RUGER 204 STORY

[wildcat]

I thought I would tell this story scince what I saw was impressive. While I was working up loads for my 220 Swift, an older gentlemen set up next to me. He pulled a new rifle chambered in the 204 Ruger. His rifle was pretty basic. He informed me that all he had done to it is put a new barrel on it. I forgot to ask what kind it was, however, everything else on the rifle was stock, no custom work, bedding, truing of the action ect. As I began working up my loads I noticed that the squrriels were out in force at around the 400 yard mark. I took a couple of shots, about five, and was able to connect on three squirrels at that range with my custom 220 Swift. I informed the old boy that there were squirrels running out of control out at about 400 yards. He looked at me and asked me if I would spot for him, I said no problem. He loaded up his 204, topped with a Sightron scope, and he went to work. I thought to myself "there is no way this guy is going to hit those varmints at that range" and by the way there was a slight breeze blowing left to right. Let me tell you, I was wrong to think that previous thought. I had my range finder and he asked my to range one of the nasty little vermin, I called out "Squirrel next to small rock, range 396 yards" He informed me that he can see the pest and lets the 204 rip, Blap!!!!! dead squirrel. I say to my self "good shot, but he was lucky". Once I again, I spot another squirrel at around 412 yards. I let him know, he sees it and Blap!!!! he hits another one. This is starting to interest me, I can not believe that he is hitting these pests at that range with that tiny bullet. Another varmint appears at about the same range, this one is about 405 yards, Blap!!!! he hits it again. I continued to spot for him, he connected on two more squirrels at 387 yards and the last one at 421 yards. I most say, I was quite impressed with the little 204. He informed me that he had been shooting at this range for 10 years and had his scope dialed in for that area, however, it was still impressive in my book. I wanted to tell this story because there are some out there who contemplating buying a new varmint rig and are wondering about the long range performance of the 204. I am here to tell you, it has no problem at all reaching out at 400+ yards and killing squirrels or pdogs. Thanks, Wildcat

P.S. Support the troops and President Bush

[POP]

Yup my CZ Varmint 204 Rocks!

[jeff 300]

i read a post some where that compared the 204 with a 223,22-250 and it had less wind drift and shoots a lot flatter??????????????? looks like a great varmint round

[Meister]

204 Ruger-39g Sierra Blitking BC of .287 at 3700fps
223 Rem-55g Sierra Blitzking BC of .271 at 3300fps
22-250 Rem-50g Sierra Blitzking BC of .248 at 3800fps

Ruger did their homework on this caliber, looks like a real performer to me! The better BC will buck the wind better than the standard 50 and 55 grain loading of the 22-250 and the 223 Rem. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] With a 100 yd zero this round drops 35 inches at 500 yards. At the same range it has 25" drift in a 10mph wind at 90 degree angle. carries 366 ft/lbs of force as well.

[duckinalaska]

wildcat,
Thanks for the story. You guys keep this up and I'm going to end up purchasing one of those rigs. I've heard nothing but good things about those 204's.

[remingtonman_25_06]

Is it legitimate to compare the 204 ruger to the Swift? Only reason I ask is because all the velocity hype. The 204 advertises what, 4200fps with the 32g vmax. Swift owners can get 4400fps with a 40g btip or vmax. If you move up to the heavier weight in a 204 ruger, I dont even know the weights, but saya 40g, its down to 3900, with a swift you can still obtain at least 4000 with a 50g. When I bought my swift at sportsmans warehouse, the guy was trying to sell me on a 204 ruger BAD. I just told him I was already set on a Swift and that was that. Not to down anyone with a 204, but I think the caliber has gotten way better reviews then the swift ever did, and I dont see how its really all that much better. But, thats just if you compare it to the swift. I dont know if thats a fair comparison or not??? At say 600 yards, the 55g btip out of a swift at 3900fps is going to be superior to that 204, thats all I know.

[1doug]

The 204 does all that with less powder, throat erosion, recoil than the swift. But for a balistics comparison only the swift wins hands down. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]