My New rifle and new member

[Shaky Hands]

Hello all. I stumbled on this forum and it seemed to have a wealth of knowledge so I joined. I always wanted a 204 Ruger since they come out years ago. Well finally said the heck with it and bought one. She is a pretty young thing. I have a Bushnell Elite 4500 4-16X50 scope on it. She is a great shooting rifle.
I look forward to learning from you all and sharing what I know.

[Bill K]

Welcome to the site. Will be looking forward to comments and photo's we love photo's of views, weapons and critters taken.

[Rick in Oregon]

Welcome, Shaky!

I'm sure that Ruger will serve you well. Are you shooting factory, or are you a handloader? If you're a handloader, you've got a treasure trove of experience and information available here in past posts.

Do you shoot paper or hair? Where are you located?

[Shaky Hands]

Welcome, Shaky!

I'm sure that Ruger will serve you well. Are you shooting factory, or are you a handloader? If you're a handloader, you've got a treasure trove of experience and information available here in past posts.

Do you shoot paper or hair? Where are you located?

Rick in Oregon thank you.
I Hope you are right on the Ruger serving me well my first few rounds I was very impressed. I normally start with factory since I need the brass to start reloading. I even loaded some up today using the Hornady 40 grain Vmax over CFE 223 and BL C 2 hoping to shoot tomorrow with my Dad (he is 82 and still loves to shoot) weather permitting. I am located in the southern tier of NY. My home is about 1 mile from the Pennsylvania boarder. I have noticed the amount of knowledge that this forum has especially the post "favorite loads" I plan on looking for some 39 grain Blitz kings to try next.

I mainly shoot paper but enjoy deer hunting in the fall and the occasional varmint around the house. I do look forward to learning more about this round and sharing what I know.

Shaky

[Shaky Hands]

Welcome, Shaky!

I'm sure that Ruger will serve you well. Are you shooting factory, or are you a handloader? If you're a handloader, you've got a treasure trove of experience and information available here in past posts.

Do you shoot paper or hair? Where are you located?

Rick in Oregon
I should add I am a Air Force vet served 30 years as an aircraft maintainer. Loved the service. hated the BS.

[Rick in Oregon]

Shaky, good to have another experienced veteran here with us. You and I are not the only vets here, many are registered, many lurk.

I see you intend to shoot the 40gr V-Max. I'm sure by now you've done some reading here and elsewhere, and have learned that the 40gr bullets are at the ragged edge of being stabilized in the standard 204 factory twist of 12/1. For that reason, you may want to consider using the excellent Sierra 39gr BK for your "heavy bullet" load. It's available as a component, and I know of at least two factory ammunition offerings should you choose to try that out.

I've got four 204R rifles used exclusively for varmints here; ground squirrels, rock chucks, and PD's when I choose to venture to MT, SD, or WY during the summer months. My custom M700 build uses a 11T Pac-Nor Super Match barrel with minimum freebore custom chamber, and shoots any of the 40gr bullets very well, but it is the only rifle in 204 that will shoot the 40's. I mention this to avoid the potential frustration trying to shoot 40gr bullets in your Ruger with the 12 twist barrel.

I spend many days in the "rat patch" here (slang for our ground squirrels, or 'sage rat') during the springtime, and have found that for 90% of the shooting we do, the 32gr bullets are best suited for the task. I change to shooting the 39gr SBK for longer range (past 400) and for those windy days for less wind deflection. The performance of the 32's is nothing short of amazing, the terminal effect is what I'll term "graphic", and very rewarding.

And as you intend to handload later with your fired brass from factory loads, I'll mention that the factory/SAAMI 204R chamber has a very long freebore to attain the advertised factory velocity. This chamber leade runs in the neighborhood of .100"....that's huge in comparison to regular varmint rifle chamber dimensions. So if you're used to reaching the lands, or being close to the rifling origin, keep in mind you will not be able to come anywhere near the lands with a factory rifle chamber. This long freebore is how Hornady was/is able to achieve the 4,000+ advertised velocity for this cartridge, the same way Weatherby did it in the early 50's.

Just for fun, some pics from the field here shooting my 204's....
My Cooper MTV 204 on the bench for rats in eastern OR recently:



A target shot after installing a 10oz Jard trigger during some gusty wind conditions:



My Sako M75 Varmint out for rats shooting across a small lake in N. CA shooting the 39gr SBK:



The aforementioned M700 11 twist on the bench with Sierra 39 SBK's showing their green-tips in my bench block:



So we're looking forward to seeing your Ruger 204 in the field, as we're all a 'visually oriented' group here, and gun porn is highly encouraged.

[Bill K]

Those small critters and medium sized one's are great sport. Just adding a couple more photos to the thread.

102_5291.JPG (1.14 MiB) Viewed 368 times

Howa 20 SCC and CZ 527 17 Fire ball.jpg (6.07 KiB) Viewed 368 times

[Bill K]

Well the nights snow and still coming down, so it is going to add some days to my getting out for any small critters. Anyone want so good cardio along with me Just came in from clearing drive and part of street.

000_0003.JPG (1.23 MiB) Viewed 330 times

000_0006 - Copy.JPG (1.23 MiB) Viewed 330 times

[Bill K]

Couple more for fun.

000_0005 - Copy (2).JPG (1.3 MiB) Viewed 326 times

000_0007 - Copy.JPG (1.28 MiB) Viewed 326 times

[Shaky Hands]

Shaky, good to have another experienced veteran here with us. You and I are not the only vets here, many are registered, many lurk.

I see you intend to shoot the 40gr V-Max. I'm sure by now you've done some reading here and elsewhere, and have learned that the 40gr bullets are at the ragged edge of being stabilized in the standard 204 factory twist of 12/1. For that reason, you may want to consider using the excellent Sierra 39gr BK for your "heavy bullet" load. It's available as a component, and I know of at least two factory ammunition offerings should you choose to try that out.

I've got four 204R rifles used exclusively for varmints here; ground squirrels, rock chucks, and PD's when I choose to venture to MT, SD, or WY during the summer months. My custom M700 build uses a 11T Pac-Nor Super Match barrel with minimum freebore custom chamber, and shoots any of the 40gr bullets very well, but it is the only rifle in 204 that will shoot the 40's. I mention this to avoid the potential frustration trying to shoot 40gr bullets in your Ruger with the 12 twist barrel.

I spend many days in the "rat patch" here (slang for our ground squirrels, or 'sage rat') during the springtime, and have found that for 90% of the shooting we do, the 32gr bullets are best suited for the task. I change to shooting the 39gr SBK for longer range (past 400) and for those windy days for less wind deflection. The performance of the 32's is nothing short of amazing, the terminal effect is what I'll term "graphic", and very rewarding.

And as you intend to handload later with your fired brass from factory loads, I'll mention that the factory/SAAMI 204R chamber has a very long freebore to attain the advertised factory velocity. This chamber leade runs in the neighborhood of .100"....that's huge in comparison to regular varmint rifle chamber dimensions. So if you're used to reaching the lands, or being close to the rifling origin, keep in mind you will not be able to come anywhere near the lands with a factory rifle chamber. This long freebore is how Hornady was/is able to achieve the 4,000+ advertised velocity for this cartridge, the same way Weatherby did it in the early 50's.

Just for fun, some pics from the field here shooting my 204's....
My Cooper MTV 204 on the bench for rats in eastern OR recently:



A target shot after installing a 10oz Jard trigger during some gusty wind conditions:



My Sako M75 Varmint out for rats shooting across a small lake in N. CA shooting the 39gr SBK:



The aforementioned M700 11 twist on the bench with Sierra 39 SBK's showing their green-tips in my bench block:



So we're looking forward to seeing your Ruger 204 in the field, as we're all a 'visually oriented' group here, and gun porn is highly encouraged.

Rick
I have to laugh, after receiving the 40 gr bullets I decided to try the 39 gr as well and today found two boxes locally. So I will be trying them this week. I need to get some new brass, the hornady brass I found was crap and out of 25 shots 5 cases ended up having cracks. Which is sad it was new brass on its first load. Hornady wasn't much help either so will look for some Nosler. Do you have a favorite brass you shoot? I have never figured out the whole bullet off the lands thing, I followed my Dads lead and just load to the COAL that the books say and have good luck. I am guessing the bullet off the lands you need a comparator to measure the bore and seat bullet from that then you use the ogive again I never used that measure. I am always up to learning.
I added a few pics of my set up when I sighted in the rile. I am lucky to have a 100,200 yard range in my back yard.

[Bill K]

Pretty decent set up you have there and looks like a nice private range. Nosler brass is pretty darn good and you can get some decent prices on it at Nosler's site (Shooters Pro Shop).

[Shaky Hands]

Pretty decent set up you have there and looks like a nice private range. Nosler brass is pretty darn good and you can get some decent prices on it at Nosler's site (Shooters Pro Shop).

Bill K
Thanks, i'm pretty proud of my homestead. Thanks for the information on Noslers site. I will take a look.

[jsh]

That Fiocchi ammo was some of the best factory ammo I ever shot, price was right back then too.
Buddy bought a CZ 204 and that is what he shot. He says he struggles to get hand loads to shoot as good.

[Shaky Hands]

That Fiocchi ammo was some of the best factory ammo I ever shot, price was right back then too.
Buddy bought a CZ 204 and that is what he shot. He says he struggles to get hand loads to shoot as good.

JSH I have to agree, i had rifle sighted in on the 3rd group. Impressed with the set up.

[Rick in Oregon]

Shaky, for proven powders in the 204, my suggestions are:
H335
RL-10X
Benchmark
CFE BLK

From my own personal experience and pet loads listed here, these are the most popular powders in this caliber for good speed and accuracy, accuracy being the first priority. There are others of course that may perform well in a particular rifle, but these have proven themselves over the time the cartridge has been in existence.