.204 Ruger as Short Range Bench Rest Rig

[1000yardstare]

BigLonnie: Hey old buddie. Don`t let anyone give you a hard time. I keep telling my friends that no one would tell a fellow .204 shooter to 'piss them all off and go for 500 yards' unless they had the experience to back up that statement. And with a 32 grain bullet at that. Sheer genius. And expressed with such razor-sharp wit.

I have shot centerfire rifle for 50 years including many custom benchrest and target rigs. Regretably, they all have thrown a shot now and then. But your little ol` Savage .204 just keeps drilling them into one tiny little group. Guess you will just have to move on to another forum that truly appreciates your skills and leave the rest of us behind while we struggle along trying to honestly help each other.

 

[LHSmith]

To be fair.... BigLonie said 'all holes touching'...which could mean a group size of .204 x 5 -.204= .816,or thereabouts)...far from one tiny little group.
I am more impressed that he can do this 'all day long.'
In point blank BR competition we only shoot a mere 25 record shots.
They say the more you shoot, the better shot you become.

 

[biglonnie204]

don't eat me!!!!! i didn't mean any thing by it. i just think that if some one at the rang sat dawn with a 'built .204' and was slapping the X at 500yrd i would be pissed that i would now have to try it for my self, i didn't mean pissed like I'm going home!!! in my defense i dont look at a 100yrds as all that far
i don't see that the persuasion of accuracy to be that high.,NOT THAT I'M MISTER PRECISE) I'm all so not saying don't do it just that
MoneyWaster should go for sume thing more. i respect most people on this site its a grate source of info, and i thank you for that
but if I'm going to be judged by my opinions and singled out well
than thanks for the fun time....:wave:

 

[MoneyWaster]

Hey guys, thanks to you all for engaging in some conversation about my question about using the .204 for benchrest. Based on what I've heard here, I might try to do some stuff to my existing stock to make it ride the bags like a benchrest rifle does. We'll see what I can do with that. I'll report back and let you guys know what happens.

 

[LHSmith]

don't eat me!!!!! i didn't mean any thing by it. i just think that if some one at the rang sat dawn with a 'built .204' and was slapping the X at 500yrd i would be pissed that i would now have to try it for my self, i didn't mean pissed like I'm going home!!! in my defense i dont look at a 100yrds as all that far
i don't see that the persuasion of accuracy to be that high.,NOT THAT I'M MISTER PROSIEST) I'm all so not saying don't do it just that
MoneyWaster should go for sume thing more. i respect most people on this site its a grate source of info, and i thank you for that
but if I'm going to be judged by my opinions and singled out well
than thanks for the fun time....:wave:

It took awhile, but I have finally deciphered your post,at least in part).
You find long range shooting more challenging than short range, and MW should funnel his efforts at 500 yard competition.
I am at a loss as to what a 'prosiest' is.

 

[biglonnie204]

sorry... Mr. precise, and yes that's it it. its harder to shoot accurately at 500yrd than at 100yrd. and I just think that if you work with a gun to shoot just at paper for fun at 100yrd you don't need to make it a BR just a little working over . i have a gun or two that i think need to be worked over because they shoot 1 1/2' or so groups at 100 yard
but if a group like that is so good than y dues any one need a BR? if not for comp. please tell me i need to know?

 

[LHSmith]

sorry... Mr. precise, and yes that's it it. its harder to shoot accurately at 500yrd than at 100yrd. and I just think that if you work with a gun to shoot just at paper for fun at 100yrd you don't need to make it a BR just a little working over . i have a gun or two that i think need to be worked over because they shoot 1 1/2' or so groups at 100 yard
but if a group like that is so good than y dues any one need a BR? if not for comp. please tell me i need to know?

The short answer is accuracy is subjective, that is, it varies from person to person.
From your post above, you feel 1-1/2' groups at 100 yards is good, and if your talking about your 204 Savage, I too think it is good.,probably could do better with windflags, though).
In contrast, in Registered Benchrest Competition, a rifle and it's operator must shoot sub .250 groups,100 yd) to even be competitive.
Five 5- shot groups that average below 1/4',25 record shots).
You have to do this under the following conditions:
1) You shoot no matter what weather conditions are, save a tornado) Yes, you shoot even if a T-storm hits during YOUR relay ...but ends before the next guys relay.You shoot if it's 100* and the mirage makes the target seem like a blurry waving flag.
2) You have 7 min.to shoot each group
3) When it's your turn to shoot,your relay is called)...you must shoot then and there
4) You shoot alongside other shooters ..... if you don't have a rock-solid rest the muzzle blast from your neighbor takes your group into inch size.


I gave you my definition of what BR is, now give me YOUR definition of the following:

1) BR?
2)group,how many shots make a group?)
3)accuracy? how many groups, and what group size determine the accuracy of a rifle?
4) 'All Day Long' accuracy,what does this mean?....Do you get to pick and choose the time of day when you shoot?.....Do you get to pick and choose the day? Can you shoot without any time limitation between shots? groups?

It's the old apples vs. oranges.Some 204's are indeed accurate......but to ask it to outperform a cartridge,in BR competition format) that has pretty much domineered the short-range,100, 200, & 300 yards) BR game for near 30 years, well it will leave you disappointed.

Maybe, the 204's niche is @ 400/500 yds......but I doubt it.