204 ruger
- Thread starter maddysdad
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Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
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searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
Given you are a reloader, I'd too look at the 20 Practical, as just as easy to load, never a brass sourcing problem, etc. The .204 Ruger would be a good cartridge. Won't blow them up like a 22/250, but dead is dead - and it will do that pretty well. For groundhogs, I'd stick to the heavier bullets, like 39 Blitz king and 40 V-Max, though the 32 V-Max is good too, especially for the shots not way out there. Test a few powders to see what your barrel likes, using load data. Accurate LT32, Reloader 7, H322, Varmint H4198, etc. If your rifle has a brake, the .204 is very tame, enabling you to see your hits through the scope, which is nice. There are some good lead-free bullet choices with the lead-free Ballistic tips - and the Varmint Grenades from Barnes. The lead-free are a great choice when shooting farms where ricochets might be a big concern. The sintered metal cores of the lead-free bullets really come apart on contact, making them a safer bullet in that respect, I think. Personally, I think that unless you go with a really fast twist to be able to shoot 50 grain Bergers (when and if they are available), your maximum "effective" range shooting the 40 and 39 grain bullets will be around 350-450 yards. The 50 will push it out more. This is assuming good-shooting rifle, good optics, etc. You can still hit critters further than this - but with the significant velocity loss - you will get a much higher number of wounded, even when well hit.
I like the .204's due to the high-volume shooting I do when hunting (primarily ground squirrels, with some coyotes). I need a barrel to remain cool enough to remain shootable after continuous, long strings of fire. I think if I were shooting ground hogs only - and maybe a coyote or other critter here and there, I'd opt for a larger cartridge with a bit more horsepower, where I could reach much further out - like a 6mm Creedmore, 6BR or something - or just a good 'ol .243. Maybe a .22 Nosler shooting the new eldVt? Something like that would keep with the low recoil and extend range a lot. So many choices!
I like the .204's due to the high-volume shooting I do when hunting (primarily ground squirrels, with some coyotes). I need a barrel to remain cool enough to remain shootable after continuous, long strings of fire. I think if I were shooting ground hogs only - and maybe a coyote or other critter here and there, I'd opt for a larger cartridge with a bit more horsepower, where I could reach much further out - like a 6mm Creedmore, 6BR or something - or just a good 'ol .243. Maybe a .22 Nosler shooting the new eldVt? Something like that would keep with the low recoil and extend range a lot. So many choices!
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The .204 Ruger is a legit round but the SAAMI chamber can be problematic. If you do decide on doing a 204 it might be a good idea to check into a “match” chamber. A few barrel manufacturers are offering match prefits which essentially are made to Todd Kindler’s specs in his Terrific Twenties book
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
The 204 Ruger is a blast in a prairie dog field. It has a distinct ballistic advantage over 223.
The Hornady 40 VMax has been steadily available and affordable during the last several years, and I have burned up several thousands of them since the Sierra 39 was unobtanium for too long.
For bulk loading through a progressive, there are many good ball powders that work well. Depending on the type of rig and the barrel, somewhere from 28.6 to 29.1 grains with a REM 7.5 primer and either Nosler or Norma brass has been one of the loads I crank out 2000 at a time.
Another decent powder is N-140 but there are many old pet loads that ran RE10X and many more.
In so many words, the 204 Ruger has not been difficult to develop with a number of powders.
Here is the snapshot of the Hodgdon site's load for the 40 VMax.
As you can see, there are several known user friendly powders on that listing.
Once you have the brass, the 204 Ruger is a blast.
The Hornady 40 VMax has been steadily available and affordable during the last several years, and I have burned up several thousands of them since the Sierra 39 was unobtanium for too long.
For bulk loading through a progressive, there are many good ball powders that work well. Depending on the type of rig and the barrel, somewhere from 28.6 to 29.1 grains with a REM 7.5 primer and either Nosler or Norma brass has been one of the loads I crank out 2000 at a time.
Another decent powder is N-140 but there are many old pet loads that ran RE10X and many more.
In so many words, the 204 Ruger has not been difficult to develop with a number of powders.
Here is the snapshot of the Hodgdon site's load for the 40 VMax.
As you can see, there are several known user friendly powders on that listing.
Once you have the brass, the 204 Ruger is a blast.
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Fern
Silver $$ Contributor
I love the 204 R a lot. So much so I just had a new barrel out on with faster twist to stabilize the 40g vmax.
Most rifles in this caliber have a 1/12 twist limiting them to the lighter bulllets. The 40vmax have hard time stabilizing but if you can find the 39g blitzking people can get those to stabilize but they are like hens teeth
What ever Rick tells you will be great information. He gave me lots of great info when I was getting my barrel out on. Had great points that I changed some things based on his recommendation
Most rifles in this caliber have a 1/12 twist limiting them to the lighter bulllets. The 40vmax have hard time stabilizing but if you can find the 39g blitzking people can get those to stabilize but they are like hens teeth
What ever Rick tells you will be great information. He gave me lots of great info when I was getting my barrel out on. Had great points that I changed some things based on his recommendation
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I just got another 204 put together. Ordered a Criterion prefit from James at NSS. Full bull, SS,1-11”, with their match chamber. May not be match to some, shorter throat but factory ammo will still run with no problems.
I did not even fool with my other rifles “pet” loads as it was factory and 1-12”. This one was built for nothing but 39-40 grain bullets. The 20VT/20-221 will drive the 32’s fast enough with half the powder.
There are those that will say the 223 and a 40 grain are about equal to the 204 and 40’s. I found that not to be the case. Switching between the two and shooting from 300 and beyond can be frustrating for a few shots, there is a difference.
My new rig patiently awaits my attention when time allows for range time.
I won’t give you loads with unobtainable components. There was a spread sheet at the 204 Ruger site compiled from a lot of data input from members some years back. On of the gents had narrowed that down to most popular powder,primer, and bullet. Along with charge weights. Like a fool I did not make a copy and store for me. A lot of input from Saubiers is pretty much totally gone in cyber space for eternity as well.
I will say of the dozen or so powders I have tried, most were satisfactory, some great, some excellent.
I will admit to being a naysayer and figured the 20’s were a fashion cartridge and little else. I found out and learned differently. Now have several 20’s from 20VT to 20BR. I wonder/hope to see a 20ARC at some point.
I did not even fool with my other rifles “pet” loads as it was factory and 1-12”. This one was built for nothing but 39-40 grain bullets. The 20VT/20-221 will drive the 32’s fast enough with half the powder.
There are those that will say the 223 and a 40 grain are about equal to the 204 and 40’s. I found that not to be the case. Switching between the two and shooting from 300 and beyond can be frustrating for a few shots, there is a difference.
My new rig patiently awaits my attention when time allows for range time.
I won’t give you loads with unobtainable components. There was a spread sheet at the 204 Ruger site compiled from a lot of data input from members some years back. On of the gents had narrowed that down to most popular powder,primer, and bullet. Along with charge weights. Like a fool I did not make a copy and store for me. A lot of input from Saubiers is pretty much totally gone in cyber space for eternity as well.
I will say of the dozen or so powders I have tried, most were satisfactory, some great, some excellent.
I will admit to being a naysayer and figured the 20’s were a fashion cartridge and little else. I found out and learned differently. Now have several 20’s from 20VT to 20BR. I wonder/hope to see a 20ARC at some point.
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
I'd sure think that'd make for a nice little 20 cal hot rod and since the only factory chambered option the shooting world has is the 204 Ruger of which not many even chamber a factory rifle for anymore a 20 ARC would be a welcomed addition.
I don't know if it was the price of ammo or maybe the lack of availability, compared to the 223, but unfortunately the 204 Ruger has lost a lot of its popularity and appeal over the last few years that it once had. I've had a couple different 204's the first was a varmint model CZ 527 that I foolishly let a friend of mine talk me out of. I've tried but I can't get him to sell it back to me. The other is a Tikka Compact that I still have. For factory made rifles they, both, shoot very well. CZ stopped making the 527 so there's no offering in 204 from them anymore and Tikka stopped chambering for the 204 a number of years ago which limits the availability of factory made rifles in 204.
I have an AR15 with a custom 204 ruger upper with a 22” barrel I had Dan Carey build me a number of years ago. It’s got a 1/11 twist barrel. I only ever shot 32 grain Nosler and Vmax until recently I’ve been playing with Hornadys lead free 24 grain. I’m not a long range shooter but I get what is for me good accuracy at 260 yards with them. I use Benchmark for reloading.
Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
All four of my 204's thrive on RL-10X for the 32's and 39/40gr bullets. With the 32's, I'm getting 4,060 fps and accuracy in the .2's. With the heavier 39 SBK or 40gr NBT, right at 3,925 fps, accuracy in the low .3's.
The best move I ever made was to build my M700 with a P/N 11T barrel and my TK inspired Match chamber, reamer ground by Dave at PTG with a 'no-turn' neck. That rifle outshines the other three, and has launched ground squirrels "way out there" in grand fashion.
If I had to do it all over again, wouldn't change a thing.
The best move I ever made was to build my M700 with a P/N 11T barrel and my TK inspired Match chamber, reamer ground by Dave at PTG with a 'no-turn' neck. That rifle outshines the other three, and has launched ground squirrels "way out there" in grand fashion.
If I had to do it all over again, wouldn't change a thing.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
I have both 223R and 204Ru barrels for my TC dimension. I have cases of Nosler 223 40 gr Bt ammo, but it doesn't run with a 204 using either the Berger 40 or the BIB 40(my favorite) on coyote. So my thermal is going back on the dimension for this winter, 204 Ruger.
HonkinDonky
Gold $$ Contributor
I've had the best luck with 32 VMAX bullets and H4895 in mine. It's by far my favorite squirrel rifle, and I have a bunch to pick from..
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