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.
Just adding a couple more photos to the thread.