I cannot imagine them ignoring that round if they want to be a player. I hope for 2 things WHEN they offer the 204.
1. A Varmit tube, it is a varmit round.
2. Stay with the 1-10 twist as in most of their other calibers. The 204 was pushed with the 32 gr. pill & the rifles offered had 1-12 twist.
Some will shoot the 40 gr, but most won't. Some of the AR companies are on to this, partly because of their fast twist 223 mentality.
But the AR's are a completely different rifle & a very different price point. H&R & TC aren't on to this yet & VA could really take advantage of this niche with just a little marketing common sense.
And just like a good quality AR 1-9 & even a 1-8 will still shoot light bullets, a 1-10 would be great for the 32, but allow you to get first class accuracy with the ballistically superior 40 gr., esp. in regards to wind drift & Coyote killing energy at long range with the same basic trajectory.
I would sure buy one.