Bruiser64 wrote:I am seriously considering getting a .204 and would like to hear from people who own or have owned a rifle in this calibre. I would like to hear about your experience with this calibre and what rifle you own in it. Are you happy/unhappy with the calibre and your choice of rifle? I am looking to get one to complement my Tikka .243. I have considered a .223 but may struggle to justify it to WAPOL along with the .243. Plus I like the idea of the light weight pill sent outnat high velocity for foxes, rabbits and roos.
Bruiser64 wrote:Hi Bladeracer, I am interested in hearing more about your experience with the Ruger American Predator. How well does it shoot? What optics are your running on it. Being a tightwad I find the Ruger quite appealing. I do have the ruger American in 22 Magnum and I am very impressed by it.
bladeracer wrote:Bruiser64 wrote:Hi Bladeracer, I am interested in hearing more about your experience with the Ruger American Predator. How well does it shoot? What optics are your running on it. Being a tightwad I find the Ruger quite appealing. I do have the ruger American in 22 Magnum and I am very impressed by it.
All of my centrefire Ruger Americans are sub-MoA without any effort on my part. I also have two rimfires in .22LR, the Target and Compact models. My brother also has the .243 Predator. I'll probably get the new Ruger Precision Rimfire as well soon.
I run Bushnell AR Optics 4.5-18x40 223BDC scopes on all my rifles (I have eleven of these scopes so far).
Two minor problems I've found with the Ruger American centrefires, the fore end of the poly stock is very flexible, and the early mags can be a problem, but Ruger will replace dodgy mags.
The stock only shows itself to be a problem when I mount a bipod on the sling swivel. Shooting off bags, rests and such it hasn't been a problem. I think the bipod acts as a lever so I mount a sling swivel just ahead of the mag well in the poly stock for running a bipod. All of my Rugers are in MDT LSS chassis now though, which use AICS 10rd mags, so the stock isn't a problem for me. My brother dropped his .243 into a Boyd lami stock as chassis can be a problem in NSW/ACT.
I've never even tried adjusting the triggers on any of my Rugers, they shoot that well straight out of the boxes.
brinny wrote:Where do i start....i have a Sako 85 Varmint in 204R and one in 223 as well....While they are both very capable rounds, i tend to swing more to the 204 than the 223 these days....one of the reasons for that is that i have the 204 set up as a dedicated thermal rifle, and near 100% of my night hunting is done with thermal now.....I have taken foxes out to 400m with the 204, and have shot literally hundreds of them with it.....The round is as versatile as they come for varminting...IMO you cant go wrong....
fox taken at 392m....
https://youtu.be/irflX-l4Bqs
This one was over the 350m mark....
https://youtu.be/h8uN8et-Whc
bladeracer wrote:brinny wrote:Where do i start....i have a Sako 85 Varmint in 204R and one in 223 as well....While they are both very capable rounds, i tend to swing more to the 204 than the 223 these days....one of the reasons for that is that i have the 204 set up as a dedicated thermal rifle, and near 100% of my night hunting is done with thermal now.....I have taken foxes out to 400m with the 204, and have shot literally hundreds of them with it.....The round is as versatile as they come for varminting...IMO you cant go wrong....
fox taken at 392m....
https://youtu.be/irflX-l4Bqs
This one was over the 350m mark....
https://youtu.be/h8uN8et-Whc
Why did you choose to put the thermal on the .204 rather than the .223?
SCJ429 wrote:The 223 is a 1.3 VW Beetle and the 204 is a 2.0 Sierra Cosworth. The 204 with 40 grain projectiles shoots flatter than any commercial caliber you care to mention. I use a Sako 85 and in 204 it is very accurate and devastating using Hornady Vmax. Only downside is the Hornady brass. Get a 223 if you want to be sensible but get a 204 if you want something special.
Bruiser64 wrote:Thanks for the replies people.Bigfellascot, your post certainly shows the emphatic nature of a hit on foxes and bunnies. I am certain a .204 is in my future. Have any of you had experience with it on roos? I do a bit of roo shooting for a few cockies and am interested in the 204’s effectiveness. I am assuming a roo headshot with a 204 would drop like a stone.
SCJ429 wrote:The 40 grain Vmax is pretty handy, you should try some in your 204. From Hornady the BC is .275 @500 the drop is 32 and wind drift is 25 inches. Hard to beat.
brinny wrote:Bruiser64 wrote:Thanks for the replies people.Bigfellascot, your post certainly shows the emphatic nature of a hit on foxes and bunnies. I am certain a .204 is in my future. Have any of you had experience with it on roos? I do a bit of roo shooting for a few cockies and am interested in the 204’s effectiveness. I am assuming a roo headshot with a 204 would drop like a stone.
I cull heaps with mine mate.....I wouldnt like to get hit in the nut by one i can tell you....it would be all over red rover....not sure where you are, but here in Vic we have regulations in regards to culling roos....if you are here in Vic and your shooting roos you must head shoot, and projectile weight for the 204 is 40 grns minimum.....
Bruiser64 wrote:Well blokes, I am convinced! Clearly a .204 is an excellent addition to a gun cabinet. I am very impressed with all the shooting results shown hear. A bloke I know is selling his .204. If it checks out ok, it will find a new home with me. I think it should fill the gap nicely between my 22 magnum and .243. I will be reloading for it. It is good to know it can be loaded to hornet specs as well. That will be useful on smaller properties. I also think the quieter report over the 243 will have benefits in some situations as well. When it all comes down to it, I just want one.
SCJ429 wrote:Great haul there, a young fox, a good looking moggie and a rabbit, well done.
I looked at the Hornady Superformance ammo box and it has a zero at 200 and has 28 inch drop at 500. The speed at the muzzle is 3900, a bit faster than my reloads. I have had very good results with Speer TNT in other calibers but have not tried them in the 204. How have you found the TNTs, what powder is working for you?
Stix wrote:But wait...there's more...you can also load her up with trailboss & get the equivalent of another great cartridge in the hornet...quiet, easier to shoot, & still a very effective killer on anything in the 100ish yard range...now to me that is versatile, & i still havnt tried 40 grainers in it yet...!!!