So guys Im looking for a predator rifle that wont wake up 2 counties if I have to use it in late night. Mainly coyotes after chickens. I went to my local store today and they recommended a 204. Tell me the ups and downs of this round. Can I buy ammo for it?

Any other advise is appreciated.

What’s the distance? 22mag has always been good to me out to 100 yards on coyotes and bobcats.

.204 has been like others recently, hard to find

How far we talking...under a hundred yards?

I’ve smoked a few w a 17 hmr

I have a 204 Ruger and load 39 grain Blitzkings for it. It is a coyote killing machine. Longest kill for me was about 325 yrs. I was calling coyote a few years ago and was surprised to see a feral boar heading straight toward my caller in a fast trot. He stopped to sniff the air and I put a round in his right ear at 156 yds and shorted out his cpu. Like everything else right now, factory ammo may be unobtanium but it is a great varmint round IMO.

22WMR or 17HMR would probably be best, in any kind of neighborhood scenario. Neither are exceptionally loud. I shoot coyotes out here in the desert, out to about 200 yards with my 17 HMR Handi-Rifle. If you go with the 17 the 20 grain are much better over 100 yards, but both the 17 and 20 gr work inside that.

.223 with suppressor.

This

Probably under 100 but could be longer.

Found the rifle but worried about the rounds, whats new huh.

I will look at that, thanks

Haven't thought of that, thanks

223

Watch this to get an idea.
You can go higher in bullet weight in 223/22-250 to get better ballistics.

But in varmint type shooting, with light bullets and high velocity, 204 is really good.

I’m in the suppressor camp. Then any 20 or 22 caliber will work....heck even some 6’s.

223 got this all day long, but a bolt gun in 300 blackout would be quiet enough to no wear ear plugs even without a can.. at least the sub sonic stuff.. maybe even a 450 bushmaster in a bolt gun with sub sonic loads from hornady.

I use a 220 Swift suppressed

Have had a 204 for several years, the little 32gr vmax at 4200fps is deadly on coyotes.

I've shot allot of coyotes over the years and have went in a complete circle on calibers a couple of times and end up coming back to the 243 every time. With that said I've got some time behind a 204 and a couple of dozen yotes to it's credit. Everybody that knows me knows I like fast calibers and the 204 is one of the fastest. I probably made more running shots with that caliber than any other, that little bullet gets there quick. The down side of that little bullet is having to shoot twice on many occasions, it just doesn't have the weight to push on through when the going gets tough. If you decide to get one use the heaver bullets. For what you're looking at you might want to check out the 17 WSM, I've taken a bunch of yotes with that caliber with about the same results as the 204 and allot quieter. You won't have the range or the velocity of the 204 but inside 150 you'll get about the same results as far as wounded yotes. Shot them in head and it's lights out, next best shot is in the heart lung area. They might not go down instantly but they'll be down not far from it. Stay away from shoulder shots with either caliber, that's why I keep coming back to the 243. with 75 grain and under I don't worry about a shoulder shot.

If the OP considers going with a 223 suppressed, the 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip is an absolute death ray on coyotes.

“ Ammo for it “ ..................

Thanks for all of the feedback. Ammo may well dictate my decision, sorry neighbors.

In that case 22 mag and when ammo comes back at normal price buy a lifetime supply

this is exactly what a 22 hornet is for

You did not mention how you intend to light them up in the dark. Once you invest in NV or thermal and get it dialed in, unless you have good QD mounts ,it may end up a one trick pony. If you are scanning with a spot, which is tough by yourself then anything mentioned already is fine.

If you want to invest in something more versatile and kill hogs and deer as well, get an AR15 and pick one of several good rounds that shoot well suppressed, or just kill the dang coyotes and don't worry so much about the neighbors.

You mentioned not wanting to bother the neighbors. Something like this would be the ticket. Also consider 357 mag in a rifle. Can be had subsonic and is quiet. If you can add a suppressor you'll be even more quiet.