.204 RUGER TECH INFO NEEDED

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

Can anyone out there tell me where to get some technical info on the .204 Ruger? I would like to find out the diameter of the neck before reloading, or the trim size of the neck. Also what is the correct length of the case? I have no new shells with which to compare. I am disabled and do not get to the city but about once every other month. I really like this 204 caliber and would like to reload it, using the 32 gr V-Max bullet.
Thanks for any help you can give.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

www.chuckhawks.com/204_ruger.htm

Quote::

At the time of this writing the .204 is quite new and not a lot of reloading specifications and data are available. The .204 case is based on the .222 Remington Magnum, and is similar to its parent in most respects. Specifications that will be of interest to reloaders include the .204's actual bullet diameter of .204", cartridge overall length (COL) of 2.28" and its case length of 1.85".

Bullet choice in .204" diameter is not exactly extensive. Besides the 32 grain and 40 grain Hornady V-Max bullets there are a 36 grain Berger MEF (maximum expansion, flat base) hollow point bullet, and a 50 grain Berger HPBT bullet. As far as I know, that is it for commercially manufactured bullets suitable for the .204 Ruger at the time of this writing.

Hornady has indicated that because the .204 is factory loaded with a specially formulated powder that is not commercially available, reloaders will not be able to duplicate the ballistics of the factory load. Here is some reloading data courtesy of the Hodgdon Powder Company:

Starting Load - Hornady 32 grain V-Max bullet, 26.0 grains of H335 powder, MV 3703 fps, 40,600 PSI.
Maximum Load - Hornady 32 grain V-Max bullet, 28.3 grains of H335 powder, MV 4044 fps, 54,800 PSI.

Starting Load - Hornady 40 grain V-Max bullet, 25.0 grains of H335 powder, MV 3508 fps, 47,300 PSI.
Maimum Load - Hornady 40 grain V-Max bullet, 26.8 grains of H335 powder, MV 3738 fps, 56,700 PSI.

These loads used Hornady cases and Federal 205M primers. They were developed in a 24" test barrel.

As well as these folk Smile

www.204ruger.com/

These last group has web copies of reloading data from different sources Smile

Dimitri

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

Great Info, thanks much. I think I might even have some 222Mag casing somewhere out in the garage. I love to try new stuff.

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

The .204 rocks when it comes to a premier prairie dog rifle. I have two and they have taken over as my primary pd guns. These days brass is pretty easy to come by from Hornady, Winchester, Remington and possibly others. Plenty of loading data out there and loaded up they shoot like a laser.

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

skb2706 What load do you use? Factory, or home grown? 32gr or ?
Just wondering.

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

I have tried a few different combinations but I settled on

WW factory .204 brass
CCI BR-4 primers
32 gr. Hornady Vmax or Sierra 32 gr. BK
29.0 gr. RL-15 (slightly under listed max)
4150 fps from either 23" barrel 1-12 twist

These will ruin a prairie dogs day in a big hurry out past 400 yds.
I have not even worked with 40 gr. bullets because the 32s are doing exactly what I bought the guns for.

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

How does the CCI BR-4 differ from the CCI sml rifle magnum?

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

They are small rifle standard 'bench rest primers'.....supposed to be more uniform. I don't know if they are or not but I had them handy and they worked real well. I use them in a few other chamberings as well.

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

OK
Thanks I'll give this a try. I like the speed.
I have been using my 17HMR for the last month or so, on the new pups.
They're getting wise and bigger now, and are staying out to 200yds plus.
I can still hit them with the 17 HMR at 200 yds, (with the best of conditions), but am really anxious to see my 204 in action.

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

What .204 rifle do you have. Mine are both Contender carbines...actually one is my sons. His is more of a walking around varminter and mine is strictly a bench gun. Both have been on numerous pd shoots and I have no complains with either. I started out using a couple of boxes of factory ammo just to get the brass...which at the time was scarce. You can make up cases from .222 Rem. mag cases but now the brass is abundant and well made. Bullets can be had from Berger in 30, 36, 40 and 50 gr., from Nosler in 40 gr., Hornady in 32, 40, Sierra 32, 39 gr.. Most rifles have a standard 1-12 twist which is marginal at stablizing 40 gr. bullets but seems to be excellent with the lighter ones. Depends on the rifle. As with any sub .22 cal CF guns you will need appropriate powder funnel and cleaning equip.

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

I bought a Remington 700 and had a trigger job done by a gunsmith.
It probably did not need the trigger job but I'm a nut when it comes to trigger pull. The GD. tree hugging, sue happy bastards have forced the gun companies to put such ridiculous trigger pull on all new guns, it forces us to have a trigger job done or buy a new trigger. At least Savage had the balls to put an adjustable trigger on some of their new rifles, I have one in a 17 HMR and it ain't bad. Anyway back to the subject at hand. I get a little carried away when I get on some subjects.
I really enjoy my Remington, and it shoots pretty good groups for me. I only have one hand to use for the trigger so I need a pretty light rifle, #1 in gun weight, and, #2 in recoil. I am pretty much held to shooting off of a rest. So I had a friend build me a rest that we could put in the front seat of my 4whd Club Car, and he gets in the back and shoots off a rooftop rest that he also built. He shoots a 204 in a Savage with the Accu Trigger and he loves it. He shoots a 32 gr bullet as do I. Now I forgot the original topic. Anyway I hope somewhere in this rambling I have answered your question.
Cliff

Crackshot · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:33 am Post subject: Re: .204 RUGER TECH INFO NEEDED

thank god for the tree huggers & Lawyers.........keeps me in work.:):):)

WildHorse · Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 184 Location: Nebraska

OK Crackshot, I'll bite, what is it the you do?