4,400 fps !

[Guy Miner]

I've been happily using the hot little .204 Ruger for several years as my primary varmint cartridge. Accurate, no recoil, nasty results on target. Velocity from 3,900 - 4,000 fps, or a little more isn't hard to achieve. Even factory ammo is fast. What I didn't know was that Hornady introduced a lighter, faster load, 4,400 fps fast! Wow...

http://www.hornady.com/store/204-Ruger-24-gr-NTX/

 

[JD338]

Well, as you know, speeds sells. 4400 fps is fast but the low bc of the 24 gr bullet will slow it down quick and the wind will have its way with the little pill. If I were to shoot the 204 Ruger, I would go with the "heavy" bullets. :grin:

JD338

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Well, as you know, speeds sells. 4400 fps is fast but the low bc of the 24 gr bullet will slow it down quick and the wind will have its way with the little pill. If I were to shoot the 204 Ruger, I would go with the "heavy" bullets. :grin: JD338

and a 1:10 twist barrel!

I believe the T/C Venture is the only production barrel with this fast twist. Maybe the Encore barrels too.

That is smoking fast tho Guy.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Well, as you know, speeds sells. 4400 fps is fast but the low bc of the 24 gr bullet will slow it down quick and the wind will have its way with the little pill. If I were to shoot the 204 Ruger, I would go with the "heavy" bullets. :grin: JD338

and a 1:10 twist barrel!

I believe the T/C Venture is the only production barrel with this fast twist. Maybe the Encore barrels too.

That is smoking fast tho Guy.

Barrel life 0!!! Maybe on the generous side 1000 rounds?

 

[Guy Miner]

Actually, the .204 is supposed to be relatively gentle on barrels, compared to other high intensity varmint cartridges like the .22-250, etc.

Mine only has a few hundred rounds through it at this point, so I don't know for sure.

 

[shoots_5]

I just achieved 4380fps with a 40 grain Varmageddon out of my 22-250 using Hodgdon CFE 223. No pressure signs...might be able to push it to 4400, but accuracy wasn't great....pretty awesome velocities for sure though! Pretty exciting what we're able to achieve with some of the newer powders out on the market.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I am, I guess, somewhat conservative. I like my CZ 527, .204 Ruger a lot. I mostly shoot 32 grain Varmegeddon or BT's at about 3980 or so fps using IMR 3031. This is plenty fast and does not show any pressure signs at all. I would really like to have this rifle last for 2000 rounds or so of 1/2 minute accuracy before throat erosion messes up that little .204 pill barrel. For this, I am willing to give up some velocity and go with high accuracy and longer barrel life.

 

[SJB358]

Wow! That is SCREAMING!

 

[DrMike]

As Jim has stated, velocity sells. It doesn't mean that it gives a significant advantage, however, due to the necessity of a lighter bullet and a lower BC.

 

[onesonek]

As Jim has stated, velocity sells. It doesn't mean that it gives a significant advantage, however, due to the necessity of a lighter bullet and a lower BC.

Yep, I agree,,,,,,,,
I wasn't far from that velocity in my Swift with 40 grainers, and except for the calmest of days, it was challenging to say the least much beyond 400 yds. 50's or 55's held up somewhat better, albeit slower.
Still the 6mmAI with 55's @ 4200 fps are better yet. :twisted:

 

[FOTIS]

My load for my 204 is
32 gr V max 29.8 gr Win 748

4230 fps from my ruger #1V

 

[257 Ackley]

Speed is a wonderful thing and will compensate for ranging errors to a certain degree. I found my 204 Cooper didn't give me the capabilities to be consistent on p-dogs out further than 300 yards. The wind has too much "influence" on hits with the light bullets. I sold that rifle last month and will be replacing it with a fast twist .22 of some sort this next year. They are fun to shoot and a hoot to watch the results through the scope, but they are limited on their effective range when compared to .22/6mm calibers that can shoot heavier bullets.

 

[Greg Nolan]

I'd love to watch a prarie dog "respond" to a hit from one of those :shock:

 

[AzDak42]

Pretty sure youtube has a slew of videos up on the 204.

 

[BK]

I prefer the 40s in my .224... I think they shoot a little tighter, and buck the wind a bit better.

 

[Guy Miner]

When I started with the .204, I bought some 32 and 40 gr Hornady ammo. The 40 grain ammo shot more accurately from my rifle, so I bought a box of 250, 40-gr Hornady A-Max bullets. They proved Very Effective on rockchucks! I've used the 40's out to 500 yards.

Later, seeking better accuracy, I tried the 35 grain flat base, hollow point Berger. Very good on target and on varmints. Not quite as explosive as the plastic tipped Hornady bullets.

Earlier this year SPS had a great sale on 32 grain Ballistic Tip bullets and I got a mess of them delivered to the house. Haven't tried them yet - too much 35 & 40 gr ammo already on hand.

All my loading for this tiny cartridge is done on an arbor press, with Wilson dies. Usually get somewhere around a .3 or .4" group at 100 yards, from the bipod.

Although I didn't get out for rockchucks this spring, I hope to swat some prairie dogs this fall.

 

[Oldtrader3]

My .204 shoots the Nosler 32 grain BT's better than it does the 40 gr bullets that I have tried. I think that it is the 1:12 twist barrel that makes the lighter bullets shoot more accurately in my CZ 527. I need to try loading some of the 45 grain Hornady bullets with the shorter, rounder nose and see how they shoot. The Hornady 40 gr do not shoot that well in this rilfe.

 

[BK]

I've been trying to find some Sierra BlitzKing 39 grainers to try, just for gits and shiggles, but every time I go to Warehouse sports, they are out.

 

[Oldtrader3]

The 34 gr Super X Winchester plain brand ammo shot better then the 32 gr CT Ballistic Tip in my CZ. I was getting well under 1/2 MOA, 5-shot groups with the 34 grain factory ammo, with some light cross wind, which is about as well as this rifle will shoot any ammo.

 

[338 Ultra]

My best 40 grain swift load was running 4350 with 1/2" 5 shot groups just awesome out to 350 yards then wind drift was killer. Pooched a barrel way before it's time using that load. Now I shoot 55's at a very sedate 3750 even more accurate and much better in the wind. Yup speed sells yup speed makes millions and millions of dollars, then your smith hands you the bill for your rebarrel job and on the way home you are working on a mulitutude of possable explainations for your wife when she asks how much?