Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Accuracy of Ruger in 204?

A friend wants to get a Ruger 77 and 204. What kind of accuracy can he expect with this rifle out-of-the-box? I'd rather he get a Rem, Sako, or Savage for that application, but to be honest, I have always shied away from Ruger centerfire rifle and don't know much about them. He doesn't want the 77 Mk II Target model.

What can I tell him?

I'm currently lovin' the 204, but can't help with the Ruger question.....

What rifle do you have it in?

Remmy model 7........

I had a Ruger 77VT in 204 Ruger . Got it from a friend used .

Before I bought it I shot it at the range with factory Hornady 40 grain loads . At 100 yards the rifle would put 5 shots in one ragged hole .

I handloaded just about every bullet I could find for it and many shot just as well as the factory and a few were even a tad better .

Sadly I taded the rifle off for something else .

Blaine,

I recently mounted a scope for a neighbor on a brand new Blued/Wood Ruger M-77 MK-II in 204 Ruger. To be a sporter that thing was very heavy. It averaged around 1.5 to 1.75" 3 shot groups @ 100 yds with factory 40gr loads. Mounted a second (known) scope just to be sure and it grouped the same. Was less than impressed...

I can't speak of the Ruger skinny barrel in .204 but the Savage 16 in stainless skinny barrel shoots Sub MOA.

I have a Ruger #1-V in .204 and it averages .35 to .5 with the 40 gr. v-max handloaded. I have a new Ruger #1-B in .204 that I haver not shot yet.

The .204 should be handloaded for best accuracy in your rifle.

The skinny barreled CZ rifles in .204 do very well also.

I've had two VT's in 204 that shot bugholes, with 32, 40 and 39's. A bud has a 77 sporter that hovers about an inch with 32's, and the heavy trigger. His won't shoot the 40's at all. A rifle basix fixes the trigger nicely.......Don

Guys,

Thanks. I have sent him the link to this thread. Hopefully he'll become a memeber and join in.

Blaine,
I bought a Ruger Stainless Ultra Light in 204. Dumped it into a LSS Compact factory stock, without bedding it.
Am getting under 1" groups with my handloads.
Have an old Leupold fixed 8 power scope on it.
Virgil B.

Cheaha........tell your neighbor to try a lighter bullet;some 204s refuse to shoot the 40 gr v-max

I did suggest he try the other factory loads. Not sure what other offerings are avaible for it. It was a brand new rifle and might be better with a little tinkering. He just wanted me to mount the Ruger rings and sight-in his scope for him. He planned on hunting Whtetails with it. Haven't talked with him since season is over.

Thanks Blaine!

I started a new thread here:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...mp;Number=1289209&page=0#Post1289209

I do not own a 204, but several Rugers in other calibers and they have served me very well. All are capable of Sub MOA.

I'm still thinking on the lines of 204 Ruger, and have narrowed it dowd on rifle selection to:

Remington VL SS thumbhole (new for 07)

Sako Varmint Stainless laminated set trigger

Savage 12 Varmint low profile

Still have the Ruger laminated in the back of my mind, but it's fading.

Remington has a limited run of a beautiful black lam thumbhole stainless in 223 and 22-250 that is also tempting me.

The concensus among local gunsmiths is that the Savage shoots the best...

Sako Varmint Stainless laminated set trigger,and I have the a Savage in 204 but it doesn't compare to a Sako.Course theres a little $ differance.

That's the way I'm leaning. I probably won't be able to extract the full potential from this gun for a while, but my skills should grow into it.

If you got the extra bucks to spend , Sako over Savage by all means..........

Man that Sako felt nice. Unbelieveable trigger. Only problem is, this one had a defect (chip) in the stock right behind the receiver and it was a 22-250.

Just have your dealer order one in .204 and your good to go!