204 ruger, here to stay?

[tigmaned]

i did a search but not alot out there on weather its going strong or starting to go the other way.
i am looking at a remington 700SPS varmint in 204??

[quickdtoo]

Considering all major manufacturers offer their rifles in 204, I'd say it's here to stay, the buying public will ultimately make it or break it tho.

Tim

http://204ruger.com/

http://204ruger.com/204_overview.php

http://204ruger.com/forum/

[vanbuzen9]

I don't know, I have seen quite a few 204 ruger items go on drastic sales, like encore barrels, remington bolt actions, ect.  Makes you wonder why.

[tigmaned]

i am looking to just punch paper at 100 yards for now, and after my shoulder gets a little tired after shooting my Garand's
thanks for those links!

[nomosendero]

I don't know, I have seen quite a few 204 ruger items go on drastic sales, like encore barrels, remington bolt actions, ect.  Makes you wonder why.

Please send me a PM when you see these sales, thanks!!

[nomosendero]

Sales for the ammo, guns & components are quite good, it's not going anywhere.

[Fat NDN]

I sure ain't happy with mine.  

3 months ago I bought 2 H&R bull barrel .204 rugers and a H&R 45/70 22" barrell. And they all stink.  I have been loading my own ammo forover 30 years,
and I can not get these rifles to shoot any decent groups.  I have tried Varget, Benchmark, H333, and Bl-C2 powders. I have tried Hornady 32 gr., Nosler
32 gr., Midway Dogtown 34 gr, Hornady 40 gr and sierra 39 gr BK's.  The 39 and 40 grain bullets tumble with all powder loads listed. I have worked up ladder
chart loads on all powders and bullet. This was all .204.  Now the 45/70; I started with 300gr Hornady HPs and 350 gr Oregon Trail Lasercast bullets, so far I got
groups of maybe 5 - 7 inches at 50 yds.  NOT ACCEPTABLE  

[sniperVLS]

I don't know, I have seen quite a few 204 ruger items go on drastic sales, like encore barrels, remington bolt actions, ect.  Makes you wonder why.

That may be because manufacturers want the cartridge to hang around so lowering prices gets it into more homes. It's not going anywhere, and from what I can tell, it's gaining popularity day by day.

[dw06]

I've never even shot one,but from feedback of happy users it will stay IMO.

[panhandle]

I was one of the holdouts who told myself that I surely didn't need one of those 204's.  Local gun shop had a president's day sale and had the Ruger Mk II on sale for $399.95.  I was there the next morning when the doors opened and took the one with the best wood home with me.  I am very impressed with mine and am in the process right now of building a 20 BR.  I get a little over 3900 FPS with the 39 gr Sierra in a 24" barrel and very impressive groups, what't not to like.

[Old English]

My first 204 was an H&R Handi. With factory ammo 5" groups were the norm. I managed to reload some just about acceptable 1.5" groups with the 39gr Sierra, bullet seated out as far as possible. I traded it in for something else, my Handi career was over. I bought a Savage 12 VLP and bam, .3"-.4" groups. My 204 is definitely here to stay. I don't see the 204 going away anytime soon,

[vanbuzen9]

Yeah,

I think you guys are right, probably just trying to move more guns by using sales.  I've always thought the 204 was a good seller, but never had the urge to get one, as I have a 223.  As far as I'm concerned, they serve the same purpose.  I almost bought a remington sps that was listed in my local paper for 350 bucks, that seemed like a good deal, probably should have bought it!

vanbuzen9

[ccoker]

I bought one, a Savage LP heavy 26" barrel and have a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14 on it
first 3 shots with Hornady 40g BTs was one ragged hole

here's the goofy part for me, I really don't have a true "need" for it where I live and hunt most of the time
so, I don't know if I will keep mine as I have a tack driving AR that serves me well for varmit hunting for the typical ranges I hunt...

[lilabner]

Can't offer personal experience but the cartridge has a lot going for it - flat trajectory and high velocity with a case capacity small enough that you can get reasonable barrel life. Best of all, recoil is reportedly soft enough that you can spot your own shots with a high magnification scope. For a handloader, it would be cheap to shoot.

[SHOOTALL]

have a M-77 and love it .

[gube]

Have two savage 12's, a VLP and a BTVSS. 5 shot 100 yd groups make a nice small cloverleaf. Have had so much fun with them, that I plan on buying another one in a lighter version this summer. Maybe a CZ, Tikka light, or a savage predator. Seeing impacts through the scope are a hoot, re-loading components are readily available, and more and more bullet selections are being manufactured. If any thing, I think the popularity will continue to grow.

[yooper77]

I have a 223 Remington in a 12" Encore barrel and will not purchase a 204 Ruger.

I do like that I find lots of once fired 204 Ruger brass and make them 223 Remington.

This summer I am starting up my cast bullets again for my 223 Rem.  I am on the pennies per round kick.

yooper77

[tuck2]

The Ruger Target  Varmint 204 Ruger  rifle with a Leupold 6-18 scope  is one of the better prairie dog  shooting rifles I have.  6/10 th  inch  five shot groups are common with  32 Gr factory ammo and my reloads.   I have a Remington and Howa 223 Rem varmint rifles but they stay at home most of the time  when I go out prairie dog shooting.  I will be trying out a 17 and 221 Fireball  rifles this spring for shorter shots but the 204 will be used most of the time.

[rickt300]

With it's high velocity an the 32 gr. Vmax it refuses to bounce or have much left after penetrating a coyote, possum or raccoon. The perfect urban varminter I think. Mine, a Contender Carbine is the most accurate rifle I own. Easily an under .5 rifle.

[mjbgalt]

my results have been identical to rick's. i have the contender carbine, my second one in .204, and both regularly shoot under a half inch, not just once in a while, but every time i go to the range (with my reloads).

i also had 2 different encores in .204, same results. my dad shoots a savage .204 and reports the same thing.

now, i have heard about one .204...ONE...that would not go under MOA. And that one was a Handi rifle. Not to disrespect those rifles, but I hardly think one instance in a $200 rifle which is known to be fussy is enough to damn the .204 to a lack of sales.

i happen to think that it's the easiest cartridge to get to shoot well, of all the cartridges i have loaded for. every time the .204 has responded to 32 grain bullets and a powder charge about 2/3 of the way to max.

-Matt

[rickt300]

Mine shoots the Hornady 32 gr. factory load so well I though this was going to be a hard act to follow. I ordered some 32 gr. VMaxes and loaded them on top of H322. From the bottom listed load to the top it shot all into tight little clusters. I could not say one charge weight was better than another so I started using the 3700fps load just to keep the noise level down.

[mjbgalt]

same here, but i use varget, i loaded a big range from mild to wild and they ALL shot under one inch, most under 3/4", and the few i really liked went .300" or less. the best load so far is right around 3700 fps in my gun as well...27.5 grains of varget with a 32-grain sierra.

Still haven't broken the .200" barrier yet but maybe....

-Matt

[rickt300]

For what I use a varmint rifle for, actually busting varmints, coons, coyotes, skunks and possums the rifle has far more range and accuracy than I need but it does really well without any bouncing bullets.  I tested myself shooting at a crow around 200 yards away, all that was left was a wet spot and feathers. As a utility rifle it is better than my 223 as long as deer aren't considered.