.204 Ruger for target?

[jhansman]

So I shot a Savage .204 Ruger the other day and really liked it. I'm selling off a .243 Winchester that was an impulse I now realize I should have resisted and will likely replace with this caliber. I know CZ and Savage make 'em, but any recommendation for a 100 yd. target model would be welcome. TIA.

 

[Offfhand]

"Target" shooting has many definitions: ranging from tightly regulated precision Bench Rest competitions, to swatting tin cans off fence posts. I've had and tested only two rifles in .204 Ruger caliber, which by no means qualifies me as an expert but I've been very impressed by the accuracy of both rifles and ammo. Factory loads and reloads. So much so that I've proposed a rule change for regulation (NBRSA) Bench Rest competition that would favor .22 and smaller caliber rifles and make them more competitive. Also, on the more practical side, I had a .204 Ruger varmint rifle built on a Stolle benchest action and fitted with Shilen barrel. (Shown attached) The accuracy of this rig with both Hornady and Winchester ammo is impressive, and even moreso with handloaded Berger, Hornady and Sierra bullets, have convinced me that a .204 built in Light Varmint Class benchrest configuration would be successful in competition..

 

[brasscollector]

Nothing wrong with a 204. I have one and owned a different 204 before, both are very accurate. For just paper punching I would go with a 223 for the cheaper ammo but 204 might be more readily available this year.

 

[Sniper66]

I have experience with two of mine, one of my brother's and shot some with my buddy's rifle too. Mine are a Ruger #1 and a Kimber 84M. My friend's is a Savage but don't know the model. My brother's is also a Ruger #1. All of them have been very accurate; my Kimber is exceptional. I've loaded ammo for both of mine and my brother's too. The Savage also shoots hand loads done by the friend. My brother and I have killed many 100s of prairie dogs and some coyotes too. Friend has shot mostly targets and coyotes. None of these rifles could be called target models, but all of them can hit prairie dogs at 200+ yards routinely. Ruger #1s are not known for stellar accuracy, but ours are wicked prairie dog killers and coyote whackers. With my reloads, we can both shoot dime size groups at 100 yds.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I have one of the early Ruger M77s MkIIs they chambered for it. Gloss gray finish of some sort, like a dark stainless. Laminated flat forend target stock and a varmint contour barrel. It shoots laser straight and flat.

Looks like this, minus the laser etched stock

 

[redneck2]

In the FWIW category..

I have a 527 in .204. Got It for prairie doggin’. The initial load testing was worse than awful. Maybe 5-6” at 100. After about 100 rounds it settled in. My hand loads now shoot sub 1/2”. 39 grain Ballistic Tips over Varget.

Found out later that CZ has some type of coating in the barrel that needs cleaned out. Otherwise it takes maybe a hundred rounds to shoot it out.

I REALLY like the set trigger on the 527.

The .204 give .22-250 velocities but seems to heat the barrel much more slowly. Also, it has significantly less muzzle blast than the .250

 

[jhansman]

Thanks for the recommendations. I should have noted that until recently I've been relying on my Howa .223 varmint rifle for target work at the range. It performs excellently, and I have no complaints with it. A little variety never hurts, and I wouldn't mind another caliber to handload. I don't compete (except with myself) and a new rifle is always a treat. It sounds like the usual candidates all have respectable models, so once I sell off the .243 Win I shouldn't have bought I'll replace it with this caliber.

 

[Sniper66]

Oh and another one to think about is a Remington VLS .204 with 26" heavy barrel. I have that model in a .243 and my brother has it in .223. Both wicked accurate. I've been tempted to buy it in .204, but since I have two already, it seemed unwise. I replaced my trigger with a Timney and it shoots the lights out at 300 yards. The .204 would be crazy accurate with hand loads or Hornady 32gr V-Max at 4000+fps. They are seriously devastating on p-dogs and coyotes. If targets are the preferred objective, my Kimber 84m loaded with Sierra 39gr BlitzKings only drop 2 inches at 300 yds when I shoot gongs. The ,204 is a consistently fun round in calm winds.

 

[jhansman]

Oh and another one to think about is a Remington VLS .204 with 26" heavy barrel. I have that model in a .243 and my brother has it in .223. Both wicked accurate. I've been tempted to buy it in .204, but since I have two already, it seemed unwise. I replaced my trigger with a Timney and it shoots the lights out at 300 yards. The .204 would be crazy accurate with hand loads or Hornady 32gr V-Max at 4000+fps. They are seriously devastating on p-dogs and coyotes. If targets are the preferred objective, my Kimber 84m loaded with Sierra 39gr BlitzKings only drop 2 inches at 300 yds when I shoot gongs. The ,204 is a consistently fun round in calm winds.

I have yet to own a Remington (I know), so this model may end up in the collection. Not a hunter, but I loves me some accurate rifle. I believe I have what I need; thanks to all.