204 Ruger load

[billy ahring]

Recently acquired a 204 Ruger in a model 700 and was wondering what people are having success with as far as powders. I would like to load Hornady SP's as I have had good results with them in other calibers and the price aint bad. Also , does LEE not offer a case length trimming guage in 204? I don't see any listings for that in Natchez or Midway catalogs

[Rocky Raab]

Don't load for it, but the articles I read report good results with Benchmark, RL-10X, 3031 and others in that burn rate bracket. Not that much different than the 223, in other words.

I don't think Lee offers anything smaller than .22-caliber tools.

[Catfish]

I load on a 550 Dillon and load only Ball powders as they measure so much better for that reason I have not used any stick powders in the .204. I have loaded several powders in the burn rate range from H-322 to H-335 and they have all worked well. My rifle at least, is not a bit picky. Right now I loading a data powder with the burn rate of AA 2460 with Rem. 7 1/2 primers and haveing no trouble get 1/2 moa groups with 32 gr. Sierra bullets.

[Larryjk]

My son shoots a 204 Ruger and likes BL-C(2). Loads 30.7 grs. behind a Hornady 32 gr. V-Max or Sierra 32 gr. Blitzking using CCI BL-4 primers. Chronographs at 4145 fps @ 7000 elevation. I am fond of W748 in a .20/.223 AI; 27.5 grs. gets 4060 fps. I have also used H335 and like it as well. I use a Forrster trimmer.
I don't think you can find a better caliber bullet for p-dogs, rock chucks, etc. They just explode. However, the fragile bullets don't work too well on coyotes. Blow off a dinner plate size patch of hair and the dog runs off after he gathers his wits. Going too fast to penetrate. I haven't tried the 45 gr. Hornadys as yet. They may work for coyotes.

[Catfish]

Larry,
I had the same problem with the 32 gr. bullets so I went to ans AR for hunting with dogs, and a .22-6mm for sitting and waiting on them. BUT, for what I hear the 35 gr. Beger is the bullet most guys are useing on coyote. I was considering a .20 BR with a fast twist for the 50 gr. Bergers, but went with the .22-6mm. I still haven`t setteled on a load but it looks like eather the 80 gr. Sierrs or Berger over a healthy load of Mag. Pro. running along abt. 3,450 fps. Haven`t hit a coyote with a bullet at that spped but did get one at 314 yrds. with the bullet going 3,200 fps. Opened an 8 in. hole in her belly and she still went 35 yrds.

[Larryjk]

Catfish, One of my coyote hunting friends has used a lot of the smaller calibers. (17s, 20s, 22s.) His rule is if you are hunting coyotes and don't want them running away while you try for No. 2, you better shoot at least a 22 that is pushing no less than a 52 grain bullet. He may be right! Coyotes are tough customers and I have a lot of respect for them.
The 22-6mm is a little faster than the 220 Swift and as hard on barrels. The case is very strong.
I have 8 or 9 barrels to install in the next couple weeks. One is a 20/22-250 AI with 8 inch twist and another is a 22/243 AI with 8 inch twist. Usually these types of barrel jobs don't last long before they are back in for a new barrel with lands.
I sent a 22-6mm back to the barrel maker so they could cut it up and evaluate it in the shop. When I called them to see what they found, they said " What the hell were you guys shooting through that barrel? There isn't any rifling left in it!" Like I said; some wildcats are tougher on barrels than others.

[Catfish]

Larry,
Barrel wear also depends on how hot you get your barrel. If you put alot of lead down the tube in a very short while you`ll do alot more damage than fireing 10 time that many rounds a couple at a time through a cold barrel. The guy that put on my barrel say he has 1 out that the is claiming he closeing in on 2,000 rounds, and it`s still shooting bug holes.
An 8 twist in a .20 cal., interisting. Berger recomands a 9 twist with their 50 gr. bullets, is there something heaver out there???
The bottom line is if your worried about burnning out a berral get a .222, I`ve seen them with many 1,000`s of rounds down the tube and never seen one that was shot out. I`m sure someone has shot one out, but I would hate to buy the ammo it took.

[Larryjk]

Catfish, I have had two barrel makers tell me that if you don't shoot your barrel hot (but let it cool off ) a chrome-moly barrel will outlast a stainless. And they told me 2000 is a reasonable expectation on a chrome-moly you take care of. I always go on a dog hunt with two to three rifles so I can let them cool. I don't figure there is any reason to get a barrel too hot to hold on to unless the p-dogs are charging!

[muskrat30]

I just put some $ on a 204. After resisting earlier desires I was bit by the 204. The object of affection is an A-Bolt Varmint Stalker in 204 Ruger.

Since I have a fair amount of Ramshot TAC around I was going to use that. I see they have enough data for me. I had a good time in a SD dogtown this June with some 223's & I think the 204 will be great for that. I'd use a 223 or heavier for any planned coyote hunt though I'm not saying a 204 wouldn't work.

[Larryjk]

muskrat30, You will love the .204 Ruger as a prairie dog rifle. They are right there with a Swift and not much wind drift. We have a .204 and a 20/223AI in the family and they will spoil you. But the crosshairs on the dog, squeeze the trigger, watch him explode and go on to the next dog. I have a friend that says the 20/223AI is so accurate it is boring. I have been using 32gr V-max
and 35gr. Bergers, all moly coated.
I will have to try the 40gr and 45gr bullets on coyotes. It is difficult to drop a coyote on a frontal shot because the light bullets blow up on the hair and don't penetrate. On a broadside shot; maybe. But not on a frontal. They may go down, but will be up and running in no time. Found the hair gone over a lunchplate size of area with little pin pricks of blood on the surface, but no penetration. One hunter said he could kill them after he slowed the bullets up to about 3600. A .223 is more effective with the 55gr bullet. It may be boring, but if you are shooting coyotes for fur to sell, shoot a ,223 with Remington 55 gr. cannelured bullets.
If you are calling them in you don't need to shoot beyond 200 yds.