Short Barrel .204 Ruger speed and loss...

[xswanted]

To make a long story short I found myself one 204 long in the gun safe. It was an 8 twist built on a 700 action. Douglas barrel HS stock, tuned up the trigger, it’s a great little rifle.

I wasn’t overly happy with shooting heavy bullets from it though. 55s at 3300 and 50s at 3500. It shot well with the 50s but I wasn’t happy with it for whatever reason.

So I had it cut down to 16.5” to make a dedicated suppressor rifle out of. I don’t like carrying a 24” barrel rifle with a can on it but when the barrel is short they are a lot more fun to me.

I had my gunsmith trim this barrel from 24” to 16.5”

At 24” it would shoot the 50gr Berger at 3500fps. It was a pretty warm load, however worked in the gun fine.

I was a tad concerned with losing too much velocity but pleasantly surprised when I got it back.

At 16.5” it chronyed at 3250fps.

250fps lost for 7.5 Of barrel comes out to 33.3 fps per inch of barrel cut off.

My 223 with 16.5” barrel would shoot the 53vmax at 3085.

Ballistically it’s not much different than a 223, slight advantage maybe but it’s pretty close.

Information to anyone out there looking to cut down a 204.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

For the sake of related comparison, here's what others have found in regard to short-barreled 204's:

https://www.bullberry.com/204-ruger-velocity-data