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Author Topic: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience  (Read 15571 times)

Offline Highmountaindan

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204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« on: October 21, 2015, 09:45:35 PM »
Im picking up a ruger american predator and wanted to know the experience that others have had with the caliber.
If the shoe fits! Wear it)( Its not the grades you make but the hands you shake! favorite podcasts are meat eater, jay scott outdoors and hunt backcountry podcast by exo mountain gear.

Offline WAcoyotehunter

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2015, 07:25:35 AM »
Its a good caliber for coyotes and bobcats.  I shot the 32gr hornadys and had good luck.  When hit behind the shoulder the coyotes seemed to run a bit (10-30yrds?) before dying, more than they do with the 22.250 anyway.  The fur damage was minimal. 

It's a good little round.  I think you'll like it.  The best part for me was the lack of recoil.  I could keep my eye open and watch the impact through the scope.

Offline jjhunter

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2015, 08:06:29 AM »
I almost sold my Cooper after the first week of coyote hunting with it.   I has several run-offs with the 32 grain v-max.

I switched to the 40 grain v-max and was in love.   I have since moved to the 39 grain blitzkings @ a tad over 4K and it is the best coyote medicine that I have ever served up!   If you shoot a lot of coyotes on the run, it is a very forgiving round with the speed/trajectory out to 500 yards.

Offline CAMPMEAT

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2015, 08:35:24 AM »
Devastating round. I have one in an AR and a T/C Encore.
I couldn't care less about what anybody says..............

Offline jpharcher

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2015, 05:42:34 PM »
I have a heavy barrel bolt and an AR with 24" shilen....they both love the 39 blitz and 40 grain Berger bullets.

Offline 2labs

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2015, 05:45:38 PM »
Favorite rifle!! Red mist way out there. 8)
« Last Edit: October 22, 2015, 05:56:13 PM by 2labs »
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Offline bowhunterforever

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2015, 05:52:17 PM »
Its a good caliber for coyotes and bobcats.  I shot the 32gr hornadys and had good luck.  When hit behind the shoulder the coyotes seemed to run a bit (10-30yrds?) before dying, more than they do with the 22.250 anyway.  The fur damage was minimal. 

It's a good little round.  I think you'll like it.  The best part for me was the lack of recoil.  I could keep my eye open and watch the impact through the scope.
:yeah: Love mine
You sure you know how to skin griz pilgram

Offline JODakota

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2015, 05:59:41 PM »
Love mine, but semi retired it since I picked up a .220 swift.
Not for self, but for country

Offline MountainWalk

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2015, 06:08:43 PM »
Glad folks are still keepin' the old "Swuft" alive and going.  One critical life mistake I made was selling mine.  Old style Ruger 77, 30" heavy barrel.
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Offline JODakota

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2015, 06:16:45 PM »
Glad folks are still keepin' the old "Swuft" alive and going.  One critical life mistake I made was selling mine.  Old style Ruger 77, 30" heavy barrel.

Hell yeah, it's a hammer. Mines a Rem 700. Love the Rugers
Not for self, but for country

Offline Highmountaindan

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2015, 09:07:23 PM »
Thanks for the feedback guys. Any of you using a surpressor? The coyote killing property is in the valley with wide open fields but with homes. It sounds like you have to get a trust :dunno: Could someone explain that has experience with the process?
If the shoe fits! Wear it)( Its not the grades you make but the hands you shake! favorite podcasts are meat eater, jay scott outdoors and hunt backcountry podcast by exo mountain gear.

Offline Blacklab

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2015, 05:40:29 PM »
Love mine as well. A couple youtube video's sealed the deal for me. Little bullets that go really really fast makes me giggle ;)
Hey! I'm not a complete idiot I have parts missing. Though sometimes I wonder.

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Offline Emptyhanded

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204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2015, 07:56:58 PM »
I love mine. Killed a few coyotes with the 32 gr vmax, but have since switched to the 35 gr Berger. Haven't had the chance to kill a yote with the new load but I'm sure it'll hammer them just fine. They shoot really well out of my ruger ultra lite.


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Offline JDHasty

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2015, 08:21:45 AM »
I have a CZ American.  It's an OK round.  Extremely accurate in that rifle, but velocity measured across our Oehlers isn't that spectacular.  I have an H&R Ultra-Wildcat in 17 Rem that I shoot a lot more.  I shoot my 243's and 22-250's more too.  Not taking anything away from it, it works fine. 

Offline demontang

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2015, 08:56:18 AM »
I had one and had lots of run offs but they have new bullets out for it now. It was a good squirrel gun and my 223 went out for coyotes.

Offline Gringo31

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #15 on: October 28, 2015, 10:39:41 AM »
I recommend shooting closer to 40 grain.  The smaller grain bullets have a lot higher chance of splash.  I probably prefer my 223.  The 204 is a little too fast and I can't see the bullet hit the coyote like I can in the 223.  That, and wind drift can be more challenging  :twocents:
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Offline Big10gauge

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #16 on: October 28, 2015, 03:53:28 PM »
Stay away from any plastic point for coyotes and it works ok. I shoot both a .204 and .20 Tac with 39 grainers. Usually the place you buy the can from will fill out the trust for you.
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Offline Trapper John

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #17 on: October 29, 2015, 09:23:43 PM »
Love my Tack-driver.  I'm using 32 gr Hornady bullet.  I took it to North Dakota the last six ~ seven years now for some dog hunting ..... Prairie Dogs that is.   I was hitting those dogs out at 500 plus yards.  Sweet caliber, get one
JC   :hello:   

Offline reelmcoy

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2015, 02:11:35 PM »
my buddy shot two bobcat with the 204 one dropped where it was and one ran 40 yards ,but that probably says more about shot placement then any thing else

Offline AWS

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2015, 02:51:06 PM »
Never owned a 204 but am loading and shooting three wildcats on that case, 22-204(222 Rem Mag Improved), 6mm-204(6x47 Rem Improved) and a 25-204(257 Kimber clone)that matches or exceeds 250-3000 Sav factory loads.  They are about as much as you can get out of a small bolt face round without having to do any fire forming or using exotic import brass(5.6x50mm Mag).
After the first shot the rest are just noise.

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Offline 257 Wby Mag

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2015, 03:07:19 PM »
32 gr vmax




I love mine...
Tod Riechert fan club.

Offline CAMPMEAT

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #21 on: December 10, 2015, 05:17:06 PM »
32 gr vmax




I love mine...



Love the Badger.....
I couldn't care less about what anybody says..............

Offline Jerry malbeck

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #22 on: December 10, 2015, 07:09:36 PM »
I recommend shooting closer to 40 grain.  The smaller grain bullets have a lot higher chance of splash.  I probably prefer my 223.  The 204 is a little too fast and I can't see the bullet hit the coyote like I can in the 223.  That, and wind drift can be more challenging  :twocents:
:yeah:
But ya probably dont want to listen to someone who only shoots a few coyotes ( Sorry Gringo i could not resist).
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Offline coyotehunter

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #23 on: December 26, 2015, 12:09:44 PM »
The ultimate coyote caliber. 35 gr bergers, H4895, pushing around 4000fps. put one in chest and it'll drop right there and NO exit wound. I've used it exclusively for almost 10 years.

Offline JakeLand

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #24 on: December 26, 2015, 03:50:03 PM »
If any of you are interested I have 100 pieces of .204 ruger brass once fired . After selling the gun I found these

Offline Born2late

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #25 on: December 26, 2015, 04:09:45 PM »
How much you want for the Brass?

Offline Emptyhanded

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #26 on: December 26, 2015, 04:22:37 PM »
I may be interested in the brass also...


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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #27 on: December 26, 2015, 04:25:34 PM »
How much you want for the Brass?

I think those go for a $1 a piece.  :tup:
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Offline JakeLand

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #28 on: December 26, 2015, 04:52:09 PM »
I'll trade for .22 LR if anyone has any

Offline Born2late

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #29 on: December 26, 2015, 05:14:19 PM »
How many rounds  do you want in trade?

Offline JakeLand

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #30 on: December 26, 2015, 05:30:05 PM »
What do you think 200 or what you think is fair
« Last Edit: December 26, 2015, 05:56:21 PM by JakeLand »

Offline JakeLand

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #31 on: December 26, 2015, 08:43:36 PM »
.204 brass is gone

Offline Gringo31

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #32 on: December 29, 2015, 09:13:21 AM »
I may have some 204 brass for sale.  Got a bunch of it laying around.  PM me if interested


Will say the 204 is a hoot to shoot.  I haven't used mine in awhile but took it out last night and killed 8 dogs in a few hours.  It's common to not be able to tell where you hit them, but I hold for the middle of the shoulder.
We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.
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Offline Highmountaindan

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #33 on: March 06, 2016, 08:38:34 PM »
I was able to get a ruger American predator in 204. It shoots 40grain vmax pretty awesome. I have been out a few times calling dogs but none have come in yet. I'm looking forward to Seing its performance, thanks for all the posts guys
If the shoe fits! Wear it)( Its not the grades you make but the hands you shake! favorite podcasts are meat eater, jay scott outdoors and hunt backcountry podcast by exo mountain gear.

Offline jpharcher

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #34 on: March 07, 2016, 08:28:30 PM »
Gringo,
How much for how much
I now have 2 204's, Remington 700 heavy barrel and custom built AR with 24" Shilen tight twist 1 in 9 twist,
Both shoot 40 grain Bergers EXTEMELY well!

Offline jessie88

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #35 on: March 08, 2016, 08:41:28 AM »
i shot a coyote with mine last year at about 100 yards. i shoot the 32 grain bullet and the dog wasnt a huge dog probably 12-15lbs it still folded to the ground with a literal butt shut. i blew a hole in his real end and threw his legs sideways lol. i love the gun. yes less knockdown than a 22 250 but very similar ballistics and its a laser. hit a crow at 346 yards once and held about 7 inches high when sighted for 200.

Offline JDHasty

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Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
« Reply #36 on: March 08, 2016, 10:19:02 AM »
I shot my CZ American the other day w/39 Gr BK.  Good Lord it is accurate.  I think I will shoot it more this year than I have been lately.   

 


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