What range to zero my .204?

General discussion and information about the .204 Ruger.
User avatar
Bodei
Senior Member
Posts: 442
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:23 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Howa Mod 1500 24" BBL .204R; Cooper M21 20 VT; CZ 527 17HH
Location: Reno, NV
Contact:

What range to zero my .204?

Post by Bodei »

Just wondering what distance you are zeroing your rifles for? I am thinking about maximizing my point blank range for ground squirrels. Most shots are taken under 200 yards, so should I just stick with a 100 yard zero? If I zero at say, 50 yards that would give me a corresponding zero somewhere past 200. How do you squirrel shooters do it?
Image
K = ½mv2
User avatar
Keith in Ga
Senior Member
Posts: 279
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:39 pm
Location: north Ga

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by Keith in Ga »

I have my pd rifles sighted in for 200 yds. I use Leupold VH reticles on two of them, and I don't twist knobs. Works for me.
ImageImage
broper
Senior Member
Posts: 321
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:12 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington 700 sps
Location: Parma, Idaho

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by broper »

I've got mine sighted in 1" high at 100 yds. I've shot ground squirrels at 20 yds. and rockchucks at 300 yds. with it sighted that way. Don't need to worry about hold over.
jrwoitalla
Senior Member
Posts: 129
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:07 am
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ 527 Varmint

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by jrwoitalla »

I've got mine at just a smidge over @100yds which is then just half a smidge under @200yds. It works perfectly for shootin grounded squirrels, but makes em fly real goodly.
The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason- Benjamin Franklin
User avatar
RAMOS
Senior Member
Posts: 765
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:30 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage Model 12 FLV, Cooper M21
Location: Sherman County, Oregon

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by RAMOS »

200 yards seems to work well with the flat shooting 204R, at least for me.
User avatar
bow shot
Senior Member
Posts: 778
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:04 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Rock River Arms AR-15 Varminter
Location: Central NY: infested with liberal wack-jobs and their damage

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by bow shot »

I'm likely NOt the model to follow... I have mine bulled @50y which puts me about 2" up @100y, 3.5" up @200y, and back to the bull @300y. But I'm shooting at woodchucks which are pretty big (12-18" when standing), so I just put the dot on the center and squeeze.

Image

Then this happens, which makes me feel great:
Image
User avatar
Sidewinderwa
Senior Member
Posts: 648
Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:39 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savages
Location: Washington state

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by Sidewinderwa »

I sight my 204s in at 200 yards as they are about 3/4 inch high at 100 yards and about 3.3 inches low at 300 yards (aim at head) and you are right on by aiming right on them. If 200 yards is a long shot for you then the 100 yard zero would probably be best for you and just aim straight on all the time.
Image
Please, no Sidewinder today!
Jim White
Moderator
Posts: 1470
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ-527, Remington 700 VLTHSS, Cooper Model 21, Remington 40x

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by Jim White »

200 yards for me.

Jim
User avatar
Rick in Oregon
Moderator
Posts: 5188
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Sako 75V, Cooper MTV, Kimber 84M, Cust M700 11 Twist
Location: High Desert of Central Oregon
Contact:

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by Rick in Oregon »

If you don't like to use turret knobs for exact zero at any range, just zero that 204R at 100 yards to be 1.5" high....you'll be able to slay any squirrel or PD out to just shy of 300 yards without much holdover, if any.
Semper Fortis
Rick in Oregon
NRA Life/OHA/VHA/VVA

Oregon, East of the Cascades - Where Common Sense Still Prevails

Image
rafter01
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:12 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper M21, Montana Varminter

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by rafter01 »

Bodei wrote:Just wondering what distance you are zeroing your rifles for? I am thinking about maximizing my point blank range for ground squirrels. Most shots are taken under 200 yards, so should I just stick with a 100 yard zero? If I zero at say, 50 yards that would give me a corresponding zero somewhere past 200. How do you squirrel shooters do it?
I sight my. .204 in 1 1/8" high at 100 yards. This puts my about 1 1/8" high at 200, and right on at about 270 yards. I'm shooting 26.5 gr. of Reloader 10X with a 39 gr. Sierra bullet from my 26" barrel from my Cooper M21. It clocks 3876 fps. out the barrel.
Bill K
Senior Member
Posts: 2627
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:00 am
.204 Ruger Guns: also now, a Savage switch bull barrel in 204R. 23 inch SS
Location: Lake Forest, Ca.

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by Bill K »

About 1.5 high at 100yrds. Hold dead center to about 300 and you will get a hit.. Works for me, as long as I do my part and hold steady. Especially with 32 grainers. Bill K
User avatar
Glen
Moderator
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2005 9:22 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Rem700ADL
Location: New Philadelphia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by Glen »

I like the "Bill K Method". :wink:
Friends Are Friends By Nature.

RIP Russ,Blaine, & Darrell!!

I don't like repeat offenders. I like DEAD offenders!!
Ted Nugent


Isn't there a minimum age for grampas??
^^^^^^
Audrey Renae told me "No there isn't"!!

Glen
KiwiMonkey
New Member
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:40 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage 12 VLP
Location: New Zealand

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by KiwiMonkey »

+1 to what they said. I think I'm 1.2" high at 100, anywhere in that ballpark works fine.
Savage 12-VLP .204
Savage MkIIF(B)SS .22LR
Ruger Hawkeye .308
User avatar
Bodei
Senior Member
Posts: 442
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:23 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Howa Mod 1500 24" BBL .204R; Cooper M21 20 VT; CZ 527 17HH
Location: Reno, NV
Contact:

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by Bodei »

Thanks for the advice. 300 yards is beyond what I need for ground squirrels, generally. There are too many targets closer. But I want to get some longer range shooting in without wasting ammo.
Image
K = ½mv2
tpcollins
Senior Member
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:05 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka T3 Lite

Re: What range to zero my .204?

Post by tpcollins »

Bill K wrote:About 1.5 high at 100yrds. Hold dead center to about 300 and you will get a hit.. Works for me, as long as I do my part and hold steady. Especially with 32 grainers. Bill K

Mine came out to 1.6" high at 100 yards, peaks to 2.1" at 150 yards, and is about a 1/4" high at 250. I didn't intend this, it's jusy how it worked out based on the initial 100 yards group which looked good.
Post Reply