As for the .204 or .223 question this is my take on it. If you load your own no differance there, if not the .223 for sure. The .204 has the advantage of shooting alittle faltter and I prefer it for animals upto groundhog size. For coycote and up I think that the heaver lead of the .22 cal, bullets is better. If you shoot the 40 gr. Hornady in the .204 there`s not much difference ion coyote, but my gun don`t like the Hornady 40 gr. bullets. Today I`ll be takeing an AR out after coyote. We run them with dogs so there is no standing shots and I`ll be throughing alot of 50 gr. Serria Blitz bullets at one if I get the chance. This bullet is reall to lite to do a good job on coyote, but if I can get one or 2 in him the dogs can do the rest.
Around where I live i like to shoot bullets that WILL NOT richochet.