.204 RUger
- Thread starter Gatehouse
- Start date
Got one in a Savage 12 FV, am assembling reloading components--will try as weather permits. So far I like what I have read about it. I know a couple of guys who were using it this last summer for gophers and crows--they liked it a lot--in their opinion it doesn't give up much to the 22-250 in the field.
Would be intersted in hearing of other's results with it also.
44Bore
Would be intersted in hearing of other's results with it also.
44Bore
It has been rumored that the .204 Ruger is based on a .223 Remington (5.56mm) case. . The .204 has a longer overall case length, and has more powder capacity than does the .223 case. The .204 case is closer to the .222 Remington Magnum case specifications.
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This is a true .20 cal bullet that delivers astonishing velocity.... and the dope is that the barrels last for ever! The fact that it performs as well as a 22-250 certainly makes it a no brainer for the high round count varmint shooters.
I would love to get one as a dedicated gopher getter... maybe a Super Varmint T-3
I would love to get one as a dedicated gopher getter... maybe a Super Varmint T-3
From what I remember, you are correct Huntsman; it is based around the 222 RM case. I have talked to a couple of conservative guys that have gone with a wildcat based around the 223 case; if this round does not sell 222 RM is not the easiest thing to find to form into 204 Ruger brass.
I can confirm the round is most definitly bases on the 222 mag case. Lots of the early adopters were forming cases. I bough mine last year and just this month I finally saw some brass for sale in Canada (I got mine off of e-bay) head have been relativily easy to come by and with Nosler entering the 20 cal market it will just get better.
Short of cheap factory ammo (forget deer hunting lets not go there) there is no reason to ever buy a 223 again, I not even sure I see a reason to buy a 22-250. But that is as much that if I was going to make a long range varminter 400 + it would be 6mm anyway.
www.rugerhunting.com has lots of info
Short of cheap factory ammo (forget deer hunting lets not go there) there is no reason to ever buy a 223 again, I not even sure I see a reason to buy a 22-250. But that is as much that if I was going to make a long range varminter 400 + it would be 6mm anyway.
www.rugerhunting.com has lots of info
The .204 uses a .20 cal bullet... the 32 grain offering has a Ballistic Coefficient of 0.192. Combined this with the efficient case design and better powder and you have a 4000+ fps varmint rifle.
But to suggest it can replace the .223 or 22-250 is questionable to say the least. The .22 cal bullets offered for the .223's have better ballistic coefficients right across the board. That and the fact that you can shoot heavier bullets with the .22 centerfires (up to 75 grain) make the .223/22-250 a better choice for many applications... like wolves and coyotes at longer ranges.
204 RUGER 40 GR V-MAX 83206
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
3900/1351 3482/1077 3103/855 2755/674 2433/526 2133/404
Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
-1.5 0.7 0.00 -4.3 -13.2 -28.1
204 RUGER 32 GR V-MAX 83204
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
4225/1268 3645/944 3137/699 2683/512 2272/367 1899/256
Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
-1.5 0.6 0.00 -4.1 -13.1 -29.0
But to suggest it can replace the .223 or 22-250 is questionable to say the least. The .22 cal bullets offered for the .223's have better ballistic coefficients right across the board. That and the fact that you can shoot heavier bullets with the .22 centerfires (up to 75 grain) make the .223/22-250 a better choice for many applications... like wolves and coyotes at longer ranges.
204 RUGER 40 GR V-MAX 83206
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
3900/1351 3482/1077 3103/855 2755/674 2433/526 2133/404
Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
-1.5 0.7 0.00 -4.3 -13.2 -28.1
204 RUGER 32 GR V-MAX 83204
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
4225/1268 3645/944 3137/699 2683/512 2272/367 1899/256
Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
-1.5 0.6 0.00 -4.1 -13.1 -29.0
BIGREDD
The 40 grain hornady 20 cal has a BC of .275 the 22 cals don't surpass that until the mid to high 60's (68 in the hornady). So trajectory wise it is right there with 22-250 and burning 75% of the powder.
Your right though I would not go after a wolf with a 204 but then I would not with 223 or 22-250. I not even sure it is legal here in Alberta i belive a wolf is considered biggame so 243 or bigger is required.
The 40 grain hornady 20 cal has a BC of .275 the 22 cals don't surpass that until the mid to high 60's (68 in the hornady). So trajectory wise it is right there with 22-250 and burning 75% of the powder.
Your right though I would not go after a wolf with a 204 but then I would not with 223 or 22-250. I not even sure it is legal here in Alberta i belive a wolf is considered biggame so 243 or bigger is required.
Well, the 22 cal 55 Grain Ballistic Tip has a BC of .267, and can be started at close to 3900 in the 220 Swift. It will outperform that 40 grain 20 cal Hornady easily, especially at 300+ yards. More energy and flatter also. I'm not knocking the 204, simply stating it is not really tuning any new unexplored ground. As for barrel life, I would expect it to be somewhat shorter than a 223 Rem and a bit longer than a 22-250, nothing more. Regards, Eagleye.
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Barrel life is determined by more than speed, Though speed is a factor barrel life is more greatly effected buy capacity to bore ratio and just plain old how much powder you burn. I read a quote from a Hornady tester barrels on bottle neck cartridges would burn out after X pounds of powder and if you burned less powder per round you shot more rounds before burn out.
The guns are too new to know actual barrel life reliably it's anticipated to be similar (though less than, probably due to speed and capacity to bore ratio) 223 rem. So that could mean a couple of years or a couple of life times depending on how much you shoot in a year
The guns are too new to know actual barrel life reliably it's anticipated to be similar (though less than, probably due to speed and capacity to bore ratio) 223 rem. So that could mean a couple of years or a couple of life times depending on how much you shoot in a year
eagleeye "BC of .267, and can be started at close to 3900 in the 220 Swift. It will outperform that 40 grain 20 cal Hornady easily,"
Thats a just barely out performs according to the Hodgdon data 204 will do 3700ish on about 28 grains of powder the 220 is doing 3800ish on about 44 grains of powder.
So it is a horse race to weather the differnce in velocity or the difference in BC will win.
BTW I wonder what the new 40 grain from nosler will be able to do.
Thats a just barely out performs according to the Hodgdon data 204 will do 3700ish on about 28 grains of powder the 220 is doing 3800ish on about 44 grains of powder.
So it is a horse race to weather the differnce in velocity or the difference in BC will win.
BTW I wonder what the new 40 grain from nosler will be able to do.
death-junky
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
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ive herd the 204 shoots at faster then 4000 fps
that would be good for those long range shots lol
talk to ya all later
Riley
that would be good for those long range shots lol
talk to ya all later
Riley
Had my Savage 12 FV (accutrigger) out for a few shots on the 24th. Barrel is not yet broken in--factory 40 grain loads were averaging .75" groups, break-in loads with 32 gr A-max and 40 gr A-max were going under 1" (5-shot groups). I am impressed with the rifle and the round--can hardly wait to see how it responds to load development.
Merry Xmas, 44Bore
Merry Xmas, 44Bore
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Winchester® Adds 204 Ruger To Super-X® Rifle Ammunition Line[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Winchester® Ammunition is offering a load for the new 204 Ruger cartridge for 2005. The new load will be in the Super-X® line and features a 34 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point bullet.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The 34 gr. JHP bullet designed specifically with varmint shooters in mind offers explosive on target performance and exceptional accuracy. The JHP bullet design gives the shooter exceptional performance at a great price for the high volume shooter. This high velocity varmint load launches at a muzzle velocity of 4025 fps and when zeroed at 200 yards drops only 5.5 inches at 300 yards, making this new Winchester load a flat shooting performer.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Muzzle energy for the load is 1200 ft lbs. The ballistic coefficient is 0.167.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Suggested retail price of a 20-round box of Super-X 204 Ruger is $15.93 US
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Winchester® Ammunition is offering a load for the new 204 Ruger cartridge for 2005. The new load will be in the Super-X® line and features a 34 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point bullet.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The 34 gr. JHP bullet designed specifically with varmint shooters in mind offers explosive on target performance and exceptional accuracy. The JHP bullet design gives the shooter exceptional performance at a great price for the high volume shooter. This high velocity varmint load launches at a muzzle velocity of 4025 fps and when zeroed at 200 yards drops only 5.5 inches at 300 yards, making this new Winchester load a flat shooting performer.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Muzzle energy for the load is 1200 ft lbs. The ballistic coefficient is 0.167.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Suggested retail price of a 20-round box of Super-X 204 Ruger is $15.93 US
[/FONT]
http://www.6mmbr.com/20Caliber.html
here's a link to a real good article on the 20 calibers
here's a link to a real good article on the 20 calibers
its $14.99 at Russell SportsHuntsman said:
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Velocity isn't everything. It's a wee bullet and that velocity drops drastically after a few hundred yards. Also, it doesn't pack the punch of a 22-250 and not even close to .243 but it has shown slightly better numbers than .223 or .222.
The way I see it is that manufacturers have to keep putting out "new" calibres to keep selling guns. The reality is that .204 Ruger simply isn't a big deal. What's next? .207?
Hey, what ever happened to the .221 Fireball?
The way I see it is that manufacturers have to keep putting out "new" calibres to keep selling guns. The reality is that .204 Ruger simply isn't a big deal. What's next? .207?
Hey, what ever happened to the .221 Fireball?
