Thompson Center .204 vs Other Bolt actions?

[wmgeorge]

All I have ever owned for varmint hunting is CZ. I sold my wonderful CZ varmint with a nice scope as I thought I was getting out of Prairie Dog hunting. My rifle was a .223. My son wants me to keep going but with a lighter gun so I am looking at .204s. There is a used TC with extremely low round count like 10 or so with a mounted TC 4-12 something scope.
Also locally a older CZ Varmint in .204 with a ? x 25 scope, unknown round count as of right now anyway.

Are the Thompson Center bolt action rifles and the matching scope decent?

 

[Skylerbone]

The rifle should be decent, you could toss the scope in the trash though.

 

[Ks5shooter]

My TC Ventures 7m-08,.223 and 25-06 all do their part if I do my part.I agree with Skyler optics go with something else,good deals going on with Leupold VX3i series right now.

 

[wmgeorge]

So it was a TC Venture Predator Max in .204 with the TC scope. Owner was a young farmer who liked to buy "stuff" he fired enough to sight in the scope and shoot a coyote. He had a beautiful farm, and the area looked perfect for hunting. Nice guy and I purchased at a very fair price. Headed out to clean and oil, even as I am sick enough to just say in bed…. you know how it is with a new toy!!

 

[wmgeorge]

Still a sickie but headed out to mow with my zero turn John Deere. I ordered some ammo from MidwayUSA today and hope for Prairie Dogs the 40 grain is good enough to get the job done. Normally I would reload but my fingers can no longer hold those tiny bullets. I ordered this and with "Free" shipping for orders over $49…..
Fiocchi Extrema Ammunition 204 Ruger 40 Grain Hornady V-MAX Point Box of 50

 

[redneck2]

I hand load for my CZ .204. My best accuracy was with Varget and 39 Nosler BT’s

 

[Sniper66]

wmgeorge: Some random but related comments. I've shot Fiocchi Extrema ammo in .223 and found it to be excellent. I reload and the Fiocchi is the only factory ammo that comes close to my reloads. In addition to the .223, I've shot a ton of .204. The best factory .204 ammo is Hornady 32gr V-Max. Shot it thru a Ruger #1 with very good results...killed lots of prairie dogs. Then I bought a KImber 84M, which is even better. It likes Sierra 39gr Blitz Kings and the p-dogs do not. A bit slower than the 32s (3500fps vs. 4000), but equally effective for eliminating p-dogs. I would love to hear about your T/C experience. I have a chance to buy a seldom used T/C Venture .223 for $300 and am thinking about buying it for a handy truck gun....a coyote plinker when needed. Let us know how it shoots and be well soon.

 

[wmgeorge]

Ok trip to range to do the 100 Yd check was disappointing to say the least. What was perfect at 25 yds was not at 100, and I was handicapped by a malfunctioning spotting scope. Before when I shot I used the rifle scope as it was set up by previous owner, it was a little blurry but useable.
So in the mean time I adjusted the focus ring on the scope a Lot to clear up as I have close up vision issues.

BTW now using the Fiocchi Extrema ammo.

On the Lead Sled I fired 3 shot groups and could not find on the target or cardboard? I changed windage to move to the left as that was what I saw at 25 yds and did not correct. Nothing. Finally gave up and came home. At the shop just now laser bore sight shows I should have at least been on the cardboard.

My ammo before was Hornaday 204 40gr Vmax varmint ammo the $22 for 20 stuff, the ammo I used yesterday was the Fiocchi.


Was my adjustment of the focus ring a reason and the scope needs to be re-sighted in or was it the change from the hotter ammo that screwed things up.


Granted if I had the range to myself (so I could have inspected my target up close ) or my spotting scope worked I might not be here asking this.