I have been interested in the .204 Ruger chambering for a while now. With hand loads, it seems like a fun little shooter at the range. I now live in Philadelphia, shooting 25-06 is out of the question at most places around here. Does anyone have insight into the little .204? Im almost set on the Ruger American Predator rifle in this chamber.
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Looking into .204 Ruger
- Thread starter TheGuy
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lewwetzel
Well-Known Member
Sweet little round; I have three rifles chambered in it. Accurate and easy to load for, and most factory ammo shoots well, too. Only gripe is that all factory rifles except for the TC Venture come with a barrel twist (1:12) that is a tad too slow to stabilize the 40-grain bullets well. I run 39 gr. Sierra Blitzkings and 35 Bergers, and prefer 24-26" barrels to run them faster/harder for the larger varmints and coyotes that I hunt.
The Ruger Predator should suit your needs well, and the price is hard to beat.
Also, one of the neatest things about the .204R is the lack of recoil; you can see most hits through the scope. Incidentally, the report from the small round is more than one would expect, but still much less loud than a .25-06!
The Ruger Predator should suit your needs well, and the price is hard to beat.
Also, one of the neatest things about the .204R is the lack of recoil; you can see most hits through the scope. Incidentally, the report from the small round is more than one would expect, but still much less loud than a .25-06!
Predator 22
Well-Known Member
The 204 is a great little round. Fun to shoot, easy to load for and the three I've had have been extremely accurate for factory rifles. As stated earlier the 12 twist is a bit slow. If you reload you might look into the 20 practical. It is simply a 223 necked down to 20 caliber. It is said to be very close to the ruger's performance and the availability of excellent lapua brass is a big plus. Dies are a simply 223 bushing type dies with the appropriate bushing. Good luck
WildRose
Well-Known Member
If it's not the most fun of all centerfire cartridges to shoot it's got to be in the top 3 or so.
If there's a knock on it, it's the fact that the little light round does not handle cross winds very well and that it's so much fun to shoot it's really easy to shoot out a barrel.
I shoot both it and the .220 Swift for varmints and prairie dogs and out to about 400yds the .204 is awfully hard to beat.
There is a good thread on this topic in the varmint hunting section. I have a Savage and it shoots the 40gr Vmax bullets into an inch at 400 yards. In fact, I did a load work up spanning 1.5 grains of powder and all the loads grouped inside 1" at 400 yards. Good gun and fun round.
Predator 22
Well-Known Member
Benchmark and h322 have worked well for me.
matt_3479
Well-Known Member
A while back I talked the old man into getting in strictly for the purpose of that I wanted to try it lol. It was a Remington 700 sps stainless. Lightweight, easy to carry around, great little shooter. Got me hooked instantly.
I purchased a Remington 700 vssf-II in 204 and so far it's a great rifle! Doesn't seem to like the 40's much but shoots the 39 blitz kings good. I'm waiting on some 35gr bergers to try as I saw that a lot of Remington's either love or hate 40's because of there twist rate. I also have a 20 tactical and that thing Is increadible!! I highly recommend getting a 20 cal! Imr 8208xbr seems to be the golden ticket for me. Tried benchmark, rl10x, and 8208.
I purchased a Remington 700 vssf-II in 204 and so far it's a great rifle! Doesn't seem to like the 40's much but shoots the 39 blitz kings good. I'm waiting on some 35gr bergers to try as I saw that a lot of Remington's either love or hate 40's because of there twist rate. I also have a 20 tactical and that thing Is increadible!! I highly recommend getting a 20 cal! Imr 8208xbr seems to be the golden ticket for me. Tried benchmark, rl10x, and 8208.
