my buddy and former college roommate had a pet prairie dog! We lived in northwest Texas where prairiedogs abound. When the little fella died, of old age as it were… he had it stuffed and taxidermied and it became our college-time mascot for the house he owned. So not the official mascot of the college we went to no… but just our own personal macot in the house we lived in.
I found the 204 Ruger to be an outstanding coyote gun. Taking coyotes how to 450 yards and shooting steel targets out to 650 yards With outstanding accuracy, Using 40gr Berger bullets. I’ve done three shot groups and 100 yards that look like one hole. If you’re reloading the 204 and using 40gr Berger hp It has the potential of being the best coyote gun out there.
I own two 204 Rugers and love them. One heavy barrel for posting up on a hilltop and picking off groundhogs, and a CZ 527 for walking the edges of fields. Laser flat and a polite report for nearby houses. Shooting groundhogs for dairy farmers is great practice and a nice way to gain access to new deer hunting land.
Love the 204 talk Love mine and would not shoot anything else for Coyotes The one thing you did not mention is that the 204 in the reticle you will not come off the target You get to see it all happen
The 204 is a great cartridge with great performance but I didn't want to deal with trying to find large quantities of brass. So I built a 20 practical probably one of the best decisions I ever made simply neck 223 brass down and boom you're in business. I feel my first one on a AR platform I was so impressed I built another one in a bolt gun both of them are lazarbeam have taken out a giant mound of varmints with them and a handful of coyotes.
A big plus to the .204 going that fast, it doesn’t burn a barrel up like the .22-250 at similar speeds. That was one of the pluses that made me buy it.
I bought a Ruger #1 in .204 Ruger in 2005, great caliber & gun. I’ve probably shot over 35 whitetail with it. Neck or head shots, 40 grain Hornady Superformance. I’ve never lost one, always drops them in their tracks. Longest shot on a cull buck was 425 yards, facing me, hit him in the throat. It shots a .25 group at 100 yards.
Taken over 50 coyotes with a 204 ruger out to 500 yards. A few bobcat and fox. Also makes for a good javelina round. Only ever had to shoot once but use a 40gr vmax.
Always enjoy the 10 min talk cartridge episodes. But I feel like this one went high and right and didn’t really dive as deep into the history and info for the round like most of them do. Kinda felt like it was done for the listeners and no one at the table was really passionate about the round.
Lol for sure, i was so happy n then at the end i was still waiting for something that wasnt comming. U voiced my thought exactly, it was kinda like well i dont care about it or use it for anything
I have a .204 in a T/C Compass, one of the earliest in that persuasion. From my bench, it shoots consistent dime-size groups at 200yds (took a little bedding and trigger work) with Varget and 40 gr V-Max. Lightning in a bottle.
I won a T/C in .204…and I can confirm the dime size groups. Needless to say, I am very impressed! I gave the gun to my youngest son to use for coyotes since I already had a 22-250, now I want another one lol
After several years I finally broke down and bought a Savage 110 Varmint in .204. One out of the first 2 initial handloads was a tack driver at 100 yds. using the 32 grain VMax and some H335.......5 rounds in one tiny cloverleaf....amazing shooter.
Have a 204 in a Contender G2, shoots one ragged hole out to 200yds every time. Extreme accuracy! Have loaned this rifle to my neighbors who farm to take care of geese under permit….they were awed by the flatness and devastation on the seed robbers!! Good vid
Been shooting 204 Ruger since the release. I have had great luck with 39/40gr ballistic tips over Varget with cci 450s. Very good barrel life still moa after 2500rds.
Long barrel life was one highlight they forgot to visit during the talk. For such a blazing round it is supposed to be very gentle on bore wear. I believe many have sent over 10K rounds down a barrel with very little erosion! ( if memory serves me right from an old American Hunter report on the round).
I think this round is making a comeback. I basically own every round and this is easily one of my top 5 maybe even 3 cartidges. Zero recoil, ammo selection really doesnt matter (as far as accuracy goes), and pretty much every rifle chambered in them shoots the same. Its the only rifle I can consinstenly call out bullseyes from 100 yards.
Good discussion! I've had a .204 for about 10 years and I consider it one of my top varmint guns. I handload for it and found that 3,800 fps with a 32 grain pill is pure death on ground squirrels. My rifle is a CZ 527 and it seems to be a perfect fit for that cartridge. Although the .17 Hornet has pretty much taken over my ground squirrel shooting these days I always have the .204 close at hand to liven things up when things get slow and all that's out there are the long shots. I should add that all seven of my varmint rifles are sporting Vortex scopes. Great glass.
Iv got a H&R single shot with a heavy barrel chambered in 204. Loved the gun shot lights out put to 300 yards. Took many ground hogs and a few coyote with it. I actually took the scope off it and stopped shooting it due to not being able to find ammo. I replaced it with a Remington 700 in 223. Which at the time was easier to find.
Since you brought up the 17Rem, it’s the reason I bought the .204 ruger barrel for an AR15 for coyotes. Because, I’ve been necking down .204 for 17Rem for years and have a backup supply of brass. Love the 17Rem on yotes while fair weather hunting and am sure the .204 will be the same.
P.O. Ackley back in 1962 in his volume 1 book (page 260)said necking down a.222 mag to .20 would make a good cartridge. When reading his book I got the feeling that this guy was a lot smarter than I will ever be. Always cutting edge.
I've had one in a Ruger M77 since they became available and consider the main virtue is its flat shooting. My longest shot was a ground hog at 320 yards and the damage was impressive.
I use my 204 for everything from coyote on down to Pigeon out to 350 yards. But I stay away from shooting too close or using too light of bullet. No 34 grain weight bullets any closer than 75 yards or the bullet will blowup on the hide and not get to the vital areas. My favorite is the 39gr Sierra Blitzking. Very accurate and kills fast out to 350. Other great bullets are the 35 & 40gr Berger HP's. With the right bullet at the range, it has never not killed any varmint I aimed at.
39 gr Sierra Blitzkings with IMR 8208 xbr is a match made in heaven. My Rem 700 varmint shoots this combo into less than .5' groups at 200 yrds. Its easy to reload for and relatively inexpensive.
I think the 204 fills a good niche as long as you shoot a 35 to 40gr bullet. The cartridge is extremely flat shooting and kills well. Look at it this way. Out to 350 to 400yds they are absolutely awesome even up to and including coyotes. Let's face it, most guys don't shoot game much further than that and this cartridge does it well. I have a CZ527 in 204 and I have the most confidence in this rifle when calling coyotes. This thing is a hammer and drops dogs easily.
I have a Browning A bolt in .204 Ruger. its one of my favorite rounds. Great on North Eastern Coyotes.. Not much for ammo in 204 on the shelves around here but I bought boat loads of ammo for it when it was readily available (as well as every other cal that I own) so I have more than enough. I have found that Fiocchi ammo comes very close in accuracy to Hornady at half the price. 300 yards is pretty much the max that I shoot this caliber.....
I have a CZ 527 chambered in .204 Ruger. It’s an awesome shooter with Hornady 32gr. I have the components to reload .204, just haven’t had the time to cook up a recipe. Great groundhog and raccoon round here in Ohio. It is a challenge in the wind though.
204 is an awesome cartridge. And I have taken many whitetail deer with it.. granted their dome shots but that's possible because of how accurate and flat shooting it is.
Barnes, Sierra, Federal, Hornady, Nosler ...etc need to introduce a bonded or monolithic projectile for antelope and whitetail for .204 Ruger. It has the energy to 200 yards to do it, and many states (Missouri Idaho,Texas, Tennesse, Alaska, Montana and more) and Canadian provinces (Ontario and Nunavut) allow to hunt big gamewith it.
I have one and it is amazing!! I use it for hogs in Texas (right behind the ear and they drop dead in their tracks) It's amazing what it does to them. With a suppressor there is no recoil I can watch all shot impacts through the scope. I think this year alone I've bagged over 25 with it. Only con is ammo is tough to find.
I shoot a 204 Ruger 32 grain v max. it is very accurate and kills well on groundhogs out to 600 yards.handloads are economical, and ricochetted are almost nil. I use a Remington 700 vtr , very light for a varmint rifle, and shoots under 3/8 inch all day at 200 yds, love it over my 22/250. also less noise, and recoil, you can watch the bullet strike!
I loved the off topic discussion as well. Don't offer an apology for it! Oh, and I use my .204 for looking at. I have ammunition and reloading components for it but I am getting old and weary and just never got around to using it. ;-)
Remington XR 100 in 204ruger....single shot....furtherest shot on a coyote was 358 yds. In July in pennsylvania...weighed 46# has a Nikon 5-20 x 44 bcc scope. Awesome gun bought 800 factory rounds at $10.99 per 20 rounds. Just started to do test loads this past summer(2021).
I've been using .204 Ruger with 40 gr V-Max and 27 gr. 748 for many years on prairie dogs. Chronographs 3580 fps. Shoots flat like the 22-250 but recoil and barrel heat is like a .223. I can't think of a better prairie dog cartridge. Longest shots were 5 shots for 2 kills at measured 725 yards, with many 600 yd kills. I like it so much I ordered a second gun. Joe
Love the 10 min talks. Have 204 in a Mossberg MVP that i really like. I have best luck with 32 grs. I bought it for prairie dogs and it does the job on them. That said it's such a hot round that it heats the barrel up to quickly and i find that i have just as much success using other caliber rifles with lower pressure\velocity. ( I can keep shooting instead of having to wait for the barrel to cool down on the 204)
I have a 204 ruger in a savage 12 LPV. That thing shot half inch and better if I did my part. Burned the barrel out and screwed on a Benchmark barrel with a 1-10 twist. Amazing accuracy with 40gr blitzking. The 1-12 twist was the thing holding back this cartridge. Noone shoots the 32gr bullets.
My favorite groundhog getter. I have three, 2 bolts and an AR. I have found that the 12 twist is okay but prefer a 9 inch twist and 39gr and 40gr bullets. No recoil and watch your bullets hit. Longer distances 22-250 or a 220 Swift is hard to beat for longer range. I also loved the challenge of a 17 Rem and 30 gr bullets in the wind. Reload my own and AA2520 performs the best in my rifles with 39 and 40 gainers. As with anyone, 223's is my all around with 65 gr Sierra game kings. Thanks for the video. And wanted to add. Great with Vortex 6x24 mildot scope on them.
Love the .204, I've had mine since 2009. Best prairie dog round for me, taken a few coyotes with it as well. I reload for it so ammo isn't an issue. Someday I'll run low on powder though......
I have been smitten with my .22-250’s performance with different bullet weights and ballistic coefficients, but the .204 Ruger is even flatter-shooting! The difference is actually staggering and I don’t know why they’re not flying off the shelves!
My thoughts on cartridge balance in the sub- .22 zone is perhaps a little conservative. I own a .17 Fireball which will get 25 gn bullets exiting at 3800 fps (16 gns powder) ; the .17 Rem uses a .223 case necked down , and an extra 6 - 9 gns powder for possiby 200 - 400 fps. The .204 uses the .222 Rem Mag case which is a reasonable step up from the .223 case. My thoughts have been for the .17 Rem to be based on the .222 Rem case , and the .204 on the .223 case ... there are wildcat .17/222 cartridges out there doing good things for those owning them.
There is a 20 cal in 223 case wildcat it is the 20 practical. I was going to build one after I built my 6mm/223 wildcat which turned out pretty lackluster at least on pdogs
I was hunting with a buddy that has an H&R single shot in .204. We were taking whitetail on a deframation permit on his uncles property. From 80 to 200 yds, as long as u put it in the engine room it drops whitetail like thors hammer.
I just did a 204 AR build. Pretty impressed with the accuracy of it. I debated on the 204 or maybe a 6 ARC. Could not find ARC ammunition local but all of a sudden 204 was stacked on the shelf. So after 5 trips to the store ( 2 box limit a day), I ordered my barrel. Plan on using it for night time coyote hunting.
I was a little surprised that the 22WSSM wasn't mentioned but with it's obscurity, it is rarely mentioned at all. My friend has a 22wssm and if the 204 Ruger is anything like that, It will disintegrate a prairie dog on impact! We shot cantaloupes once with it and it just disappears and all that is left is a fine mist. I have a penchant for the high-velocity rounds so thanks for the great video!
I’ve personally seen it take a 6 point bucks at about 75 yards out here in TX. Deer ran 30 yard and dropped. My buddy was using a 32 grain v-max and made a perfect heart shot. I own a cz 527 and it shoots flawlessly! I personally wouldn’t take game bigger than a coyote.
I use to have a Sako 222 mag with a heavy barrel. Loved that gun but was a bit to much for where I live. That gun made the old guys drool. But still have a Sako 222 and kimber 84m 204 love those rifles
You guys need to do an in-depth Wild Cat category. The standardized cartridges are easy to find information on. The wonderful world of Wild Cat chambering and reloading is something you guys could really find a niche in. Start with the 25 Creedmoor! Do iT!
One of the prolific writers of a swedish hunting magazine (svensk jakt) uses a 204 Ruger for "top bird hunting", reason is Ruger 204 is classified as class 3 caliber and is permitted to be carried on snow mobiles in certain regions. The hunting form requires a fmj or none-expanding bullet, as you want to kill the birds but not blow them up. For that he has hand made/on demand 204 40gr fmj bullets in a 1:8 or 7.5 barrel. 1200 m/s v0. But his use of the caliber is quite specific.
The last shot I took was circa 100 yards at an invasive but surprisingly small California ground squirrel (affectionately known by us as Californians) standing tall on a rock... I squeezed until the recoil threw my recoil threw my vision off target. My spotter pipes up "I think that was a bird!" ... ... ...no sir. that was the top half. lol. It's a really fun cartridge but.....
I have a nef heavy barrel in 204, home loads with 40 grn nosler ballistic tips at 3675 fps. I've here in New Zealand Ive used it on turkeys at 400 yards and taken 2 boars with it at 200 yrds,
When are you guys going to do the 17 Remington? I have always had at least 1 with a heavy varmint barrel and hits to 400 are quite easy in little wind with a 25g HP.
I’ve got mine in a heavy barreled kimber 84m. Taken bobcat, fox, and coyotes. Very accurate with Winchester 32 gr factory loads. Can’t seem to get any good results with my own loads yet.
Finally! Been waiting years for this episode! 😂🤣 Also I don't get the mm fad, they all sound anemic to me. And can we please stay on topic? lol I have a T/C Venture .204 I use for ground hogs, it's a blast.
Great round for all things varmint! Ground hogs, foxes, coyotes. Fun to shoot no recoil, accurate as long as wind is light. If you want to impress some kids fill up soda bottles to the top with water and shoot them inside 100 yards and the results are very entertaining. Shake up a full closed soda can and shoot that and prepare for them to laugh. Very fun. Usually no pelt damage, by far my favorite varmint gun. Zero scope at 200 and basically hold dead on from 0-300 yards.
I wish I lived out west and had a need for a .204 Ruger. Unfortunately I don't. I make up for it, with a shortened .223 Rem in a handgun, the 17round, 40 grain ,2000fps, 22tcm, in a 1911! Reloads for pennies on the dollar of the slower 5.7!
Well i guess i learned you probably have to be a furtaker probably of the eastern states where we have alot of foxes and 99 of 100 coyotes are not gonna come right in to truly appreciate what the .204 is offering. Guess its not for everybody but for some of us it splits the difference for what other calibers just cant offer.
I've seen .204 Ruger ammo in almost every store I've been in. But I haven't been able to find a rifle chambered for it yet. And I've been looking for one for years now.
Just got a Ruger bolt 204 , I have not shot it yet, then I had a a AR with the A 2 sight’s like I had on my AR 16 in VN that I don’t like, so I bought a Shaw upper with a bull barrel, looks great, but I have not shot it yet because here in southern Iowa I have not found any ammo. When I bought the Ruger I got 3 1/2 boxes with it.
What twist rates are needed for bullet weights above 32 grains? I would think bullets in the 40-45 grain range would do a bit better on coyotes at distance.
Have 2 .204's. One in a savage bull barrel single shot and a suppressed ruger american predator which out shoots it. I use it for anything smaller than deer. Point and squeeze.
I have a .204 Roger, I'm in Australia and I can't find ammo for it. Mostly use it on red foxes, feral cats, rabbits and headshots on kangaroos (males can be 100-110kg and close to 6'5 tall)
I have a 204 for 13ish years. Have shot plenty of coyotes and bobcats with it. It’s nice. Love the recoil and the accuracy. For a coyote calling rifle I much prefer 243. The 204 does require follow up shots quite often. Seems like I’ve had to take less follow up shots with 32 vmax than the 40. Not sure why. Can never find any 39 sierras tho. Been looking for awhile. I cut the barrel down to 20” and no loss in accuracy. Doesn’t seem much louder now either. It’s mostly just a truck gun now. Not sure how many rounds I have thru it. I would guess 7-800 and it’s still 100 yards 1/2” with factory ammo
Guns , a great chat! But here's an issue I'm having with my 204 that i would love to know a work around. My gun is a savage Axis(cheap i know) but anyway i can't seem to be able to use/depend of 40 grain ammo staying accurate after 100 yards unlike any 32 grain. Have anyone out there also noticed this? I have read on some sites that the 204 seems to have an issue stabilizing 40 grain ammo. Is this just certain 204's if so can anyone tell me why. Thanks
I have a 204R. And only hand load for it. My gun doesn’t like the factory stuff that I’ve tried. I have gotten it up to 4200fps with 32gr vmax, but there were pressure signs. My fav load is going about 4125 and that’s a 32gr vmax. Works great on coyotes. But you have to hit them square on. Very much of a quartering shot and it will rip a big chunk off. But a frontal shot or a direct side hit to the lungs and they go down fast with no damage. 39gr sierras work very well too. My gun won’t stabilize the 40gr vmax.
hahaha a prairie dog rug! 😂how cool would that be?! hahaha I was just brainstorming the other day, thinking about how many squirrels I would need to shoot, skin, tan, and preserve the pelt until I had enough squirrel pelts to have a custom winter jacket made of squirrel pelts😂. A potentially expensive endeavor! hahaha but I was just you know, entertaining my ADHD brain with random thought experiments.
I have taken 2 javelina with my 204. It was not a good bullet for that animal, 35gr berger. But they work great on coyotes, fox and bobcats. I love that cartridge.
Gotta feel bad for a guy that has 4 rounds for his rifle and uses 2 to sight it in…weird times we’re living in. That said, I’ve tried to diversify my hunting system and have a variety of options, that way if I can’t find one I might be able to find another. I also think it’s important to look at where you are geographically located and buy smart based on that. I’m in Pennsylvania, about 3 hours east of the Ohio border. Things like 350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster and 45-70 get bought up eventually, but you can usually find those cartridges here without a problem. I’ve often thought about adding a 350 Legend to my collection just because ammo is almost always available. I have an older Savage model 11 in 223 Remington because I can shoot lightweight FMJ’s out of it to just practice and then switch to something heavier if I needed a deer rifle (and that older Savage has a twist rate to support that). It wouldn’t be my first choice for deer but it’s nice knowing it’s there and definitely not as many people trying to buy actual 223 Remington deer hunting ammo…most people want the lighter weight ammo for their AR’s.
I heard this round will burn a barrel out quickly. Any truth to this? How many rounds can one expect to send down the pipe before accuracy starts dropping?
I have two Ruger 204's. Tack drivers for sure. The 22-250 is more versitile but one thing that was NOT mentioned in the video is that if you want it in an AR platform it will be an AR10 and Ruger 204 is on the AR15 platform. I am not a big guy and walk around alot calling so carrying around an AR10 is not appealing to me. As mentioned on the video you can shoot hogs with it if you ear hole them.
