Tell us about yourself...

General discussion and information about the .204 Ruger.
Bill K
Senior Member
Posts: 2607
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: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Bill K »

Well welcome Hogan.. You will really enjoy your 204 R. Various loads are shown in the 204 R load date and also on the Hodgdon Data site.. A very good powder to work with in your rifle/cartridge is CFE 223 along with the 32 grain Nosler, Hornady tipped bullets especially. For a lot of general varmint shooting, the 34 grain Midsouth varmint nitemares as a very good buy and will allow you plenty of shooting, with some lower bullet cost. Looking forward to you posting results on your find. Bill K
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ShortMagPirate
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:25 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: None yet

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by ShortMagPirate »

Hello,
Another new guy. Long time Ruger fan and shooter, but I've never owned a Varmint rifle of any caliber. Looking to pick up my first, a Savage in .204 Ruger.
Looking forward to learning as much as can about shooting little teeny bullets at little teeny critters!
Bill K
Senior Member
Posts: 2607
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: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Bill K »

Welcome ShortMagprirate first off. You will enjoy the small calibers. The 204R will get you started just fine. However, in time you must add either/or both a 17 and another 20 cal. i.e. the 20 VT or SCC. A couple of them with the 204R are just all in order, it seems. Looking forward to your posts and photos of the firearms and pictures of some varmint/critter hits. Bill K
Gamikatsu
New Member
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:49 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ-527 Varming Kevlar/HS

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Gamikatsu »

Hello!

My Name Is Edward. I'm just North west of Pittsburgh, single father of two girls (full custody). I am a Lifelong shooter, hunter, AVID fisherman, and tournament Pro Staff Catfisherman for my local Bait Shop. We fish for Trophy class Flathead catfish in the Ohio River and surrounding tributaries. As far as shooting experience, I have been shooting BB guns since i was 5, Hunting since i was about 12, and I have always been a precision shooter. I was into archery, but a shoulder injury keeps me from doing such. I currently reload, and absolutly LOVE it. I have a Forster Coax press, RCBS scale and case trimmer. I use Forster Ultra Micrometer bullet seating die, and hornady full length die on .30-06. I will very soon be loading for the .204. I have in the past loaded for .223, .22-250, .243, 7mm mag, .30-06, and .300 WM. We will see what the future holds! I am really looking at getting a Rem 700 Sendero in 7mm mag, my LGS has a 1990's era Sendero, in GREAT condition, and i want to use that to get into 1000 yard shooting.

Well, Thats about it for now. Thanks!
Jim White
Moderator
Posts: 1467
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ-527, Remington 700 VLTHSS, Cooper Model 21, Remington 40x

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Jim White »

It sounds like you have a wealth of experience reloading and I'll be looking forwarding to reading about it. There is a wealth of help and knowledge here especially for the 204 but others as well.

Welcome,

Jim
VANAMAL
New Member
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:47 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper montana Varminter

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by VANAMAL »

Thanks for the add and all the wonderfull info. Im a gun nut and ill be buying my first .204 soon. Still a little confused with models and scopes but enjoy learning all i can. I have a cz 452 in 17 hmr.3-4 lever action rifles, several shotguns, 4 1911s in 45 acp,and some other stuff. Im thinking rem 700 sps,cz 527,savage 12,or tikka t3 varmint for my first
Jim White
Moderator
Posts: 1467
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ-527, Remington 700 VLTHSS, Cooper Model 21, Remington 40x

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Jim White »

Those that have the ones you mentioned rave about them so you probably won't go wrong with any of them...Jim
fuzznose
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:45 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage 11 XP Trophy Hunter, Left Handed

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by fuzznose »

Name is Joe. I picked up my Savage left-handed Model 11 XP Trophy Hunter Package in .204 Ruger this morning. Have not yet taken it to the range as it needed to be cleaned. However, first thing I did was ask questions about inserting and removing the bolt, since this is my first bolt gun. When I got home, I pulled out the manual and read over that. The manual describes 3 different release mechanisms - bottom release, hinge-bottom, and side release. I'm guessing that since the box magazine drops from the bottom, obviously a bottom release. This will be primarily a benchrest gun, as I don't hunt. It came with a Nikon scope already attached, as well. I probably won't be at the range before the next few days, as it's a busy time right now. You'd think when you were retired, you'd have all the time in the world, but my weeks are pretty full.
Last edited by fuzznose on Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jsh
Senior Member
Posts: 123
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 5:29 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Encore, savage LRPV

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by jsh »

Hello folks.
I have lurked around here a bit tinkering with a MGM 204 encore barrel. It is hardly broken in, about 100 rounds through it now. I doubt there will be another hundred put through it. I got the bug and got it bad. Got a new unfired take off for my LRPV. Before I got it swapped out I ran across a lightly used 204 barrel for another savage, small shank. It was a 223 and had not made me happy.
The Encore barrel I acquired from an older gent that had health issue and he went back to his 17 Hornet. He had another bolt gun that was chambered in 204 as well. He gave me a bunch of 204 brass and a pile of 17HH brass, around 1500 between the two, he doesn't reload so it was all once fired.
I finished the break in on the Encore barrel and it kind of sat.
I had been playing an informal 22rf benchrest game for a couple of years. Heavy, light heavy and sporter classes. I had plenty of ammo but other guys didn't, so that dried up. I just couldn't seem to be happy shooting match grade 22rf ammo at paper for what replacement cost was. So I kept a few 22rf rifles and swapped the rest off.
That was the beginning of my jump into sub calibers for the most part. Traded two Winchesters for a CZ 527 in 17 hornet. Then swapped into a 22 hornet as well. That in turn brought me back into the 204.
I still shoot IHMSA, but not near as much as I used too. Still have all the "tools" for that.
Tinkered with some long range center fire, another savage,308 F/TR. F class is really taking off, even around here.
Also shoot a bit of informal trap.
Play the bullseye game as well.
I find that thing called a job interfears with my hobbies.
I load or have loaded for right around a hundred different cartridges at some time or another.
I am also a bullet caster.
I have a bad weakness for revolvers.
Somone once said only accurate rifles are interesting. I would have to agree. But I am a sucker for a deal,along with giving a mistreated diamond in the rough a good honest home. Who in their right mind would buy a Remington 788, rebarreled and single fed in 444 Marlin?
Before you ask, yes I did a bit of research and it left the factory as a 44 mag in it original form.
Another oddity, was the 8mm-06 and a 30 Luft built on commercial Mauser actions. Lol,and before that was a Navy arms Enfield in 45-70.
What can I say, I don't have any adult supervision.
Jeff
bloc
New Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:50 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage FCV

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by bloc »

Hi! My name is Brian and my on-screen identifier is bloc.

I've been shooting for over 60 years (pistols, revolvers, shotguns and a variety of CF and RF rifles). I'm a reloader and have been since I was 10. My first CF rifle was a .32-40 Win, my second a bastardized/butchered Mod. 98 8mm Mauser. I did not reload for the .32-40, but self-taught myself to load the 8mm with the old Lyman 310 tong tool and an old Pacific scale.

Since retiring, my passion has become shooting ground squirrels and my GS rifles include of a couple of RFs (.22 CZ and .17 HMR Anschutz . . . the latter being a surprise gift from my bride on the occasion of our 50th anniversary), a couple of .223s (Stevens 200 with Boyds stock and Rifle Basix trigger and a Savage LRPV) a .225 Win (yes, a .225, with a 1:14 twist) and a .243 Savage LRP.

Which brings me to my new Savage .204 FCV. I've mounted a Nightforce SHV 5-20 scope on it and I'm presently working up loads for it. So far, it hates 32 grain VMax and BTs, but loves 35 Bergers and 39 SBKs.

Can't wait for next spring and those pesky ground squirrels!
Jim White
Moderator
Posts: 1467
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ-527, Remington 700 VLTHSS, Cooper Model 21, Remington 40x

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Jim White »

Pardoner, you're one of the first that I've heard that your 204 didn't like 32 grain pills. Mine also like the 35 Berger & the 39 SBK.

Jim
Bill K
Senior Member
Posts: 2607
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: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Bill K »

Had the same thought on the 32 grain bullets. Never heard of a 204 or any 20 caliber, that did not like the 32 & 39 grain bullets. And as you, Jim, stated the 35 grain Berger. With the right powder combo, all those will usually shoot very nice groups. Wonder how many loads combinations were tried, before giving up on the 32 grain. Bill K
bloc
New Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:50 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage FCV

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by bloc »

Good question Bill. I fully expected the VMax to shoot well, and was disappointed. The 40 grain VMax is great in every one of my .22 CF rifles.

Below are (some of) my records, and I now notice I only have one in which I used the Nosler BT. I'll need to revisit that. (It pays to mine the records we so carefully keep . . .).

32 VMax 28 H4895 (3) shots 0.43 in Too Hot
32 VMax 27.2 Benchmark 5 shots 1.40 in
32 VMax 22.5 IMR 4198 5 shots 1.11 in
32 NosBT 23.2 LT-32 5 shots 1.05 in
32 VMax 23.2 LT-32 5 shots 1.07 in
32 VMax 27.5 H4895 5 shots 1.48 in
32 VMax 27.5 H4895 5 shots 1.47 in

35 Berger 22.2 IMR 4198 5 shots 0.60 in
35 Berger 24.4 Benchmark 5 shots 0.70 in
35 Berger 28.5 Varget 5 shots 1.31 in
35 Berger 22.0 IMR 4198 5 shots 0.34 in

So now I'll need to load some of those NBTs!

Thanks.

Brian
Bill K
Senior Member
Posts: 2607
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: Tell us about yourself...

Post by Bill K »

Brian. Just out of curiosity what twist is your rifle ? Could it be a 1/14 by chance. I have gone to a 1/11 in all my 20's, and it just seems that works fine with 32-39 grainers. Bill K
bloc
New Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:50 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage FCV

Re: Tell us about yourself...

Post by bloc »

It's a 12 twist and it shoots the 39 Sierra BK just fine. In my rifle, and after limited trials, it's about as accurate as the 35 Berger.

After your question alerted me to the fact that I hadn't given the 32 Nosler BT much of a shot (pun intended), I've just finished loading a batch of NBTs (4 loads, 5 rounds each).

In passing . . . I was once surprised by a slow twist (14) when I finally got around to measuring the twist in my .225 Win. That explained why my rifle wouldn't shoot longish 55 grain bullets or any bullets heavier than 55 grains. Live and learn.
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