Think I need a 204

[EasyShooter]

I got the bug to build another gun. Want something small for low recoil and fast. I don’t mind wildcat rounds but am thinking I want to keep this one simple and have factory ammo at least an option. 204 sounds about right. I have a Remington 700 action I will blueprint, a Masterpiece Arms chassis, Leupold scope, but no barrel yet. Did some quick looking and it appears a .20 caliber barrel is going to be a little more difficult to find than others. I don’t want to wait 6 months or more to have a barrel made. Where can I find a good .20 cal barrel in stock? Hart’s website is claiming a 8-10 week wait. Wonder how accurate that is. I’m also considering having the barrel fluted just for looks but don’t want to sacrifice accuracy. If the barrel is heavy enough will fluting change accuracy much? I am wanting this gun to be as accurate as I can make it out to 300yds. I have other guns if I want to shoot further than that. Thanks

 

[7315br]

I got the bug to build another gun. Want something small for low recoil and fast. I don’t mind wildcat rounds but am thinking I want to keep this one simple and have factory ammo at least an option. 204 sounds about right. I have a Remington 700 action I will blueprint, a Masterpiece Arms chassis, Leupold scope, but no barrel yet. Did some quick looking and it appears a .20 caliber barrel is going to be a little more difficult to find than others. I don’t want to wait 6 months or more to have a barrel made. Where can I find a good .20 cal barrel in stock? Hart’s website is claiming a 8-10 week wait. Wonder how accurate that is. I’m also considering having the barrel fluted just for looks but don’t want to sacrifice accuracy. If the barrel is heavy enough will fluting change accuracy much? I am wanting this gun to be as accurate as I can make it out to 300yds. I have other guns if I want to shoot further than that. Thanks

Try Greg Taylor on this forum. He just received a few new Bartlein 20 cal blanks. I bought a couple of them. 7315br

 

[Gabe22BR]

Look in the classified section here for 20 cal barrels… there’s like 10 or so listed…

welcome to the rabbit hole

 

[L.Sherm]

Easyshooter what your describing a 20VT sounds exactly what you need or even a 20SCC. No factory ammo though

 

[SmokinJoe]

I buy most of my barrels from bugholes.com any more. They usually have what I'm looking for in stock. Wouldn't hesitate to call Stan Taylor at Douglas either. If you want a 12 twist let me know what weight barrel you are looking for and I might have one myself.

 

[JB10]

I love my 204. Nothing fancy just a ruger american predator but shoots great with 35gr bergers

 

[EasyShooter]

I buy most of my barrels from bugholes.com any more. They usually have what I'm looking for in stock. Wouldn't hesitate to call Stan Taylor at Douglas either. If you want a 12 twist let me know what weight barrel you are looking for and I might have one myself.

I actually checked bugholes before I made this post. They don’t list any .20 cal barrels at all. I probably will stick with the 12 twist rate. That is kinda the standard for 204 so why try to change it I guess. I like heavy barrels.

 

[snert]

Hart is running about 16 weeks last I ordered.

I suggest calling the various places that might have them. Pac-nor is up and running. I know most places are not updating the websites as fast as things are changing.

 

[lb-ft]

Fluting looks nice and reduces weight. That said, while I’ve never heard of it improving accuracy, I have heard of it being detrimental.

If maximum accuracy is what you’re after, I wouldn’t introduce the variable of fluting.

Regarding 204 Ruger, it’s fast. Very fast. I couldn’t believe how much more quickly the 32 grain Vmax made it to 300 yard steel over anything else I’d shot, even heavy charges in 223.

Enjoy!

 

[Tommie]

I probably will stick with the 12 twist rate. That is kinda the standard for 204 so why try to change it I guess.

It is the factory standard, but it’s not a great choice. Many people have reported poor stability in a 1-12” twist with 40 grain bullets. Most folks are going with 1-11 or 1-10” twist if they intend to shoot the 40’s. That said, I’d stick with lighter bullets with a .204 Ruger for 300 yard shooting.

 

[B23]

Any Hart barrel I've bought whatever the delivery time they told me was damn near delivered to the day.

 

[std7mag]

I've been hearing of fast turn around from Douglas.
I'd give @Stan Taylor a shout.

 

[boltfluter]

Hart makes a great barrel if you have the time. I have never had one that didn't shoot great!

Paul

 

[EasyShooter]

It is the factory standard, but it’s not a great choice. Many people have reported poor stability in a 1-12” twist with 40 grain bullets. Most folks are going with 1-11 or 1-10” twist if they intend to shoot the 40’s. That said, I’d stick with lighter bullets with a .204 Ruger for 300 yard shooting.

That is exactly the info I am looking for for barrel choice. Gun building for me is just a hobby and I only build for myself so I have a lot to learn. Good chance I will stick with the lighter bullets for this gun. Last gun I finished is a 22 Creedmoor. I’ll use it for shooting smaller bullets at longer range.

 

[jpx2rk]

Some 12 T barrels will shoot the 40's, others won't, but will usually shoot the 39's or lighter. 39's are pretty rare right now, I would do a 11T just to have the option on the 40g pills.

20P is another option, no factory ammo, but factory ammo is very expensive these days, so......

 

[17VLD]

PAC-Nor is up and running again I would certainly give them a call and at least check their time frame.(Sorry Snert)They at one time had something called micro fluting which is very sharp looking in my opinion.I got it done on my 20 Duster BatSV and really like it.Of course Bartlien and Hart are great choices too.
Matt

 

[moorepower]

I would go 11 or 10 twist. My .20 is a Shilen 10 twist and it's launching 40 Vmax at 3800 in .250 group. Midsouth Shooters Supply has Norma brass, currently out of stock, but keep checking as it's been coming in.

 

[AWS]

I have three wildcats on the 204 case so instead of having another rifle using 204 brass I went with a 20P and my first barrel is a X-caliber and my second build which should be here soon is with a Criterion Remage from Northland shooters.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I field four 204's yearly, and my favorite is my Pac-Nor M700 11 twist.

If you're going to all the effort to build a 204, do yourself a favor and go either 11 or 10 twist and shoot any weight bullet up to 40grs with complete confidence.

 

[EasyShooter]

Thanks for the replies. I’m probably leaning toward an 11 twist heavy barrel now. Will probably stick with lighter bullets unless the gun ends up liking the heavies better.