Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles anybody ever used a 204 ruger for???

There was a ‘fire member who killed a muley with one a few years back.

Don’t recall who it was. But it worked.

It was me.

The 45 grain SP worked but honestly wasn't impressive, though a smaller doe whitetail may be a better match for it. This buck was double lunged at about 50 yards, broadside. He ran 75(ish) yards before falling over without any kind of a blood trail which really wasn't a big deal in the fairly open timber where he was. I have occasionally had this same kind of performance with .270 Win class rounds/130 grain SPs so I should probably withhold judgment, but the .204 Rug and 45 grain SP didn't give me the warm and fuzzy on mule deer. I'll stick to my .223 Rem as a minimum for them.

I'd like one necked up to 6mm. Need to find dies.

S type bushing dies. Swap bushings and you're ready to go.

Thanks. I have no idea about bushing dies, but will look into it.

I believe Erich, I think on here has done just this.

Might shoot him a PM.

You can also use a 22 lr. Lol! My father in law lost a nice whitetail buck to an attempted heart shot with a 204. Never found him.

When in doubt use a bigger gun.

I'm waiting for one of the recoil-phobes here to advocate a bb gun for deer hunting.

22/204-26" 9T barrel, short FB. I am shooting the 65g Sierra and the 64g Win at 3350 with CFE, win brass.

6/204 is next.

How was the internal damage?

I don't recall, but if it was substantial I think I would have taken note.

It didn't exit nor get stopped by the far side hide, and at most hit just a rib.

They offset the knuckleheads who think a 30-06 slinging 180s is a bit light for deer larger than middling does.

I downed on with a 204. I was walking with my son and one of the other scouts in the Troop...

Lewis did a lousy shot on a small buck that was legal.....

I was carrying a 204 just in case a coyote or whatever that size crossed paths with us..

Lewis's buck, went down after he shot it three times with a 270... lousy shots...

it started to get up to run into thicker brush, at close range, say 30 to 40 yds, I put a 26 gr VG in its ear.

That ended that problem.....

I wouldn't count on that as a primary deer round. it worked in a pinch.

It would kill pigs just fine, killed some with a 22 mag.

IF i decide to stunt shoot with my 204 ruger i will most definitely be using said 45 grain spire point. i'm sure the 32 or 40 grain varmint bullet would do if perfect conditions present themselves but i personally wouldn't trust them to a behind the shoulder shot.
Big Ed

Buddy and I dumped a couple does with our 204s several years back. Late season doe hunt out of a box blind with tracking snow just in case.

32gr Vmaxs. Lung Shots. Mine was DRT, his ran about 50 yds and tipped over. Both bullets went in 6-7" and grenaded.

I wouldn't take my 204 out for actual hunting where you may have to punch a shoulder, but it'll kill deer.