Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: Highmountaindan on October 21, 2015, 09:45:35 PM

Title: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Highmountaindan 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: WAcoyotehunter 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: jjhunter 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: CAMPMEAT on October 22, 2015, 08:35:24 AM: Devastating round. I have one in an AR and a T/C Encore.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: jpharcher 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: 2labs on October 22, 2015, 05:45:38 PM: Favorite rifle!! Red mist way out there. 8)
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 22, 2015, 05:52:17 PM: Quote from: WAcoyotehunter 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.
:yeah: Love mine
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JODakota on October 22, 2015, 05:59:41 PM: Love mine, but semi retired it since I picked up a .220 swift.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: MountainWalk 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JODakota on October 22, 2015, 06:16:45 PM: Quote from: MountainWalk 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.

Hell yeah, it's a hammer. Mines a Rem 700. Love the Rugers
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Highmountaindan 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?
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Blacklab 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 ;)
Title: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Emptyhanded 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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Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JDHasty 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: demontang 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Gringo31 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:
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Big10gauge 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Trapper John 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:
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: reelmcoy 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
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: AWS 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).
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on December 10, 2015, 03:07:19 PM: 32 gr vmax
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi695.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv313%2F257WbyMag%2F3A4E8F19-F423-410D-B31C-854EBD165679_zpsryulpi76.jpg&hash=9b9c72011b11efed98f3c860b6657d51567f6ae7) (http://s695.photobucket.com/user/257WbyMag/media/3A4E8F19-F423-410D-B31C-854EBD165679_zpsryulpi76.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi695.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv313%2F257WbyMag%2FEF0140A4-79FB-4B34-9502-2EA9CDF2215B_zpsjrhmr5zt.jpg&hash=9de38e06a40d67726502ed86285a886285e37cd3) (http://s695.photobucket.com/user/257WbyMag/media/EF0140A4-79FB-4B34-9502-2EA9CDF2215B_zpsjrhmr5zt.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi695.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv313%2F257WbyMag%2F93C613C4-8626-45D7-A429-960E3D83327B_zps41bqzlgd.jpg&hash=9d3cd9c0420d012ba9ba393959563c36fd7d5eb7) (http://s695.photobucket.com/user/257WbyMag/media/93C613C4-8626-45D7-A429-960E3D83327B_zps41bqzlgd.jpg.html)

I love mine...
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: CAMPMEAT on December 10, 2015, 05:17:06 PM: Quote from: 257 Wby Mag on December 10, 2015, 03:07:19 PM
32 gr vmax
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi695.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv313%2F257WbyMag%2F3A4E8F19-F423-410D-B31C-854EBD165679_zpsryulpi76.jpg&hash=9b9c72011b11efed98f3c860b6657d51567f6ae7) (http://s695.photobucket.com/user/257WbyMag/media/3A4E8F19-F423-410D-B31C-854EBD165679_zpsryulpi76.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi695.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv313%2F257WbyMag%2FEF0140A4-79FB-4B34-9502-2EA9CDF2215B_zpsjrhmr5zt.jpg&hash=9de38e06a40d67726502ed86285a886285e37cd3) (http://s695.photobucket.com/user/257WbyMag/media/EF0140A4-79FB-4B34-9502-2EA9CDF2215B_zpsjrhmr5zt.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi695.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv313%2F257WbyMag%2F93C613C4-8626-45D7-A429-960E3D83327B_zps41bqzlgd.jpg&hash=9d3cd9c0420d012ba9ba393959563c36fd7d5eb7) (http://s695.photobucket.com/user/257WbyMag/media/93C613C4-8626-45D7-A429-960E3D83327B_zps41bqzlgd.jpg.html)

I love mine...

Love the Badger.....
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Jerry malbeck on December 10, 2015, 07:09:36 PM: Quote from: Gringo31 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:
:yeah:
But ya probably dont want to listen to someone who only shoots a few coyotes ( Sorry Gringo i could not resist).
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: coyotehunter 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JakeLand 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
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Born2late on December 26, 2015, 04:09:45 PM: How much you want for the Brass?
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Emptyhanded on December 26, 2015, 04:22:37 PM: I may be interested in the brass also...

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Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 26, 2015, 04:25:34 PM: Quote from: Born2late on December 26, 2015, 04:09:45 PM
How much you want for the Brass?

I think those go for a $1 a piece. :tup:
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JakeLand on December 26, 2015, 04:52:09 PM: I'll trade for .22 LR if anyone has any
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Born2late on December 26, 2015, 05:14:19 PM: How many rounds do you want in trade?
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JakeLand on December 26, 2015, 05:30:05 PM: What do you think 200 or what you think is fair
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JakeLand on December 26, 2015, 08:43:36 PM: .204 brass is gone
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Gringo31 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: Highmountaindan 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
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: jpharcher 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!
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: jessie88 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.
Title: Re: 204 Ruger anyone? Whats your experience
Post by: JDHasty 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.