204 Hype

[Outlaws]

I've run the long range ballistics on the .223 against the .22-250 and it's not much of a match-up. The heavy 80 grainer wouldn't work in my .223 (1:9" twist) or my .22-250 (1:12" twist) as they wouldn't get stablized. I believe the manuals and bullet mfg'r.s call for 1:7" or 1:8" for those heavys.

At 600 yds., the 80gr .243Win drops 45" compared to 71" for the 77gr. .223Rem and at 1000 yds. it's 244" to 382" respectively.
The wind correction is similar for the .223 compared to the .243; about 50% more correction for the .223
I wasn't able to find ballistics for an 80gr for the .22-250. Sorry.

Ya. I knew the 243 would outperform the 223 by a great deal. It was more to show that the 243 uses more powder and burns barrels faster than a 223 to gain all that performance, but the 204 is the opposite. The 204 gains a fair amount of performance while using less powder and without being a barrel burner at all.

The only thing the 223 offers for varmint hunting over the 204 is availability. But any decent gun shop or sporting mega store stocks it now, so that part is vanishing. Granted, I won't say it is readily available until Walmart carries it. So until then the 223 has some life left in it. That was a joke if anyone doesn't get it...

 

[MinnMooney]

What modifications to existing equipment, or powder measures, case trimmers, and virtually all cleaning tools do you use? I was thinking with a 22lr casing with a hole drilled in it(as a bushing), and I might be able to use my existing powder measure. I mostly use Lee reloading stuff

from post #41 alucard0822

I use an RCBS powder measure and they make the smaller bushing that screws into the output. It took me a while to get used to how some of the cyl. powders wouldn't always drop into the brass. I got used to tapping on the powder measure to make sure the powder fell into the casing rather than on the floor after I'd removed the casing.
You'd have to buy a smaller cleaning rod and smaller brushes, jags, etc. and they have two different threads for the .17-.20 rods so make sure that the tips that you buy have the same threads as the rod.
3/4" square cleaning patches are really tight in a 20 caliber so I sometimes buy the 1" and cut them in half.
If you get yourself a .204Ruger, the first thing that you'll notice is how much fun it is to retain your sight-picture immediately after your shot. You'll be able to see the hits yourself instead of relying on your spotter.

 

[eliphalet]

P.S. Do you want me to eat my Cabela's 8" boot or the LaCrosse rubber knee-high?

Naa , save em for using with that 204, they are a dandy caliber no doubt, just not quite as versatile but so what eh? In the right application they are no doubt superior.
Actually I have been a 5MM fan since I mowed lawns to get enough money to buy me a Sheridan Blue Streak 20 caliber/ 5mm in the early 60's, still have it BTW.
Wonder what one of those 14.5 grain pellets would do out of a 204? Probably disintegrate in mid air from the heat generated buy the velocity, ya suppose?

 

[Rokman]

Koja48, I may be in the dark here but I have never heard or read anyone slam the accutrigger. I think it helped pave the way for other manufacturers to start installing better triggers. I am not talking about a custom rifle, I am talking about a decent rifle that hard-working, average guys like myself can purchase. If I didn't have a plethora of .223's and a couple of 22-250's, I would buy this rifle in this caliber. Crazy camo be darned.

 

[koja48]

What is in the Objective end of your scope that looks like a honeycomb?

Called a "Kill Flash" & was available on the SWFA site. Minimizes glare off the glass. I bought one because there are several places I set-up for coyotes that don't allow me any other option than facing the sunrise.

 

[GunTech]

KillFlash is what Tenebraex calls it. Generically, they are called ARDs.

Re: 204, it a pretty efficient catridge for short range varming work. I ran some comparative numbers recently for another member comparing 204, 22-250 and 243. Using the best (highest BC) bullets for each, the 22-250 looks to be the superior varmint round if you want to shoot out to 500 yards. However, in order to shoot the really high BC bullets, you will need a fast twist barrel - 1:7.

see http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=300808