Ruger 204

The 204 is most assuredly a killer.

Mine is a Savage Model 11 with 22 inch barrel, a package rifle that came with a Simmons 3X9X40mm scope and its killed more coyotes than Parvo, Distemper, Rabies and the Mange.

Here's a few I've killed with the Model 11 (all shot with Hornady factory 32 grain ballistic tips ):

This one was a 200 yard shot (running away from me) caught him behind the ribs (flipped him a** over tea kettle) and he was DRT.

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This was a whole family that came in to about 95 yards.
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At the first shot the dad went down (at 95), second shot took the mom at about 140 and the third took the son at 295 when he stopped to look back, all dead where they fell with nary a twitch.

Here's a small male that I closed out at 275 yards, note the exit wound high on the back (the 204 has plenty of a** in it's britches at distance to seal the deal)

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Here's a 35 yard Bobcat I shot with the 204 (figured I'd throw him in just to round out the theme).
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If you are varmint hunter, the 204 will fill the bill to distances approaching that of the 22-250 (maybe just as far),

And like most things firearms related, folks that have negative things to say about it or question it's ability/usefulness have never used it.

This rifle/scope set up is the best 300 bucks I've ever spent on a rifle (purchased at Gander Mountain with a 50 dollar off coupon in 2003).
 
What grain bullet did you use.
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All those animals were killed with Hornady Factory loads using 32 grain ballistic tip/Vmax bullets.

Here's a view of the other side of the mom and son of the trio in oic posted above to give you an idea of the terminal effect of the ammo:
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Lot's of crazy information floating around this thread about the .204 and Coyotes. 30gr bullets? 400 yards?

Look the .204 is basically a varmint gun. Low recoil, little less noise and flat trajectory make it so it excels sitting over a prairie dog town. It's also perfectly acceptable for coyotes and other predators. But the 30-32 gr varmint bullets are too light in construction and the little pills run outta thump pretty fast. Best to stick with the 35-40 gr bullets (Bergers) and shots out to 250 yards. If you need to shoot coyotes beyond that range you're into .22-250 and .243 territory.
 
L_Killkenny said:
Lot's of crazy information floating around this thread
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Your post being the craziest, coming after the photos posted by ATCDoktor.:rolleyes:

I suppose it's the same argument that people don't think a .243 isn't enough for elk, or even deer.

Every animal is nuclear-powered now, you can't kill e'm easy like in the old days.
 
Your post being the craziest, coming after the photos posted by ATCDoktor.
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Did you even read my post or just the first line? How is saying the .204 is "perfectly acceptable" for coyotes crazy or contradictory? I just don't make false statements about what it's good for or what good bullets are.

To take your references about .243 and Elk........ Saying any of the 30gr offerings are good for coyote is akin to saying a 65gr. .243 vmax is good for Elk. Saying a .204 is a good long range yote gun is like saying a .243 is a good long range elk gun (and no, 250 yards is not long range).
 
204 vs 22-250 vs ?

I have never shot either 204 or 22-250. How does the recoil compare to 223, 243, or 270?

I'm looking at a choice between 243 and 22-250 for some expensive plinking in the 300 to 500 yard range. Curious about the 22-250, but now also interested in 204.

Shot 243 a lot before trading for a 270 20 years ago....looking to move back to 243, but experimenting with something different might be fun.
 
The .204 is good on paper out to 500yds out of a Ruger No. 1.

That's the limit of my personal experience with the cartridge. It was really really fun.
 
elDiabloLoco said:
I have never shot either 204 or 22-250. How does the recoil compare to 223, 243, or 270?

I'm looking at a choice between 243 and 22-250 for some expensive plinking in the 300 to 500 yard range. Curious about the 22-250, but now also interested in 204.

Shot 243 a lot before trading for a 270 20 years ago....looking to move back to 243, but experimenting with something different might be fun.
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.270 has enough recoil that many folks will find it uncomfortable after a while. Far too much recoil to see bullet impact through a scope.

.243 recoil is low enough that virtually no one will be bothered by it except the youngest of children and/or extremely small framed adults. Still too much recoil to see bullet impact except at very long range or with very heavy guns.

.22-250 has low enough recoil that no one could reasonably be bothered by it in any gun with a "normal" weight. Still too much recoil to see bullet impact except at lower-magnification and longer ranges.

.204 Ruger has virtually no recoil. In a gun with a reasonably heavy varmint scope and a bi-pod, the crosshairs barely wiggle off target even at high-magnification. Bullet impact is easy to see almost always.
 
I have two .204's: a CZ 527 Varmint and a Remington 700 VLS.

Both shoot 32, 39, and 40 grainers lights out, as in, under and 3/4 inch consistently, and sub .5 routinely if I do my part. My experience is based in a few thousand rounds sent down range on paper, at critters, and in Colorado and Wyoming elevation and WIND.

I shoot TAC (a Ramshot powder) exclusively, both of my guns love it.

On paper, external ballistics show that the .204 can (with the right powder and bullets) shoot flatter than a 22-250, ESPECIALLY in wind. In practice, both of my rifles also prove this out. This is one common misconception of the .204 - that it under performs in the wind. Fact is, it's great in the wind because it shoots so fast and as another poster pointed out, it's got a good BC for the bullet weight. People love to dispute this, but it's fact.

I load my CZ sometimes with Trailboss. Mimics a 5MM rimfire - almost ZERO noise and zero recoil, and I can shoot for less than the price of 17 HMR ammo.

I've also yet to retire a piece of .204 brass (10 or more reloads on some of the brass).

Lots of reasons why my 22-250 sits in the safe and pouts when I take my .204s hunting..............again.

--Duck911
 
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