IS THE .204 RUGER A TIGHT GROUP SHOOTER????

[fdshuster]

Obtunded: I agree with your estimate of barrel life for a 204. My Hart varmint contour 1-12, at a documented 458 rounds fired, is already showing some serious cracking at the front of the chamber mouth, and the very faint beginning of "alligator skin" firecracking in the leade area. With a borescope, you have visual proof of "what's happening", not some wild unsubstantiated claim of "5 to 8000 rounds of barrel life". For me, it will mean a short life-span for the 204: that could be good news, if I can't get the thing to shoot.

 

[fdshuster]

sharps: See what you've started with one simple question: it's all your fault. Seriously though, there is a lot of excellent information being posted, all worthwhile. Weather has taken a down-turn here, so more time on this web site. Just spent a lot of time going thru the "competition forum", Checking out the cartridges being used in serious competition/ g'hog matches, could not find a single 204 listed in the top 3 scores, or anywhere down the list, for that matter. A very high number of 6BRs', 243, 223, 22-250, etc. out to 4 and 500 yd. distances. You may get some insight on the answer to your original question on the competition forum.

 

[CT10ring]

I will chime in to say the .204 is just superb! I have a Sako 75 .204 Ruger Varmint SS & set trigger. Shoots 1/2" 100 yds groups with factory Hornady all day & 1/4" groups with Varget & 32g V-max bullets. It is unbelievable what this little round will do to a PD out to 350 yards! Much flatter than a .223. My DPMS AR 204 is just as good and a lot faster. You won't regret getting this one...lots of bullet choices too.

 

[Silverfox]

fdshuster--Your statement that you are using a,

Redding neck bushing die w/ .224" bushing

has me wondering if you have tried different diameter bushings? It would be interesting to hear if your rifle likes more or less tension on the bullet than you are using now.

 

[BoydAllen]

A friend who rebarreled a Remington 700 in .204 had a terrible time working up a load, He finally settled on 39 grain Blitzkings .010 off and N140 powder. Previously he had gotten acceptable results with reloader 10, but as I predicted, found it to be very dirty. In my opinion, this is not an easy one. He has had much less trouble with everything else that he has built. BTW a friend who has a .20PPC barrel for a full on Benchrest rifle has shot a lot of very small groups with Berger 40s and 133.

 

[BoydAllen]

A friend who rebarreled a Remington 700 to .204 had a terrible time working up a load, He finally settled on 39 grain Blitzkings .010 off and N140 powder. Previously he had gotten acceptable results with reloader 10, but as I predicted, found it to be very dirty. In my opinion, this is not an easy one. He has had much less trouble with everything else that he has built. BTW a friend who has a .20PPC barrel for a full on Benchrest rifle has shot a lot of very small groups with Berger 40s and 133.

 

[fdshuster]

Silverfox: Started out with a .225 bushing for the loaded round neck diameter of .227". Then switched to .224", bullets seated nicely, no ringing from the seater stem), but as with everything else I've tried, did not make a difference. Coming up on 500 rds. fired now, and seeing the beginning of some serious fire-cracking in front of the chamber: I'll be able to put this dog out of its misery sooner rather than later: has not been a good experience.

 

[gube]

35 bergers, 25.5 gr of RL-10X and 26.8 gr of benchmark
40 bergers and 40 V-max, 24.5 gr RL-10X and 25.5 gr of H-4895
39 sierra BK and 40 gr Nosler, 25 gr RL-10X and 27.5 gr of H-4895
32 V-max and 32 gr nosler, 26 gr RL-10X and 27 gr H-322
26 gr varmint grenade, 26.3 gr RL-10X and 23.3 gr H-4198
45 gr hornady sp, 24.3 gr RL 10X

All of these loads will generally print out 1/2" groups or better out of both of my savage 204's.
These loads may not work in your gun so REMEMBER to start below these and work your way up at approx .2 to .3 gr at a time.

 

[Geno54]

Obtunded: Ukranian tractor factories :lol: that is hilarious, I know how you feel! The last GREAT Remmy I owned was a 25-06 BDL Varmint, I purchased in the late 1970's capable of raw .600-.700 groups at 200 yrds. I wish that one would have never worn out.

jo191145 Amazing shooting from your Savage, makes me think I spent way too much on my Hall custom Tac 20.,still love it however) I bought a LRPV .223 this May, mounted a Bushnell 6x24-50 30mm Tactial, shots lites out in the high .2's to mid .6's with just about anything I have thrown at it, except V-Max's. Good with H335 or N-135 & Berger's. Best group @ .290 with 55 grain Berger Varmint Match & 25.3 grains of Benchmark.

Has anyone besides me weight sorted V-max's in .204 or .224 lately, maybe I got some bad lots but OMG, not good, wide range of weight, had much better results 2-3 years ago with 75 & 87 grain V-max's,.243) using Sierra's and Bergers in both the LRPV & Hall Tac 20 now.

Thorbird, congratulations on your match shooting. Good job, like a two week old puppy more & more Remmy owners are getting their eyes opened! I bought one of the first run BVS-S in a 243 Win, only drawback I experienced with it was 60- 80 rounds before it really got broke in it seemed. LRPV mentioned about came around much quicker.

Thanks all, lot of good info in this thread!