Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Another "accurate" 204 Ruger!

Mine'll be lighter , with chitcanning the cumbersome plywood 4x4 and going with the slimmed down version, and all.....

Huntsman22: Yeah I'll bet your rig is a lot lighter.
I, though, enjoy the weight/mass of the heavy barreled/heavy stocked Varminters.
I am sure I shoot them better, and, just the opposite of you, I really like the feel and dimensions of the Ruger 77 V/T's laminated stock.
I guess thats what makes the world go round?
I used to run with a group of high dollar type Varminting guys and they had about 8 or 10 Sako Varminters between the 3 of them.
I knew of two of these Sakos where the front sling swivel studs gave loose when they were slung on the Hunters shoulders!
Both Rifles took hellacious falls into the lava rocks of central Idaho!
I saw one incident occur and was along on a different trip when the other one gave way.
It seems with a bit of extra torque or "wretching" on the sling of these heavy Varminters, to get it in position or to change position on ones shoulder, the swivel studs would fail and pull out. Thus causing the "nose" first dive into the ground (lava rocks!).
If I recall correctly these were about 10.5 pound Rifles/scopes.
Those were the only two failures I have heard of regarding Sako sling swivels - could have been caused by the weight and the fatigue it may have caused to the securing system?
I only have two Sako Varminters of that vintage anymore but I seldom "sling" them. I would hate to see either of them take a nosedive.
Still I believe heavier Varmint Rifles have enhanced my enjoyment of our sport.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

With Kimber announcing that the Montana will be chambered in the 204, do you think that the lighter rifle weight will still allow one to see the bullet impact? I have never shot a 204, but would like to get one for this summer's PD season.

Doug~RR

Then the montana ain't the way to go IMHO. Heats up too fast, but would be a GREAT walkabout coyote rig. With the PD's, a heavy barrel is the way I like to go.......