Should I get a .204 Ruger?

[th82457]

The 20 practical is a very viable alternative to a 204 mainly due to cheap available brass. I went with the 204 as a standard round and a 20 VT as a wildcat - due to the big difference in powder volume (1/3 less than a 204) yet still retaining good velocity, excellent accuracy and almost non-existent recoil in the VT. But I have the luxury to have both and the time to rework brass for the VT. I also only run 32 grain bullets through the VT and 39 or 40 grainers through the 204. It really comes down to what you want and what investment in time and money you are willing to make.

 

[varmintshooter]

I don't recall ever seeing a 20 practical fl die set. When I looked at the 20 p it would have cost about $150 for dies so I stayed with a 204. What is the reason that no company makes a 20 practical 2 die set? Seems to me it would be a big seller.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

You don't see 20 Practical die sets as much because the 20 'Tactical' aka: TAC 20 or 20 TAC, has already been around a long time. The 20 TAC is just a necked down 223 with a blown out 30 degree shoulder. The sharper shoulder design is a proven superior design for bolt rifles. Tactical dies are cheaper and easier to find. Some companies already make formed 20 Tactical brass as well, but making your own from 223 is definitely the more economical route.

I think you'll see the 20 Tactical commercialized before the Practical. It's already been around a w good while, it's a better design, can achieve speeds a little higher than the Practical and so on... I believe it would have been showing up in commercial rifles a long time ago if Hornady and Ruger hadn't collaborated to create the 204 Ruger.

 

[DogBuster]

who builds a 204R 14 twist ? all you need for the 20 PT

Dies...http://www.midwayusa.com/product/676249/redding-type-s-bushing-full-length-sizer-die-223-remington?cm_vc=ProductFinding

add one $15 .227" bushing

one Forster 204R seater
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/990854/forster-bench-rest-seater-die-204-ruger?cm_vc=ProductFinding

these are the dies you need for the 20PT......not complicated at all.....

its 'Practical'..........223 bushing dies & a 204R seater

 

[LipschitzWrath]

who builds a 204R 14 twist ? all you need for the 20 PT

Dies...http://www.midwayusa.com/product/676249/redding-type-s-bushing-full-length-sizer-die-223-remington?cm_vc=ProductFinding

add one $15 .227" bushing

one Forster 204R seater
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/990854/forster-bench-rest-seater-die-204-ruger?cm_vc=ProductFinding

these are the dies you need for the 20PT......not complicated at all.....

its 'Practical'..........223 bushing dies & a 204R seater

My point is the dies are expensive, not complicated. Like $100 more than a standard .204 Ruger set.

 

[searcher]

While the dies and other items needed to load the .20 Practical do cost money and comparisons can be made as to what is really saved as a result in brass over that of the .223, I cite brass savings when I was thinking of my own uses - whereby I want to have 1,000 rounds loaded up for a varmint shoot. Look at what most .204 Ruger brass goes for (around $35.00 for 50?)x20 =$700.00 versus $230.00 for brand new Wichester .223 brass (at Powder Valley and in stock), or even less for once-fired Lake City, etc. When I listed my preferences, it was only for ease of loading and performance, etc. - not cost. If I were looking only at cost, I'd look around and find a rifle in .20 Tactical and get the best of the caliber and brass cost. I never went the Tactical route as a few buddies told me the case needs to be fireformed for best use and to spare my barrel 1,000 fireformings, I didn't want to invest in a hydro former or do the corn-meal approach. Because I was building the rifle (A/R), the Practical seemed the best choice for me. I have friends that shoot mine and want one and unless they are really into reloading and have the budget for the outlay of chambering cost (unless buying a pre-built upper from Whidden Gunworks) and barrel, etc., I steer them to the .223 or .204 Ruger. Lots of factory rifles, factory ammo for those who want it, lots of inexpensive and always available brass choices, etc.

 

[yotepilot]

we shoot 223"s lup brass, 35ntx"s 40s close to 4k awesome loads, here in nd they dump runnin yotes also ,never fired 204s,tho
they sound good, have a recent 17-204 built for calling," whumps yotes hard, pelts are premo.

 

[Tommie]

we shoot 223"s lup brass, 35ntx"s 40s close to 4k awesome loads, here in nd they dump runnin yotes also ,never fired 204s,tho
they sound good, have a recent 17-204 built for calling," whumps yotes hard, pelts are premo.

I’m betting the OP has built his gun by now.

 

[searcher]

I think that if any of the Democrats get in as our next President (especially Michael Bloomberg), one will be glad to have the .20 Practical over the .204 Ruger for the sake of brass availability. I just bolstered my supply.

 

[Alguapo]

Started with a couple of .204's (Savage LRPV, Cooper and Savage 12 FV's). When it got hard to find .204 brass we switched over to the 20 Prac. Still have the Savage LRPV and the Cooper but we have built 4 20 Practicals off the Savage 12 FV's. Cabelas usually runs the 12 FV each year for around the $300. Take off the .223 barrel and screw in the Shillen select match grade for about $329. You can add stocks and triggers for a truly spectacular shooter based on what you want to spend. Agree with the statement the 20's are addictive. By the way just loaded 2,239 round for the upcoming seasonfor my 2 20 Practicals. Obviously our go to shooters are the 20 Practicals.

 

[KY_Windage]

I'm 70. I don't think I can shoot up all the .204 brass I have in my lifetime. The .204 holds more powder than the Practical, VT, etc. I like it.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

This summer Colombia River Arms had a sale, picked up an AR barrel in 20p. I already have a 204 TC. Really like both. The BHW 20p barrel was less then 275$, very accurate. Since I already have several 223, I had the fl sizing die, found a new 223 neck bushing die and 2 bushings the 20p is good to go. Last couple pd shoots I mostly shoot 223 and 204. I take a 22-250 and usually a 17 rem. But only shoot a few through each. Since adding the 20p upper my pd equipment list will change. Will take 1 lower,223 and 20p uppers, the TC Dimension with 204 and 223 barrels and the bolt and 22-250 barrel. This should require less space in vehicle. Oh the 20p with 40gr Nosler bt hammers coyote, I ordered a 10 twist barrel.

 

[Bill K]

Two cartridges you will never regret obtaining and shooting are the 204 R and a 20 VT. Buy the 204R and look towards adding a 20VT. You will never be sorry.



My question is this - given the calibers I own/plan to own, would it make any sense to throw a .204 Ruger on there as well. My buddy has one and sings its praises loudly, .


Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]

 

[fyrewall]

My favorites for rodent shooting )colony varmints) are the .20 Practical & .22-.250. My favorite bullets for each are the .20 40gr. Vmax for the .20 P & the .22 75 ELDM for the .22-.250. Powders used are IMR 8208 & H4350 with explorations into Re16. The .204 R is a fine cartridge and never a mistake but the .20P opens another world of low cost, high quality brass and equal field performance. I use Redding F/L bushing dies with a .226 bushing. Making brass from .223 rounds is sort of involved but once done subsequent loadings are easily done without using an expander button. The big drawback is that no .20 P factory ammo is available. As for the .22-.250 loads using the 75 ELDM at just under 3300 fps are good for over 600 yards but component costs and barrel life are drawbacks compared to the .20 P or .204R. Whatever .20 you get make sure it has a 1-11 twist or possibly faster, the 12 twist barrels are best for 32 and 35 gr. .20 bullets.

 

[snert]

the 22-250 fis really nice in a coyote gun (carry) or an eastern groundhog gun. For volumn shooting, go smaller.

I personally love my 22-250 but would never take it PD hunting

Groundhogs. Shot a few stray coyotes just in passing. I did shoot Pds, and kept thinking the whole time "Thank God I am shooting a pipsqueek gun not my 250"

 

[rcol317]

Like many have posted, I'm a 20 cal convert. My first was a 204 Cooper, have owned three. Also have a 204 CZ, great little repeater, does a job on coyotes. As was stated be ware of the 20 cal addiction. I now have a 20 VT, and 2-20 SCC's. After I bought my 204 Cooper sold both of my 22-250's. Still have a 220 Ackley Improved but can't really tell you why, can't just let her go. The 204 is a great introduction to 20's and I've never meet someone disappointed with it once they started shooting. Every Prairie Dog trip it seems my 20's do 90% of the shooting. Got to love the .204 cal bullet. Forgot I also love my 20 PPC shooting 55 gr. Bergers. Good shooting Rick

 

[Webster]

Like many have posted, I'm a 20 cal convert. My first was a 204 Cooper, have owned three. Also have a 204 CZ, great little repeater, does a job on coyotes. As was stated be ware of the 20 cal addiction. I now have a 20 VT, and 2-20 SCC's. After I bought my 204 Cooper sold both of my 22-250's. Still have a 220 Ackley Improved but can't really tell you why, can't just let her go. The 204 is a great introduction to 20's and I've never meet someone disappointed with it once they started shooting. Every Prairie Dog trip it seems my 20's do 90% of the shooting. Got to love the .204 cal bullet. Forgot I also love my 20 PPC shooting 55 gr. Bergers. Good shooting Rick

The original post was 4 years ago. I have done the same thing.

 

[KY_Windage]

Like many have posted, I'm a 20 cal convert. My first was a 204 Cooper, have owned three. Also have a 204 CZ, great little repeater, does a job on coyotes. As was stated be ware of the 20 cal addiction. I now have a 20 VT, and 2-20 SCC's. After I bought my 204 Cooper sold both of my 22-250's. Still have a 220 Ackley Improved but can't really tell you why, can't just let her go. The 204 is a great introduction to 20's and I've never meet someone disappointed with it once they started shooting. Every Prairie Dog trip it seems my 20's do 90% of the shooting. Got to love the .204 cal bullet. Forgot I also love my 20 PPC shooting 55 gr. Bergers. Good shooting Rick

Some of the guys I shoot p-dogs with use 20VT's. They are okay but I do not see the need to get one, or a 20 Practical, etc. The plain, old 204 is perfect IMO. Here is my latest, a Rem. 700 I just had a heavy Bartlein barrel put on, chambered in 204R. I am using brass sized for the old (shorter) chamber but I am already getting lots of 5-shot groups that start with ".3" with it, and some with ".2". I could do better if I could turn my pulse off.

The OP may have died or moved on but the question is timeless. Every day there are a hundred guys wondering if they should get a 20-caliber. The answer is, you should have yesterday.



Here are the ten 5-shot groups I shot a couple of days ago:

 

[Dgd6mm]

I'm only posting on here to say, there is definitely good information in these older threads. You can see how things evolve.

 

[johnfred1965]

Yeah, back from the dead, twice! But I get to put my +1 for the 204, I love it! I embarrass my brother with his 22-250 all the time!