Making a 204 Ruger shoot

O

onomrbil

Member
I've seen several 204 Rugers at the range and have had several of my own. Nary a one of them seems to shoot as well as it should. I was wondering if any of the small caliber experts here have any insights to share on getting this round to shoot well. It seems I can make anything but this round shoot. I'd give vent to my frustrations here but nobody wants to hear it...

What are you guys with good shooters doing to get your results? How good are the results you're getting?

Thanx, y'all. I know I'm going to learn something!
 
I've shot several working up loads for them even though I don't own one. I've shot savages, remmy's, and even an a-bolt browning with a heavy barrel. All three shot extremely well, under .5moa. This is one of those cartridges that is inherantly accurate.

Out of curiosity, what are you shooting and what kind of groups are you getting? Are you reloading, and if you are, what bullet/powder combos are you using?
 
I've worked with a bunch or .204's, Remington, Savage, CZ, TC, customs etc.
There are several 20 cal. bullets that don't shoot well or actually shoot terrible. My test load that shoots well in all 204Rugers is a 39gr. Sierra BlitzKing with Hodgen's Manual top load of BLC-2, bullets seated straight and well short of the lands. BLC-2 isn't my favorite powder but it shoots great in a variety of guns and comes close to some of my favorites such as N133 and Benchmark. If it doesn't shoot well with the 39gr BK then the scope, crown, bedding, trigger puller or ? is suspect.
 
The Sierras are good but the 40 gr bergers are even a little better. I keep a couple thousand of each on hand. I use a stout load of 133 and a not so stout load of 133 for good results including quite a few 1s. I shot a .190 at 150. My barrels are pacnor 11 twist polygonal. The bergers get almost the same acrobatics out of the prairie dogs but I get more ricochets. They are good out to just past 450 yards. After that, move up to 6mm.
 
Onomrbil: Yikes on your observations!
My first hand experiences and observations of the 204 are EXACTLY the opposite of yours!
I own and shoot 4 Varminters in caliber 204 Ruger and not only are each and every one of them pleasingly accurate - they VERY easily obtained that accuracy!
In addition all 4 of my 204's originally had to be on a diet of factory ammunition pending release of 204 Ruger headstamped brass - and each and every one of them loved the factory ammunition (Hornady 32 and 40 grain stuff!) all of them making sub .500" groups with factory ammo on occassion.
In the past couple of years I have had occassion to see probably 16 to 20 204 Ruger Rifles owned by close friends and shooting partners - each and every one of them has been pleasingly accurate!
The 4 Varminters I own are all factory stock Rifles with nary even a bedding job or recrowning done to them!
My "accurate" factory Rifles are:
#1 = Remington 700 VLS best 5 shot group to date = .398"
#2 = Ruger M-77 V/T best 5 shot group to date = .374"
#3 = Ruger #1-V S/S best 5 shot group to date = .343"
#4 = Remington XR-100 best 5 shot group to date = .322"
Now mind you once I get a Varminter shooting to my liking with a bullet I want for Varminting then I quit shooting the Rifle at the range - its used afield and only taken back to the range for sight in verifications. So I do not have a lot of repetitious type groups entered into my loading log book.
You mention you shoot other Rifles to a degree of accuracy you are happy with - just no luck with the 204 Ruger - so its not your shooting technique that is in question!
I truly am puzzled by this run of bad luck you are experiencing.
By the way my friends "accurate" 204 Ruger Rifles include those made by Cooper, savage, Ruger, Remington and a couple of hybrid customs.
I just have to urge you to try another 204.
I mean your unlucky streak has got to end sometime and the 204 is such a wonderful performing cartridge that once you get one to shoot to your liking you will be VERY happy with it I am sure.
I hear your frustrations and am happy to lend an ear - I just am at a loss as to how we can easily solve your "unusual" dilemma!
Try Berger bullets if you haven't already (the 35 grainers) and H 4895 powder.
Wishing your 204 experiences had been better!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
Thanx for all the help!

Out of curiosity, what are you shooting and what kind of groups are you getting? Are you reloading, and if you are, what bullet/powder combos are you using?[/QUOTE]

After reading down through the current replies I think I see at least part of the solution: don't use Hornady V-Max bullets. It seems they're not at the top of anybody's list right now. I'll get some Sierras and Bergers to try, and as soon as I get my swaging die I'll make a few of my own.

Have tried Benchmark, RE10X, IMR4895, IMR3031, VV133, VV135, all to exhaustion. CCI BR4s, 205Ms, Rem 7-1/2, etc. Seated bullets in and out. Groups are an inch and larger most of the time no matter what I do, this at 100 yds. Needless to say the woodchucks are pretty safe with accuracy like that....

BTW, the first 204 I got was a Savage Model 12 that wouldn't shoot in a bucket no matter what you fed it. I then tried an Encore with the TC barrel, then an EABCO barrel. The EABCO barrel seems to be doing better than the others but is not there yet. Maybe different bullets will do the trick.

Thanks, guys. I appreciate you sharing your insights with me.
 
Onomrbil,

I've had great success with 35gr. flat base Bergers using a host of powders.

One thing with the TC Encore platform. You may want to check your hingepin for tightness. If there is alot of slop between the pin and barrel lug or pin and receiver, your barrel is going to "whip" back and forth upon firing and your groups aren't going to be good at all. If you have a vise, lock the barrel in the vise with the breach open. Take your stock and move side to side and see how much play you have. Most I've dealt with have too much. EABCO offers an adjustable pin if I'm not mistaken that will tighten this connection up and should improve groups. Just a thought.......
 
While the Bergers may have a small edge in accuracy, the plastic tipped Sierras, Hornady's and Noslers will all shoot 3s or better in two Hart barrels, 1/2" in a factory 700V. I'd be curious to know which .20 bullets are junk.

The 39s/40s at 3900, the 32s at 4200. Personally, I think the 32 Hornady's give the best "performance" on prairie rats, but any of them will work just fine.

Using 10X, I've found the .204 to be primer sensitive. BR-4s give the lowest ES.

While I've never played with an Encore rifle, a Contender rifle I experimented years ago was extremely sensitive to both cheek pressure and forend placement on the front bag.

Good Luck!
 
No issues with any of the three I own....

Its nothing to do with the rounds.....its the rifles or the shooters.
 
Buy a Savage LRPV and try WW 748 powder with Sierra 39 gr BK bullets. Mine produces groups as small as one inch at 300 yards.

If you get one--
Check the bedding to be sure the action mates well to the aluminum bedding block. Dont' stress the action by tightening the rear action screw.
 
Here's my results with the .204 (see attachment)

I know, I know, I missed both the bullseye and the dime. :( :D

The scope is a Bushnell Banner 6x-18x 50 mm.
 

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Who Me?: WOW!
That Remington is tuned up!
Your grouping is way better than anything I have done to date with any of my battery of 204 Rifles!
Good for you!
And good for Remington!
Just for my information (as I have been keeping track of such things for many years now) has your Remington 700 VLS in caliber 204 Ruger been modified for accuracy in many or any significant ways?
Again splendid shooting there and many happy returns of that day!
I have not done any shooting of note with the 39 gr. Sierra's in my 204's, but I think that is going to be one of my upcoming winter projects after seeing your results!
Come to think of it my friend, Armand, out in the Puget Sound area (IIRC) told me of one grouping he made with one of his 6 (six) Varminters in 204 Ruger caliber that was in the high 1's.
Thanks in advance for any information on your 700 VLS!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
VarmintGuy said:
Who Me?: WOW!
That Remington is tuned up!
Your grouping is way better than anything I have done to date with any of my battery of 204 Rifles!
Good for you!
And good for Remington!
Just for my information (as I have been keeping track of such things for many years now) has your Remington 700 VLS in caliber 204 Ruger been modified for accuracy in many or any significant ways?
Again splendid shooting there and many happy returns of that day!
I have not done any shooting of note with the 39 gr. Sierra's in my 204's, but I think that is going to be one of my upcoming winter projects after seeing your results!
Come to think of it my friend, Armand, out in the Puget Sound area (IIRC) told me of one grouping he made with one of his 6 (six) Varminters in 204 Ruger caliber that was in the high 1's.
Thanks in advance for any information on your 700 VLS!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Click to expand...

VarmintGuy

The only thing I did was to pull the action out of the stock and adjust the trigger. I saw that "pressure bump" in the stock about two inches from the tip of the forend and I thought "well, I'll have to grind that down and glass-bed this thing". But I decided to shoot it first. Good thing I didn't fool with it, that "bump" seems to work just fine. I checked the point of impact about six weeks ago, before heading out to Medora, ND for a prarie dog hunt, I shot a 3 shot group that went into one hole a little smaller than that 5 shot group. So I guess it wasn't just a fluke. Now if I can get one of my two .22-250's to group that well...
 
I have a 204 in the model 12 LPV Savage . For varment hunting, a polymer tipped bullet is a must. Through 300 plus rounds I tried the 32 and 40 vmax and the 32 and 39 BK.Both 32 grainers will shoot good groups, but the 40 vmax will not. The 39 BK will shoot as well as the 32's and because of the high bc of .287 it is superior. I molly coat them and found Reloader 10 to be best powder for accuracy and velosity. My velosity is around 3750, which is safe in exteme hot weather with cartridges staying in my truck all the time. It can be pushed harder but I don't want to risk blown primer or worse. This rifle with 20x grand slam scope will shoot 3/8" or less consistently.Could be tweaked more, but I'm satisfied. Longest kill on ground hog so far is 383 yds.I'm looking for a 500 yd pig to try.
 
Marion Packett: I chose the 32 grain bullets to use in my 204's because they shoot flatter out to 480 yards or so than the heavier bullets I have tried.
Let me refer you to page 88 of the 2,008 edition of Remingtons catalog.
On lines 5 and 6 of the Rifle Centerfire Ballistics tables you will see that the factory 204 Ruger bullets as loaded by Remington with 32 grain bullets shoot flatter than their 40 grain offering.
I am assuming that they are loaded to similar pressures.
And during my initial testings the 32 grainers seemed to have even less recoil than the 40 grainers.
Shooting Varmints is all I do with my 204's and for that purpose I prefer the 32 grainers.
I have as yet to find any fault with them.
Long live the 204!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
.204/500y./pig

marion packett said:
I have a 204 in the model 12 LPV Savage . For varment hunting, a polymer tipped bullet is a must. Could be tweaked more, but I'm satisfied. Longest kill on ground hog so far is 383 yds.I'm looking for a 500 yd pig to try.
Click to expand...
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Imbecile. In America you may call .204/500y./pig a "sport", I call it a "piggery".

Shoot better
Peter
 
I shoot the 39 blitz kings in my Cz 204 and it shoots great here's a couple pics.Of targets and a chuck who had a bad day.
 

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