Anyone else shooting 204 Ruger?

[COhunter]

Have 2, both Tikka's. It is a very accurate fun round to shoot

 

[nakneker]

Had a 204 in a Remington LVSF, sold it to my brother and wish I still had it. Very accurate and great handling rifle. I have other 20 caliber rifles now but the 204 is a good one and if he ever has a weak moment I may own that rifle again. Currently enjoying a 20-222, it’s lot of fun.

 

[jds holler]

Had a 204 in a Remington LVSF, sold it to my brother and wish I still had it. Very accurate and great handling rifle. I have other 20 caliber rifles now but the 204 is a good one and if he ever has a weak moment I may own that rifle again. Currently enjoying a 20-222, it’s lot of fun.

Yeah, the 20-222, or Plain Jane is a lot like the cute kid sister of the prom queen. -- not as flashy, but more fun to snuggle with.

I like mine so much that prolly will never graduate to the mo-powerfuller versions. jd

 

[nakneker]

Yeah, the 20-222, or Plain Jane is a lot like the cute kid sister of the prom queen. -- not as flashy, but more fun to snuggle with.

I like mine so much that prolly will never graduate to the mo-powerfuller versions. jd

I don’t ever see me letting go of mine either, too easy, too accurate and too much fun!

 

[JSH]

Well that gives me reason to pause. While I am getting decent results with Fiocchi ammunition in my 204 rifle, I had hoped to get a lot better with load testing and load development. Have you been reusing the Fiocchi brass? If so, any significant results to report?

I am pretty sure I was using their 40 grain offerings.
As to their brass, no. I sold it to some guys that were needing brass.
I had bought a bunch of WW brass and later on bought a bunch of Nosler ammo for a little more than they wanted for brass. I had also picked up a bunch of dog town from midway on a clearance sale.
I only load 40’s for the 204. I tried some 10X and ran into some pressure issues in early summer. I then went to H4895, used up a short dab of that. I myself have settled on CFE223 just for easy of cleaning. I gave up some accuracy, but not enough that I am worried about it for prairie dogs out to 300+. What I gave up in accuracy won’t over come any condition issues, so it is a null point as far as I am concerned.
32-34 grain bullets are fed to a 20VT. I can get the same speed with less powder, and a bit more if I crowd it, than a 204.

 

[JSH]

Also, the WW brass was from an early run, Nosler and dog town, I have zero issue this far myself with any.
The dog town and some of the Nosler brass is ugly and will not polish, but no issues.
Also I anneal every time.

No it’s not Lapua, but I don’t get to mad at loosing a few.
I spent dang near an hour looking for three pieces of 22BR brass. Yeah it’s just $3, but messing up a Lot and the time I spent prepping it was more than that.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I understand the attraction for the many different 20 cal rounds. Still, 204 Ruger is a fine little cartridge. The accuracy I have seen shooting my Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 204 Ruger (shooting inexpensive Fiocchi factory ammunition) so impressed me that I sold my CZ 527 (223 Rem.) during my latest purge of my gun safe. At any distance out to 300 yards, I get better accuracy with the 204 Ruger rifle than I ever got with the CZ in .223 Rem.

Oh and by the way, I bought the Ruger M77 Hawkeye simply because it was the only left handed rifle I could find at the time that came in 204 Ruger. No other reason. It was a risk that worked out fine.

I have loaded up a few rounds to try out. I loaded using basic middle of the road suggestions in my Lyman manual, so I still have a lot of work to do, to find the load that shoots best in my rifle.

Here is that rifle:

All the time Thompson Center Venture, a real sleeper moa all day,1lb trigger professio0nally done by Mcarbo in Florida, titanium Liberty suppressor, and the best part is a 1/10 twist.Weaver Grand slam 20X variable. This rifle all stock except trigger will shoot with the best,a laser at 400 yards.

 

[long40shot]

I've had a SPS Varmint in 204 for a handful of years now. It has been a great shooter and stacked up a pile of p-dogs. Good luck with 32grn v-maxs and Benchmark. Also, good luck with 39bk and RL-10x. But like Jeff said, be carful of RL-10X and hot weather if you are running a warm load.

 

[Ruddy]

I am not sure what brass problem you are referring to. A quick search showed prepped Nosler 204 Ruger brass in 50 round boxes and 250 round lots of unprepped brass in stock right now at Natchez. As I prefer to prep my own brass, I am considering that.

I also noticed much less expensive Dogtown brass in 204 Ruger at Midway. Have any of you tried that brass?

Not sure if the brass by itself but all the 204 Dogtown ammo that I have used was Nosler brass.

 

[Stugots]

I built 3 - AR15's with 26" heavy bull barrels (.223 Cal) and 1- .204 Ruger 26" that I use for P. Dog hunting. when I replace my next .223 barrel, it will be a .204 Ruger.