Howa .204 ruger. Just won one, thoughts?

johnr

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
19,997
Likes
3,594
Points
803
Location
Dickinson
Just got in from Philly at 9 pm, call my buddy Jeff to let him know I wasn't going to make it out to the pheasants forever banquet, while I am on the phone with him I here my name called in the background for this gun. I have never really even heard of this caliber, seems like a nice gun, the broker said it's worth just shy of $600. What do you guys think of this caliber. Seems it would be a varmint gun for the most part.
 


svnmag

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Posts
16,890
Likes
2,400
Points
773
Location
Here
I think I'd like to rub the top of your head for luck. Land of Billie Jean King, Democrat Convention now this?!

- - - Updated - - -

The .204 Ruger
By Chuck Hawks

horn_204-1.jpg
[SIZE=-2]Illustration courtesy of Hornady Mfg. Co.[/SIZE]Two of our industry's most innovative companies collaborated on the design and introduction of a new caliber, the .204 Ruger. Hornady took primary responsibility for the design and manufacture of the new cartridge and Ruger for the new rifles. Their efforts have been rewarded, as the .204 has become a solid commercial success since its introduction only four years ago.
Hornady factory ballistics for the original 32 grain V-Max bullet in the .204 Ruger claim a MV of 4225 fps and muzzle energy (ME) of 1308 ft. lbs. from a 24" test barrel. The velocity and energy figures down range are 3583 fps and 941 ft. lbs. at 100 yards, 3025 fps and 671 ft. lbs. at 200 yards, and 2531 fps and 469 ft. lbs. at 300 yards. Hornady has subsequently added a 40 grain V-Max and a 45 grain Spire Point bullet to its factory loaded ammo offerings. These same bullets are available to reloaders as components.
This is the fastest factory loaded cartridge ever introduced, although the .220 Swift, .223 WSSM and 5.6x57mm can achieve similar velocities with light 40 grain bullets that are comparable to the 32 grain .204 bullet. Hornady claims that their factory loads for the .204 Ruger is very accurate, designed to shoot into 1 MOA.
The trajectory of the 32 grain V-Max bullet, zeroed for a maximum bullet rise of 1.5", should look like this: +0.1" at 50 yards, +1.1" at 100 yards, +1.5" at 150 yards, +1.1" at 200 yards, -0.3" at 250 yards, -2.7" at 300 yards. The maximum point blank range of the .204 Ruger (+/- 1.5") is approximately 277 yards (calculated for a scope mounted 1.5" above the bore).
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".
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.
The .204 Ruger is a carefully designed and well balanced cartridge into which a lot of thought was put. All of the major US ammo manufacturers (Hornady, Remington, Federal and Winchester) now offer .204 factory loads, usually with bullet weights around 32 and 40 grains, and many rifle makers have adopted the cartridge. Its longevity is assured.
Note: A full length article about the .204 Ruger can be found on the Rifle Cartridge Page.
 

Wild and Free

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
4,815
Likes
53
Points
251
Location
west of mandan
300 cash and I can pick it up @ noon mountain time tomorrow in Dix. What say you? Pm me.;:;popcorn
Its win win for you either way........................BTW, congrats lucky obie one!
 


Kickemup

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2015
Posts
5,416
Likes
59
Points
298
Location
Lamoure ND
I don't have a 204. But I own 2 Howa one 223 and a 22-250. They are a little on the heavy side but shoot great.
 

johnr

Founding Member
Founding Member
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
19,997
Likes
3,594
Points
803
Location
Dickinson
Haha, I'm old and more of a fisherman, anxious to pick up a scope and shells to shot after a limit of cocks this morning.
The boy figures it is his gun since I didn't know of this particular caliber till now. From reading about it sounds as though it is one speedy bullet.
 

Petras

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
1,672
Likes
281
Points
303
Location
Stanley
excellent caliber for coyotes and anything smaller than that. I had a howa snowking package in .223 and that thing was just as heavy, if not heavier than my AR15 that has a 20# barrel on it.
 

Norske

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
600
Likes
5
Points
143
Location
Moorhead, MN
It's actually handier as a prairie dog rifle than a 22-250. The recoil is so light, the shooter can see his bullet strikes with even a 10X scope. The shooter doesn't need a spotter. Bullets are offered in 32 and 40 grain weights, one or the other of those will shoot well in most rifles.
 


johnr

Founding Member
Founding Member
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
19,997
Likes
3,594
Points
803
Location
Dickinson
I picked up a 3.5x10 scope for it and a box of bullets 50 for $45.00, not a cheap gun to shoot.
I will be putting a few rounds through it tomorrow, barrel break in, and sight in.
Will be the varmint gun this year. If not for me for the boy anyway, he is getting quite a collection of his own already at 10yrs old.
 

Recent Posts

Friends of NDA

Top Posters of the Month

  • This month: 169
  • This month: 137
  • This month: 121
  • This month: 110
  • This month: 107
  • This month: 89
  • This month: 84
  • This month: 79
  • This month: 77
  • This month: 76
Top Bottom