Is anyone shooting a .204 Ruger?

[bellyup039]

This is my first "RIFLE" post. so I really didn't look too deep on the rifle pages.

Is anyone here shooting the new .204 Ruger?

A good friend of mine just bought a Browing 204 with a Nikon 3.5-14 scope.

First shot 50 yds. 4 in low 4 inches to the left.
20 clicks right. then it was
4 in low 2 inches left.
20 more right, and 20 clicks up. now it's down 2 inches.

30 more up and it's one inch high dead center.
VERY impressive i would say. Props to the people at Nikon and Browning.

so we moved to 100 yds 200 yds and 300 yds.
@ 100 1/2 in high dead center.
@ 200 1/2 in low dead center
@ 300 about 4 inch group, near center. we had some wind, and walking back and forth from 50, 50, 100 , 100, 100, 200, 200 then to 300 got our heart rates up a bit. and it was a touch windy from behind us to down range.

all in all. WICKED round! the last 3 that I shot from a box of 20 were all touching at 100 yds dead center 1 inch high.

WOO HOOO! I think i have to save up and get me one of these.

Now my question again. Has anyone else had similar results? good or bad are welcome. Thanks.

 

[cal74]

Bought a Ruger Hawkeye (NIB) really cheap about a year ago. Put a Leupold VX-II 4-12 on it and than it sat in the safe. Finally this fall I took it out, bore sighted it and first shot was about 8" low/right

Adjusted the scope and it was about an 1" high at 100 yards. Shot a few more times, dime sized group. Repeated it a few more times, VERY HAPPY.

No work, other than honing the trigger/sear and putting in a lighter spring.

 

[bellyup039]

Nice. I just found another post on the 204. It looked like all good results.

The salesman at Cabella's seemed to know his guns. And he said that if we shoot about 5000 rounds a season, that we might burn the barrell due to the 4800 fps.

Even after the 20 rounds that we shot at the range. the barrell was cooler to the touch than just 3 rounds out of my .270.

I think it can handle shooting much more than 5000 rounds.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

^ He may know some guns, but obviously not the .204. This round does not even approach 4800 fps, and the throat will most likely take more abuse than the bbl.

The 32 grainer is listed at 4225, a far cry from 4800fps.

 

[bellyup039]

I thought that sounded too high. thanks.

 

[dubbleA]

The 204 is a neat little round but in no way reaches 4800fps with any bullet. I have shot a few factory Hornady 40 and 32 gr loads and in my rifle and they didnt clome close to the advertised velocity on the box. I have settled down to using handloaded 32 gr Sierra BK's ,Hornady 40gr VM's and Varget. My CZ 527 Kevlar Varmint topped with a Swarovski 6x18 and it shoots them well.


40gr Hornady/Varget/100yds



32gr Sierra/Varget/100yds

 

[Whitman31]

The 204 is a great round. I built my AR-15 in 204 and have been extremely happy with it. It has killed a very large number of p-dogs. Sorry, can't resist posting pics...

Custom AR-15 chambered in 204 Ruger. 24" Shilen Barrel and bolt, Hogue furniture, Harris pod, ACE skeleton stock, Nikon Monarch 6.5-20x40.


5 shot group from bench at 100yds.

 

[Coltdriver]

I had a .204 barrel on an Encore. First time out and in very few rounds going from 50 to 100 to 200 to 300 yards and I was hitting shotgun shells at 300 yards.

The thing is a laser beam right out to 300 yards. I used Hornady 32 grain factory ammo. I was never able to reload a duplicate of the ballistics of the Hornady factory ammo but I could get close.

Great round!

 

[rangerruck]

I personally have yet to hear of anyone, who got a non accurate 204, and with a few tweeks to the trigger, maybe full float the bbl, maybe a pressure pad up front, the groups shrink even smaller.
Total hammer on small game out to 400 yds.
Best to handload it though, if you are thinking about it.
You can get the 35 grainers up to 4000 fps.

 

[Hesenwine]

Got a H&R Ultra last spring & shoot Berger 40 gr. moly's over BLC-2 or Varget.

At the range one day, a guy asked me if it could hit a half of a broken clay pigeon on the hill behind the 200 yd. mark.

Dusted it. Just shooting off a Harris bipod, no rear support other than my shoulder. It shoots better than I can shoot it.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Sorry, can't resist posting pics...

Yeah, we HATE that....

Awesome stuff, whitman and dubbleA.

 

[usmc1371]

I got my self a Les Baer super varmint in .204 a couple years ago and I have been nothing but happy with it. It really likes the factory hornady 32 grain Vmax and will shoot the factory stated .5 moa every time I do my part. Cool little round that will do way more damage to sage rats and jack rabbits than its size lets on.

 

[bellyup039]

Wow, thanks for all the replies.

Sounds like i need to save some cash and get me one.

Next question.

Has anyone shot the factory ammo threw a cronograph?

Just wondering what the REAL speed is, that's all.

Here is why I ask; I was thinking of getting a 22-250 instead of the .204, but since i am hearing good things here, and from my results at the range with my buddies gun, I am not sure. Maybee we should both, have .204's and share the reloading results, efforts.

Unfortunatly I dont have a crony.
\
NICE PICS TOO! SWEET GROUP.

 

[cornman]

What rifle r u getting?

 

[bellyup039]

my buddie has a Browning bolt action. I am still not sure.

the Browing is sweet. But I dont want to be a copy cat. even though I do.