204 Ruger and 223WSSM seem to run neck and neck...
If you compare the ballistics of the 204 with 40 grain hornady bullets vs the 220 swift you will see that due to the higher ballistic coefficiency of the 20 cal. vmax bullet the 204 has just as much enery at 500 yards as the 220 swift.
Apples and oranges, you are comparing among the heaviest projectiles for the 204 against nearly the lightest for the 224.
If you compare the 204 with a 40 grain projectile to the 220 Swift with a 50-55 grain projectile (both operating at the same velocity) - it makes things look a bit different.
...the fact remains that even if you run a 55 grain bullet in the 220 swift and a 40 grain bullet in the 204 the 204 still has a higher ballistic coefficent, less drop at 500 yards, just as much velocity, similar wind drift, similar energy....
I forgot about the 223WSM. Handloading is another story...a local gunsmith is shooting a 243win with a 55gr Nosler bullet getting 4800fps. He pretty much destroys coyotes.
Hoosier
if I address the original question correctly the answer is no. there are several faster---all the above already mentioned but the fastest are the two factory 17's. remington and fireball. I personally have chronographed a 20grain vmax handload at 4423-4454(5 shot extreme spread) thru my cz 527 24in varmint. I don't see that kind of speed in any loading manuals for any of the factory 22's or the 204.
Steve
the .17 remington and the .204 are pretty much even in the realm of FPS.
I would mention that at the speeds you are pushing the .17 rem you are going to be replacing barrels pretty often.
The factory FPS of the 32 grain 204 round is just a bit over 4200 fps and that's more than adequate.
the .17 remington and the .204 are pretty much even in the realm of FPS. I would mention that at the speeds you are pushing the .17 rem you are going to be replacing barrels pretty often. I have seen one guy push his 204 ruger to approximately 4400 FPS with the 32 grain vmax. However its not recommended due to shortening barrel life and the fact that its just plain dangerous to run that much pressure. The factory FPS of the 32 grain 204 round is just a bit over 4200 fps and that's more than adequate.
the .17 remington and the .204 are pretty much even in the realm of FPS. I would mention that at the speeds you are pushing the .17 rem you are going to be replacing barrels pretty often.
I agree with both statements but for me it's relative to what I want out of the rifle---if it will shot minute of angle after 1k I'm still happy---I think this barrel will go a lot farther than that by the way. Heck---I've got machinegun barrels that look like a charred oak beam in the first few inches and they shoot fineModern barrel steel, propellants and proper cleaning equipment in the 17 calibers have greatly extended bore life, along with every other groove diameter out there
...More than adequate.
I love this.
Allowing the same difference in "pretty much even" you mention above in your neverending 204 Ruger vs. 22-250 argument, would have the 22-250 trouncing the Ruger soundly with the more efficient bullets.
So, how many 17 barrels have you worn out?
Modern barrel steel, propellants and proper cleaning equipment in the 17 calibers have greatly extended bore life, along with every other groove diameter out there. When I say modern, I mean anything built in the last 20 years.
While I've never personally done a long term test on one, but in the one's I have owned - throat erosion wasn't measurable in the 800-1100 rounds I kept them around before rebarreling to something a bit more useful.
A neighbor has had the same 17 Remington 700 BDL since the late 80's, and based on the jeweling wear on the bolt, the amount of coyote, fox, crow and groundhog I've seen drop to it and the amount of brass he's purchased from me over the years - he's well into the THOUSANDS, and it still shoots just over an inch at 100. Cleans up nice, and with a lot less hassle than was involved 20 years ago - based on the increased interest in the .172's. And AMAZINGLY it still has the original barrel.
i am curious as to how many 17 and 20 caliber rifles you have in your personal collection?