.204 Ruger

[mattmillerrx]

I have decided on this round, well maybe, most like, what the heck I will buy another gun later in another caliber anyway.  But have not picked a rifle yet, I am thinking of savage, cz, or howa but am open to other ideas.  I do want a synthetic stock but otherwise I would be fine with any of them I am set for a scope so no worries there.  Lets see what you guys have to say about this round in these various rifles.

[MOGLEY]

You won't regret this caliber! I love mine and won't be without it. Does awesome things and you can see it happen in the scope. Priceless. 32 grainers work great for chucks crows and that size I guess the 39 grainers should be used on coyotes ( from  what I have read). Most negatives of what you'll read are from those who don't have one.

[mattmillerrx]

What rifle do you have MOGLEY?

[Tunaman]

I have a Rem 700 sps stainless Varmint in 204 Ruger and i have to say that with the right loads, it shoots lights out. I have been loading 40 gr V-max at 3850fps. I really like the round and rifle combo. I have a 6.5x20x50 ziess on her and I feel very confident out to 350 0f better on varmints.

[ripmyfly]

I have a T/C Encore w/ a Virgin Valley Target barrel topped w/ a Nikon Buckmaster 6x14x40 Scope. I love this gun! I may have to sell it for Christmas presents for the kids as work has been slow. But I hope not. I shoot the V-Max 32 grain.

[MOGLEY]

I have a NEF bull barrel. I have experimented with numerous rounds and was getting ready to try something else ( for a rifle) but then found the magic reload. Now if I miss it is me. I use 26.3 gr of 10x and sierra 32gr blitzkings. Ironically the 32 Hornady v-max look identical but do not shoot worth a hoot. Hopefully I am about to get another NEF 204 but with a thumbhole stock. I am hoping the same load works for it as well. I am not one for having two of the same caliber but I like the 204 that much.

[Ahab]

Howa is a good bet.

[Badnews Bob]

I happen to like my CZ 527 varmiter real well, Its a .223 but if you can get a like one in .204 I am sure it would be a shooter and the set trigger is really nice, brakes at about 12 ozs, It comes alum full lenght bedded in a kevlar composite HS precision stock. Fine little rifles.

[Catfish]

I have a CZ 527, the lite weight, and it`s a real tack driver with the 32 gn. Sierra`s. It shoots the 32 Hornady and the 39 gn. Sierra`s very well also. It does not like the heaver bullet so I no longer carry it coyote hunting because the the Sierra bullets are to thin shinned and just won`t keep them down. I`ve considered floating the barrel and bedding the action but am scaired to because it might mess up my groups with the 32 Sierra`s and I have several other good coyote guns, and I don`t care about big holes.

[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 and Benchmark
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.

For yotes your best bet is to use the 35 and 40 gr bergers or the 45 gr Hornady sp's.
Wildcat makes a 38 gr hollow point that should be excellent for yotes as well. I am hoping to have some test loads of these soon and will probably be using them this season.

The ballistic tips will work for yotes as well, but if you hit bone they may splash and can produce some very large holes. My favorite for prairie doggin and other small critters is the 39 gr sierra BK. Has a high B.C., good mist and lift action, and best of all is the "giggle" factor of seeing your hits through the scope.

There are no factory loadings for bergers or wildcats in Canada. The Hornady SP's are available as factory made bullets and most 204's shoot them okay as their overall length is shorter than the 40 gr V-max.
Ideally you will want to re-load to get the most out of your 204 for accuracy and once you do you'll find it very addictive.

[mattmillerrx]

I just ordered a Howa.  It basically came down to what I could get in time for something to be under the tree, the wife's stipulation.  I handled one last week in another caliper and really liked the feel of it but wanted the longer barrel of the savage but could not find one to handle and have not like the feel of them in the past, don't get me wrong I like the guns but something just doesn't fit me right.  I had to get stainless too cause all his distributor had and the other distributor had some but much higher and had to pay shipping too, it would have cost me almost what the stainless did.

I think I will like it just fine though, a new gun is a new gun. And that is always fun.

[JD11]

I think I will like it just fine though, a new gun is a new gun. And that is always fun.

I'm sure you'll like it.  I have a Howa Varminter Supreme thumbhole laminated stock in 22-250, SS heavy barrel, etc.  It's every bit as accurate as my comparable Savage LPV in 204 that I bought about a year ago. 

[lakota]

Mine is a CZ 527 Varmint.  Out of the box it didnt shoot great-there was a big hump in the barrel channel and it would always through the 4th and 5th shots of 5 shot groups. After I sanded the hump down It shoots about any load sub MOA but by far my best groups are with 32 grain Sierra Blitz Kings 26.8 Grains of Benchmark powder set off by a Remington 7.5 Benchrest primer. I have an assortment of Remington Winchester and Hornandy brass and this load shoots great in all of them.

[bobg]

I have a heavy barreled Savage in 204. Can't remember the model number. I have been shooting Winchester factory ammo in it. This rifle will shoot three shot groups into one ragged hole at 100 yards. It will out shoot the Remington 40x in 222 that i once owned. Can't go wrong with a Savage.