22-204

[AWS]

No, I get between 60-80mpg out on the desert.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

What's your barrel length?

24 inch Krieger 12 twist

 

[MEdude]

Is anyone shooting heavies in this? Thinking of reaming my .223 Howa Bolt to this cartridge, and going with a longer throat to enable shooting 88 ELD’s. Thoughts?

 

[GAnderson]

Is anyone shooting heavies in this? Thinking of reaming my .223 Howa Bolt to this cartridge, and going with a longer throat to enable shooting 88 ELD’s. Thoughts?

I am not aware of anyone shooting the heavier bullets in the 22-204 version...about 60gr is the most that I have heard of. I assume your current barrel is a fast twist for heavies.

Gene

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

12 Twist Krieger Rem Varmint 24 inch barrel

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

View attachment 1451066

These loads are safe in my rifle. Reduce them in your rifle and work up! I have shot up to 29.5 gr of imr 8208 in my rifle without issues of pressure or ruining brass but i have settled on this 28.5 gr load with 52 and 53 gr bullets in my 22-204

 

[GAnderson]

These loads are safe in my rifle. Reduce them in your rifle and work up! I have shot up to 29.5 gr of imr 8208 in my rifle without issues of pressure or ruining brass but i have settled on this 28.5 gr load with 52 and 53 gr bullets in my 22-204

Your barrel is a 12 twist isn't it?

Gene

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Your barrel is a 12 twist isn't it?

Gene

Yes i just fixed it in the post. Its a 12 twist Krieger Remington Varmint contour at 24 inches long

 

[alf]

Is anyone shooting heavies in this? Thinking of reaming my .223 Howa Bolt to this cartridge, and going with a longer throat to enable shooting 88 ELD’s. Thoughts?

All of mine have been 8" twists, and my current reamer is throated for 80 grain Berger VLD's.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Gene is the one that turned me on too the 22-204 and thermal night hunting these SouthWest Virginia Coyotes.

The 22-204 is a Hammer on Coyotes here and ive shot several past 300 yards in the dark so far with this cartridge with Excellent results!

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

All of mine have been 8" twists, and my current reamer is throated for 80 grain Berger VLD's.

Ive not ran a 8 twist 22-204. What speeds are you seeing with the 80 gr VLDs and hows their performance on coyotes???

 

[alf]

Ive not ran a 8 twist 22-204. What speeds are you seeing with the 80 gr VLDs and hows their performance on coyotes???

I've only killed a handful with the 80's, performance is great. I've killed a lot with the 75 VLD's and they work fantastic.

The 75's in a 22" barrel run at 3075.

The 80's in a 24" barrel are 3025.

The 80's in a 26" barrel are running 3115. This barrel tolerates another half grain of Varget for the extra oomph.

 

[MEdude]

THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK FOR A NEW GUY!

Mine is a 22” 1-8 twist. Currently a standard .223
Debating:
• Just throating
• .223AI + throat
• 22-204 + throat

If I start with just throating, that wouldn’t preclude going the 22-204 + throat route down the road would it?

 

[alf]

The 204 case is .090" longer than a 223......

 

[urbanrifleman]

No set back necessary as you clean up the whole chamber when you run a 22-204 reamer in. You set the headspace while reaming. On a true 223AI you have to set the barrel back to create a crush fit for fireforming.. There are lots of ways to increase the capacity of the 223 case without setting the barrel back but it take a little more to form brass.

The 22-204 is about the simplest near max capacity cartridge for a .378 bolt face rifle. No fireforming, no custom dies and just load and shoot. You can use 223 barrels to build a rifle.

Can you get 204 brass?

 

[alf]

Can you get 204 brass?

There's this thing called Google......

204 Ruger Brass | 204 Ruger Rifle Reloading Brass

At Midsouth Shooters Supply, we offer a selection of 204 Ruger brass from brands like Hornady, Norma, and Nosler. Purchase a 50, 100, or 250 count package!

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

 

[MEdude]

Alf, did you hand ream your own chambers? Other posts indicate AWS did his own on more than one occasion. Trying to cypher if this is something I want to tackle myself, or better left to the pros.

(Brass does seem to be available…from multiple sources….)

 

[alf]

Alf, did you hand ream your own chambers?

No, all were built from the ground up as 22-204.

 

[urbanrifleman]

There's this thing called Google......

204 Ruger Brass | 204 Ruger Rifle Reloading Brass

At Midsouth Shooters Supply, we offer a selection of 204 Ruger brass from brands like Hornady, Norma, and Nosler. Purchase a 50, 100, or 250 count package!

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

It looks like you made my point for me. If all I had available to me was Nosler brass at super premium prices, I would pick another cartridge.

 

[alf]

It looks like you made my point for me. If all I had available to me was Nosler brass at super premium prices, I would pick another cartridge.

I have one gun dedicated to the Nosler brass, I have no issues with it.