldn’t need anything more than a .204r, speed kills!
Pick any foxing calibre compare not the trajectory but the windages ! Shot in the lamp most will be inside 200 yards when your shooting past that range wind will always be the biggest factor past the principles of marksmanship .
204 sits pretty close to 22-250 or 243 with the lighter 55 gun bullets not bad but if you want to shoot small calibre legal muntjac, CWD , Scottish roe with your. 20 your stuffed
204 sits pretty close to 22-250 or 243 with the lighter 55 gun bullets not bad but if you want to shoot small calibre legal muntjac, CWD , Scottish roe with your. 20 your stuffed
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
Depends on what 20, mine is Roe legal in Scotland.
Ttocs
Well-Known Member
I’ve used 32gr bullets exclusively and shot hundreds of foxes, I don't get exit wounds at ranges <250y; if the bullet passes through the chest and out the other side, it’s not dumping all its energy in the animal and you’ll get runners. A 32gr .2 varmint round travelling at speed should explode in the chest cavity at anything over 2500 f/s, delivering a very clean kill. its well known deer run on with H/L shots as the soft nose bullets pass through the chest minimising meat damage. Varmint bullets do exactly the opposite bang - flop as 1000flb of energy is dumped into the fox.
204, 222, 223, 22-250, 243, 6mm etc all do this very efficiently with the correct bullet choice. My only experience with runners (more than 10ft from where it’s shot) is as a result of poor bullet placement (wind, loss of zero, me too excited, etc).
N
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
I will admit I have had “runners” however they are usually dead on their feet.
The last one did the turn and bite thing they sometimes do. Then proceeded to go in a circle around ten yard diameter. Heart and lungs were mush, but it still ran.
The furthest went 300 yards with a hole through the lungs and a fist sized exit that left large blood drops/trail in the snow. That was with an 87 Vmax. The smaller 222 and 20 calibre bullets tend not to exit. Giving as stated above all the energy into the animal.
I have a reamer and a barrel in the pipeline (Covid permitting) to keep going with the 20 Tac. I have no intention of changing it, mind you I would not part with the 222 either. Horses for courses and all that.
Fair enough didn't realise that it was totally on bullet weight no calibre . Still bit of a dumb choice considering 222 223 22-250, maybe I've crazier considering the switch to non toxic is coming
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
Minimum calibre and energy is England and Wales. Scotland have minimum bullet weight and velocity. Just to make the Laws easy to follow
Non toxic is not inevitable. However even if it is they will just make bullets to suit. My 20 Tac is a 9" twist so I doubt even a 40 grain non toxic will be a problem. I am getting 22-250 performance from a 223 sized case the 204 Ruger uses a couple of grains more powder.
I would be very boring if everyone just used one of the "usual".
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