.204 Ruger??

[toecatch]

I was at the gun shop the other day talking about varmint hunting with small calibers, and the owner told me that Ruger is making A new .204 caliber. Anyone know anything about it?

[BayouCityBoy]

Its actually called the 204 Ruger and is based on a 222 Rem Mag case necked to 204 bore diameter.

The 20 Cals have been getting quite a bit of press in the past few years and Ruger and Hornady took the plunge - Ruger making rifles and Hornady making the bullets and ammo. Both of their web sites have more info.

20 cal bullets have been scarce in the past with Hornady being the only well-known commercial maker. They made a 33 gr VMax and are phasing it out for the 32 GR bullet with a 40 grainer to come later this spring.

(Edit) Also, Berger made a 36 grain HP bullet in the past and has just introduced bullets in 30, 35, 40 and 50 grains.

I have two 20 Tacticals that I hand-swage .204 HP bullets for. They are very accurate and flat shooting cartridges for PD's, fox, and coyotes. As all twenties now require custom barrels, it will be intereting to see if Ruger can make an accurate 20 caliber barrel.

Check out the Twenty Caliber Page for more information.

[TonyRumore]

I have made about a half dozen AR's in Tactical 20 and will do the .204 Ruger as soon as the chamber reamers become available. The Tact 20's shoot extremely well, with 5 shot groups under 1/2" at 100 yards no problem. I normally use Pac-Nor Super Match Stainless barrel blanks with a 1:12 twist.

Tony Rumore
Tromix Corp

[DavidLeeValdina]

This new cartridge has the potential to be great, but if the major rifle companies don't chamber it, it will fade from the scene. The .17 HMR caught fire, and it will be with us a long time. I think I saw a post that NEF may chamber the new Ruger round. Time will tell. I just got a new .223 and will be breaking it in soon. I will post later how it developes. Maybe next year on the Ruger, hopefully they wil offer at least one model with a good trigger.

[BayouCityBoy]

;D

David:

Hopefully Ruger will put some good barrels on them also - something they're not always known for.

The various 20 calibers have been around for years. Ruger and Hornady finally took the leap to legitimize a cartridge. With Hornady making 2 bullets and Berger 4, the 20 will survive - just maybe not Ruger's version if they don't do their part. Today, all the 20's are very accurate due to custom barrels.

The Tweny Caliber Page - do a search - has some good information on the 20 calibers. Also, Todd Kindler at the Woodchuck Den has done lots to get the 20's recognized. - BCB

[Bobcat]

Here is the press release from Ruger. Somebody build or buy one of these and give us some field reports.

"Sturm, Ruger is proud to introduce five rifle models for 2004 in an exciting new caliber: the 204 RUGER. This small, fast, and efficient new cartridge is the result of another joint development effort between Sturm, Ruger and Hornady Manufacturing Company. The 204 RUGER shares the same case head and overall length cartridge as the 223 Remington, but uses a slender new 20 caliber, 32 grain, V-MAXTM bullet. The 204 RUGER’s bullet has an extremely efficient ballistic coefficient of 0.192, and an amazing muzzle velocity of 4,225 feet per second.

When compared directly with either the 22-250 Remington or the 220 Swift, the 204 RUGER offers higher muzzle velocity and flatter trajectory. Because the 204 RUGER cartridge achieves a higher velocity with less propellant than either the 22-250 Remington or the 220 Swift, this new cartridge does not compromise barrel life. The 204 RUGER also offers lower recoil and muzzle report than comparable high-velocity, sub-caliber ammunition. Its conventional case shape avoids feeding problems and increased rearward bolt thrust associated with short and super short magnum cartridges.

Because this new caliber provides significant benefits for varmint hunters and target shooters alike, Sturm, Ruger is introducing five rifle models chambered for the 204 RUGER. These include three bolt action rifles and two single shot rifles. The Ruger M77 MKII bolt action rifles include: the M77R in blued steel with a cut-checkered American walnut stock; the KM77RLFP Ultralight All-Weather in stainless steel with a synthetic stock and a light contour barrel; and the Target Grey KM77VT Target rifle in stainless steel with a brown, laminated wood stock, heavy target barrel, and two-stage target trigger. Ruger No.1 single shot models include the No. 1 Standard in blued steel with a cut-checkered American walnut stock and the No. 1 Stainless Varminter in stainless steel with a black, laminated stock.

These new 204 RUGER models will be available beginning in March 2004."

[BayouCityBoy]

Bob:

I just wanted to comment on the materials from Ruger's web site. As you stated, Ruger's web site shows the 204 Ruger as sharing "the same case head and overall length cartridge as the 223 Remington...".

The original press releases from Ruger and Hornady several months ago said the same as above but referenced the 222 Remington Magnum case. I had printed them off the internet at the time and also Todd Kindler's report in SCN referenced the 222 RM case.

I wonder if its a misprint on their web site or if Ruger has switched horses in midstream. Using the 223 Rem case would make it pretty much a 20 Tactical with some possible minor changes.

Has anyone heard any other information? Also just saw that Hornady has anounced a 17 Mach 2 cartridge- looks like the 17 Aguilla.

(Edited for spelling)

[MarkA]

I can not imagine what the will COST! Aint gonna be cheap, but I have no money for guns now anyway so I'll just drowl!

[TonyRumore]

I have a couple sets of Hornady 204 Ruger dies here, and running a .223 case into the FL sizer results in only about .100" of the neck being sized down to .204" and the shoulder isn't even close to touching.

The .204 Ruger obviously uses a much longer bodied case then the .223.

Tony Rumore

[BayouCityBoy]

Tony:

In spite of what Ruger's web site now says, I would guess its a misprint. The original press release in late 2003 referenced the 222 Remington Magnum case as the parent case for the 204 Ruger.

Length of the 223 case is 1.760", the 222 Rem Mag case is 1.850" and it appears that Ruger has moved the 204 shoulder forward slightly on the 222 RM case. - BCB

[Yellowhammer]

I talked to NEF customer service, and they told me they will offer the 204 Ruger by summer. Add on barrels in that caliber should follow.

[Bobcat]

BCB,

I think the press release is just confusing by talking about the case head size and OAL being the same as the .223. It does not say it is based on the .223. As stated above, it is a .222 Rem Mag necked down to .20 caliber. The case head size is the same on the .223 and .222 Rem Mag.
I am looking forward to some first hand field reports.

Bob

[BayouCityBoy]

Bobcat:



You're right - I read right through the OAL length issue on the web site. They're probably trying to entice the AR folks with the 204 Ruger length = to a 223. Anyway, makes for confusing reading... but my wife says I get confused easily!!

Take Care - BCB

[Bobcat]

BCB,

It was very poorly written and confusing. I don't think we were alone!

Bob

[Trapperbritni]

???I AM The new guy here,I have lot's of info on the new Ruger.204 downloaded if you can tell me how i will post it ? I have A Ruger .204 on order and i am having one custom built.