Long Range Shooting with the 204

Experiences and effectiveness in hunting with the .204 Ruger.
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Hotshot
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Posts: 809
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:32 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage and ar-15
Location: Rapid City
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Post by Hotshot »

No experience with a wssm, but I have equall or superior performance with wildcat cartridges. Burning all that powder creates some of the problems I want to get away from. Frequent cleaning and cooling. I look at barrel replacement as a necessary part of this sport, but it wouldn't hurt to get a little more life out of the tubes as a benefit. I would buy a 9 twist barrel if more bullets were available.
Robert harrel
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Posts: 121
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2006 6:57 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: ruger 77 m ll,cooper mod21, rem 700,savage12 fvb,savage lrpv
Location: western OK.
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Post by Robert harrel »

on the 50 gr berger they recomend a 1 in9 and today i got to shoot a few p dogs with them ( tac 20 1in 9) not much explosive effect after 350 yards just knocked them over with small hole in and med hole out but the 40 vmaxs scattered body parts every where
If not for my forgetful nature remembering things would be no problem at all.
BunGhoLeo
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Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:58 pm
Location: Taylorsville, Kentucky

Post by BunGhoLeo »

Robert harrel wrote:but the 40 vmaxs scattered body parts every where
Excelent.
Tbarencino
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Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 6:27 am
.204 Ruger Guns: ruger mark 2 m77

Re: Long Range Shooting with the 204

Post by Tbarencino »

I've had a custom built 204 made this year. Rem action. Wilson 1:8 twist barrel to be able to shoot 55 gr Berger bullets. I'm just under 3300 fps w 25.5 grs w/ h 4895. It easily shoots under 1/2" MOA. At 705 yds I can shoot under a 6" group. At 1000 it opens to about 10". BUT. For some weird reason the group hits in dif elevation spots depending on heat and humidity at a 1000. So effectively range is out to about 750 yds. I've only had it since February so I haven't killed anything w it at long range. 1 turtle at 285. Exit hole was 5". Still puts significant dents in steel at 450
Hayseed1
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Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:18 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage, Sako 85

Re: Long Range Shooting with the 204

Post by Hayseed1 »

Well could have been real lucky, but just got my first coyote with new Sako 85 in 204 with a Sightron 6-24x50. Shot was 503 yds with factory Hornady 40 gn bullet, shot was a perfect hit dog jumped and ran about 40 yds and down he went!
Tbarencino
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Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 6:27 am
.204 Ruger Guns: ruger mark 2 m77

Re: Long Range Shooting with the 204

Post by Tbarencino »

awesome. its fun to hit them at long ranges.
Fordevr
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Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:12 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka T3 Varmint Heavy Barrel SS

Re: Long Range Shooting with the 204

Post by Fordevr »

Did some playing at 590yrds. Nothing spectacular, but is fun. I expected it to be much tighter and I'm still not sure I didn't use the wrong line in the scope perhaps a couple times. Gonna try again when I have time and a calm day.
Factory T3 Heavy Barrel Varmint .204
Sightron Siii 6-24x50 FFP
Factory Federal Nosler Ballistic Tip 40gr.

5 shots total at 590yrds. Ignore the single shot I did at 500 yrds. I used 6.5 moa for that single shot.
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Fordevr
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 7:12 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka T3 Varmint Heavy Barrel SS

Re: Long Range Shooting with the 204

Post by Fordevr »

Shot 2 more 3 shot groups at 600yrds this time. Still all factory stuff. Much better results. Time to put up a new target though.
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jsh
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Posts: 123
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 5:29 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Encore, savage LRPV

Re: Long Range Shooting with the 204

Post by jsh »

Interesting the thread started eleven years ago.
Just having entered the sub calibers a couple of years ago, I am still reading, chasing and learning from others.
Good to see people shooting at distances they are talking about. All the programs and theory charts out there mean very little until you do it. What it should do and what it does are two very different things.

BC, weight and speed, in lay and terms I look at long range as a freight train, lots of momentum. Once we get it up to speed it will stay there longer. Or, as a friend of mine states about light bullets, the start off fast and slow down fast.
Good info for me gents,thanks
Jeff
204Luver
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Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2018 10:25 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: 527 Varmint; Rem. 700 VLS

Re: Long Range Shooting with the 204

Post by 204Luver »

I bought my 204 after spending a week watching my buddy shoot p-dogs with his .204 32-grain V-Maxes. We had calm shoots and we had very windy days. The 32-grainers were deadly and accurate out to 400 yds, and would work fine at 700 if you could hit there. Since dogs at 400 don't pay much attention to the shooting, I see little need to try to shoot them beyond 500. I was amazed at how effective the 32-grainers were at 500 yds. I like the 39's better for paper, but the 32's are king for dogs.
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