Considering a Ruger 204 caliber rifle-questions

[Big JJ]

Considering buying a rifle in Ruger 204 caliber.
Wanting to know what the average ball park cost per round would be?
I currently reload for everything I shoot.
I have a general idea but wanting to know first hand from some reloaders their experiences is with this round.
Any issues getting primers,brass,bullets or powder?
I will get a bolt gun not a simi auto.
I will want to get up to the 4000 fps area on my rounds.
Also what power scope as it will be a 400 yard plus gun.
I was thinking about a 4x16x50 power am I wrong? Recommendations?
I will want a light weight gun for waking around. Recommendations?
Any info will be appreciated.

 

[cfullgraf]

Cost per round will depend on the cost of your components. My 204 Ruger rounds run around 30 to 35 cents per round not including cases.

Except for the smaller bullet, 204 Ruger is no more difficult to load than 223 Remington. The small neck of 204 Ruger makes charging with stick powders difficult as the powders want to bridge.

I recently started loading 204 Ruger on a Pro2000 progressive with a custom drop tube. So, it is not difficult to load.

I have not had any problems finding components but I did stock up before many of the shortages hit. I just checked Midway and they have 32 grain Hornady V-maxs. Berger bullets were in short supply last summer. I have not looked recently.

You will probably want to shoot 32 grain bullets or lighter to get 4000 plus fps. 40 grain bullets max out around 3800 fps or so.

I have a Savage Model 12. Shoots well. It might be a bit heavy for carry. On the other side, I have a slender barrel 17 Remington that accuracy goes to pot after 4 or 5 shots until it cools again. So, do not get too light a barrel.

I have a variable power scope on my 204 Ruger, max power 16 or 18. On my prairie dog hunt last summer, the guide recommended I leave the power set at 12 to get a bit wider field of view. It worked well. None of our shots were past 500 yards and I probably would not push 204 Ruger much past 500 yards any way. Choose the best scope you can afford, then buy at least the next better one up.

Hope this helps.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Depends on components. I ran arget and 39gr blitz kings and 35gr Bergers in mine. I'd say around 50c a shot but I also used Hornady brass. Cost will drop the more you use brass. Just do t expend more out of than it's intended. I traded my at off In 204 because of the wind here and the inability to shoot the 45gr bullets. Think mine was a 12 twist. I'll stick with 223

 

[WVRJ]

I have a Savage M12 in 204.It shoots its best with Varget powder and 40 gr Berger HPBT's.I can run it near max and it'lll turn about 3900.I get the best accuracy at about 3700.If you got your heart set on turning 4000,it'll probably need to be done with a 32 gr bullet.Mine loses accuracy after 20 shots or so.A good bore cleaning and all is well again

 

[Ifishsum]

I also have a Savage M12FV, definitely heavy for walking around but it's by far my most accurate rifle so I often bring it. Currently wears a 6X24X50 scope, best loads are with 39gr SBK or 40gr V-Max. Not gonna hit 4k FPS with that but doesn't matter to me, if I can see it I can hit it. I've been able to find 1/2 MOA loads with Varget, H322, Benchmark, BL-C(2) and W748 but I pretty much settled on BL-C(2) when I found a deal on an 8lb jug. My rifle doesn't seem to be picky about bullet jump either, so I just load to mag length. Fun, fun cartridge - easy to load and shoot.

I amassed about 1000 pcs of brass several years ago so I can't speak to the current availability. Like everything else, the right powder is probably the most critical find at the moment.

For a lighter weight walking rifle I've heard good things about the CZ American, never shot one myself though. If Savage makes a lighter model .204 I would consider that as well.

 

[Big JJ]

Awesome info guys.
If you had it to do over again would you still get a 204 caliber rifle or some other caliber?
If so what other caliber would you get and why?
Trying to avoid buyers regret.
Thank you.

 

[cfullgraf]

Considering that I have the Savage 12 and two AR-15s, a 24" and a 26" barreled models, in 204 Ruger, i'd have to guess I like the cartridge.

For the prairie dog hunt I went on last year, I also took a 223 Remington bolt rifle in addition to the 204 Ruger and in three days never took the 223 Remington out of the case.

I guess the only downside I have heard about, but not experienced is some rifles have difficulty stabilizing the heavier bullets. Bullets heavier than 40-45 grain may be a moot point as I believe Berger stopped production of their heavier 20 caliber bullets.

It depends alot on what you plan for the rifle and the cartridge but as long as you do not push the extreme range limits of the cartridge, you will not be disappointed.

Hope this helps.

 

[oldfortyfiveauto]

I'm having my Savage rebarreled from 223 to 204. Been playing with my buddy's on the last two dog hunts and was impressed.

 

[rayatphonix]

I've got a 204 Ruger and find it very easy to load for. The three or four powders I've used all gave me exceptional groups with 32 and 34 grain bullets. It's one of my favorite rifles to shoot.

I've considered getting an AR upper in 20 Practical. It's a very similar chamber but uses 223 brass.

 

[witchhunter]

My pdog shootin buddy bought one a couple of years ago because he liked my .17 Remington so much. He now owns two of them! They are fast and accurate. Easy to load for. components have been available all through this crisis.

 

[scottishkat]

I also own a Savage model 12 26" heavy varmint barrel in 204 Ruger it shoots real good. I had an AR15 in 204 as well bought it for 900.00 wasn't using it and sold it for 1600.00.

Personally I like the 223 better just as accurate far more versatile. I like the faster twist rate options from 1 in 7 to 1 in 16. If you compare the bullet weights the speed is pretty close to the same. The .224 bullets buck the wind alot better than the .204. As posted by others the the .204 requires alot of cleaning.

Don't have alot of Pdogs here in VA if they did the .204 would be fun to shoot them with. I had a field in Highland County VA we used to shoot Ground Hogs in out to 300 or so I shot a few with the .204 but the 223 a friend owned was better in a good wind.

That 60 grain nosler partition handles Whitetailed deer and Pronghorn where legal quite well.

Good Luck and shoot straight

Bob