22-204 Ruger

[panhandle]

Has anyone built one of these yet? Could just use a 223 rifle as a donor. Seems like this would surpass the 223 AI pretty easily. Could use the 204 Ruger reamer w/live pilot and use a 224 pilot instead of a 204 pilot. Hornady could do die modifications. Should be able to hit 4000 fps with a 40 gr bullet easily. Anyone have any info or first hand experience?

 

[Preacher]

Wouldn't that be like the 222 Magnum from Remington ??

 

[jraney]

where do you guys come up with this stuff?

 

[panhandle]

Well, it's winter time and I'm bored. I made up a dummy round and it looks like it would have a little more capacity than a 222 Rem mag AI.

 

[Ackman]

I thought about that one for maybe a year and decided it would be worth trying. Had one chambered but still haven't fooled with it yet. Actually a std. 223 will shoot 40's at 3900-4000 depending on barrel length. The .223AI does 4200 with 40's using IMI brass and the right powder. A Win. 22-204 case holds about 1gr. more powder than the .223AI & .222Mag. and I was hoping for maybe another 75-100fps. However not having IMI or Lapua brass available could be a limiting factor, but that's yet to be determined. My reamer has a .250"nk and 0 freebore. Dies are Redding Comp.....a .204 necksizer with larger bushing. Seater is a .223 with the slider reamed, although a std. .223 seater might work ok as is.

 

[Rodbolt]

I just picked up a 222 Mag in a Shilen stock, with an early Shilen action,#20) and a fresh Hart barrel. I've been checking spec's and plan to run a .223AI reamer deep enough to crush fit a 204R case. With the 204R necked up to 224 and fired formed it will be a 223AI long and should have a meaningful increase in capacity. The notion that the 204R is based on a 222Mag case doesn't take into account the additional length and sharper shoulder of a 204R.

That said, I would rather have a 22BR,short powder column)but since I have the fine old rifle with small bolt face and new barrel I'm going to give it a try.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

I just picked up a 222 Mag in a Shilen stock, with an early Shilen action,#20) and a fresh Hart barrel. I've been checking spec's and plan to run a .223AI reamer deep enough to crush fit a 204R case. With the 204R necked up to 224 and fired formed it will be a 223AI long and should have a meaningful increase in capacity. The notion that the 204R is based on a 222Mag case doesn't take into account the additional length and sharper shoulder of a 204R.

That said, I would rather have a 22BR,short powder column)but since I have the fine old rifle with small bolt face and new barrel I'm going to give it a try.

I just rechambered a Savage 223 this way but have not had time to work up any loads yet. I use Lee 223AI to do the sizing with a washer of the correct thickness between the shell holder and die for spacing. Use a Lee 223 collet die the size the necks. I saw this idea somewhere else on the web but can't remember where. Seems like it gave excellent velocity increases with the lighter bullets...but I'm going just by memory.

 

[panhandle]

Guess the effort and money isn't worth the gain. The bolt face on the Ruger Varminter I have looks like it would be easy to open up for the 22 BR so I think that is the route I will go. Thanks for your inputs.