what small cal. for G-2

[sk330lc]

 What small cal for G-2?     I was thinking of the 17HMR, 204ruger or 22 Hornet.   I know I want a 14" barrel. It will be used for Groundhogs, Fox, coyote and targets.   Ground hogs out to 125 yards and fox and coyotes @ around the 50 yard Mark. I feel all the Cal. are capable  But can't seem to choose.   All  pros and cons welcome!  please explain why you chose what you did.   Thanks 

[The Old Redneck]

 Your question is like the question of is Ford or Chevy best, it will always be personal likes and dislikes that a person answers from. That said, I shoot the 17 HMR and 22 Hornet, do not own a 204, but have shot it and some of the 20 caliber wildcats. I also shoot several 17 caliber wildcats, so never felt a need for a 20 caliber. The 204 is all it is talked up to be, and loved by a lot of people. It will do what you want and then some. Personally for the 14" Contender barrel I use a 22 Hornet more than I do the 17 HMR if I think I might get a shot at a coyote. I reload and love the little hornet. I shoot the 17 HMR in a Contender, and several other handguns and rifles. Have killed a few coyotes with it under 100 yards, when I could get a really good shot. I'm just not sold on it for things larger than ground hogs, etc. at past the 50 yards you mentioned. Usually when I see a coyote it is past 50 yards and they don't always give the perfect shot. The hornet has a bigger heaver bullet than the 17 and I'm personally more comfortable with it at longer ranges. The fact I have shot it for 40 plus years, is probably why I prefer it over the 17 HMR. Try to find some one that has these barrels and shoot them if possible, that will give you a hands on look at each. Good luck.

[swampthing]

All seem a little light for coyotes, unless doing head shots. The 22 hornet would be mine.  That .204 will be so loud out of that 14" barrel you'll "HAVE'' to wear hearing protection.
Hornet ammo comes in boxes of 50.
30carbine or 357 mag would be my choice for the ranges you anticipate.

[flyfisher]

What about the good old .223? 

[SD Handgunner]

What about the good old .223? 

My question exactly.

In fact a new Stainless-Steel Super 14 .223 is exactly what I chose. I mounted up a 3x12x Burris LER Handgun Scope. I think this Barrel used in conjuction with my 14" On Target Technologies .22 LR Match will provide all I need for my varminting needs from Gophers to Coyotes.

With a little luck I am going to try to get out Calling Coyotes on Wednesday afternoon and hopefully can connect with the new .223.

I have shot Coyotes with a few different calibers / cartridges in Speciality Pistols and Rifles over the years. Coyotes can be quite tough at times and I think it has to do with their nervous nature.

 
Larry

[MnMike]

I would go with the .223. The recoil is light enough (with 45gr or 50 gr of a bench) that I use a rifle scope with long eye relief. They are much cheaper and have a bit more power than pistol scopes. That said, I am thinking about adding a .204 to my collection. No good reason, I just want to play with one. That is the fun of Contenders.

mike

[handirifle]

All seem a little light for coyotes, unless doing head shots. The 22 hornet would be mine.  That .204 will be so loud out of that 14" barrel you'll "HAVE'' to wear hearing protection.
Hornet ammo comes in boxes of 50.
30carbine or 357 mag would be my choice for the ranges you anticipate.

The Hornet or the 204 are far from light for yotes.  These things are not cape bullalo!  The 204 and Hornet are more than enough for a yote to 100yds on the Hornet and 200+ on the 204, that from a 14" barrel.  In a carbine or rifle barrel the Hornet will easily go to 150 or more and the 204 will drop em at 300 plus.

I too have killed one coyote with the HMR but I was after bobcat and a 15yd neck shot presented itself.  A shot I couldn't pass up.
It's NOT what I'd regularly go after them with though.

I vote for the 223 also.  Tons of varity in ammo, good prices and will also be a 200yds yote killer, in the heart/lung area.  For crying out loud, the M-4 carbine the troops carry uses the 223 (5.56 mil) with heavier bullets and is STILL very effective on middle eastern varmints, the two legged ones, to 100yds or so.  By the way, the M4 has a 14" barrel also.

[lovedogs]

All those you mentioned are too light for what you want to do.  They all lose a lot by going to the shorter pistol bbls.  With the exception of the .204 all are lacking in power on coyotes even in rifles, and even that one runs out of steam at longer ranges.

I've been shooting coyotes for 51 years and have found the .222, .223, and .22-.250 to be the best on coyotes.  In most cases the Speer 52 gr. HP is the best bullet.  In all those years, fourteen of which were doing predator control for the USFWS, the .222 & .223 were the most used, in both rifles and Contender pistols.  The 10 inch Contender in .223 is nothing more than a short barreled Hornet rifle, almost identical ballistics.  The Super 14 in .223 is the way to go.  You can load the 50 gr. bullets to 3000 FPS easily and they work great.  Again, I've found the 52 gr. Speer HP to do the best, with the 50 gr. Hornady SX second, and the Speer 50 gr. TNT next.  Most of the time I'm using this pistol on both prairie dogs and coyotes so I stick with the TNT most of the time.

In my humble opinion the .223 is by far the best choice.  It'll shoot farther, flatter, cheaper, and with more authority.  You just can't beat 'em.

[Bullseye]

Of what you listed I would choose the 22 Hornet.  I have had all but the 204 and was going to get one of them but after reading a report on Bullberrys websight I decided not to, you might want to check it out.  I sold my 17 HMR even though it shot great because I really did not have a need for it plus if you reload it is cheaper to shoot the Hornet and a 14" 17 caliber barrel is heavy.  My 10" Hornet barrel will lay 10 shots under an inch at 100 all day long, so accuracy is not an issue as long as it has enough power for you.

I also have a 14" 223 and would take a look at it if I was you.  It will do everthing the Hornet will do plus some.  Mine will shoot under 2" 5 shot groups at 200 yards, which is better than my Contender Rifle in 223 will do.

[sk330lc]

Thanks for all the Info!
 Even though Most of you, will disagree with me I went with the 17HMR.   I've been using a  22lr 10/22 Ruger Carbine and a 24".223 Encore for exactly  what I want the contender for..   I pride myself in only taking good shots.  Have yet to loose an animal .   The key is Not taking Bad shots and knowing,  Yours & the guns limitations .    Besides  I'll be Needing a .223 or 22Hornet  Barrel soon anyhow.
Ya just can't have 1barrel..   

[rockbilly]

Of what you listed, my choice would also be the Hornet.  But as several others have meentioned, the .223 would be a better choice.  Ammo is much easier and cheaper to come by than the hornet unless you are rolling your own.  Another good choice would be the .222 Mag, or even the .22 Jet.  All are good even for yotes.

[swampthing]

How loud is that HMR? 

[Keith L]

I never shot mine without hearning protection.  It doesn't seem much louder than a .22LR to me, but it may be.

[OLDHandgunner]

From your calibers you listed, I'd go with the 22 Hornet. I have a custom 22 Hornet barrel for my Contender, it's totally awesome.

[lovedogs]

Best of luck whichever you choose.  My opinions are based on where and how I've used them.  I don't know what your situation is.  I just know that the .223 in a 14 in. bbl. will handle it all, near and far.  For a long time I've wanted a 14 in. Hornet.  I'd prefer the K-Hornet.  But it has it's limitations.  Usually, they do better with the lighter bullets and they only shoot about half as far as the .223.  With the .223 I can shoot to about 300 yds., which isn't an uncommon requirement here in Montana.  It's true one can always decline to shoot if you or your gun can't do it.  But where I live I'd have to pass on a lot of shots if I limited myself to short ranges.  While it's true that most of my called-in coyotes are under 100 yds. I get quite a few out at 200+ and I'd hate to have to pass 'cuz I didn't bring enough gun.  But prairie dogs are a different story.  I can sneak up on them!  So someday I'll probably still have my K-Hornet.  You're right, you can never have too many!

[sk330lc]

Lovedogs,
Here in southeastern Ohio, Most of the calling I do is in very close cover.  average shot is 45 yards  Far end shot being 80 to 100 yards. The yotes around here don't come out in the open very often..   Most times, you don't even see them until it's to Late.

My new frame came yesterday will pick it up Saterday Barrel came today.  Going to mount a Bushnell trophy 2-6x32 on top ...
will let everyone know how she shoots, when I get everything put together! I'll have to get very comfortable with it before I even think about taking it calling. Should be fun no matter what.

Thanks again to all!

[woods]

I reload alot but get lazey some times so the cheapness of shells played a part in my decision when I originally bought a super 14 barrel for my contender later on I bought a second barrel in 22 long rifle with the same options. Just a couple months back I ran into a deal on a g-2 frame so I purchased it now I have one original conteder and a g-2. What barrel was my original barrel? 223 can't beat the price on shells and can hold a 5/8 group with a 50gr v-max bullet. at 100yrds.

woods

[Ken ONeill]

The .223, without question. Brass and components are everywhere, it's powerful enough for the uses you mention, accuracy is superb, and if you need a bunch of it for prairie dogs, but don't want to reload, it's possible to buy it cheaply in large lots.

[lovedogs]

Seems to me that no matter what caliber you pick in these Contenders you can't go wrong; you're gonna have fun no matter what you choose.  And the nice part is that you can expand your battery fairly economically, just buy another barrel and scope.  Kind of addicting little things, ain't they?