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Looking at a different Prairie dog rifle .The 20 cal is of interest to me .

Desire feedback from those who have used them,

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Pretty much peas in a pod, a slight edge in the speed depot for the 204, cheap expendable brass for the 20 Practical. My 20 Practical is on a AR platform brass loss is more common than a bolt gun so the 20 P works better for me.


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Both calibers are excellent and both calibers are available on AR15 platforms. Mine is a bolt gun as I'm afraid of my trigger finger with an AR. I believe the 204 is the best prairie dog caliber out to 500 yards there is.


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I am not into the AR`s so it would be a bolt gun.

What twist is best ? do you shoot 32`s or 40`s ?

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I shoot 40's, pretty much exclusively. By the way, I shoot bolt guns, not AR's.

Last edited by OSU_Sig; 12/17/18.

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My 223`s reach to 400 but I would like to try the 20.

I retired my orig. 223 after approx. 15000 rounds. My best with it was 2 dogs at 564. A witness was there.

Hate to change as that rifle worked so well for so long.

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If you run the numbers, you'll find the 204 40 grain VMAX outperforms your 50 grain 223 in all respects.

Last edited by OSU_Sig; 12/18/18.

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Yes I have looked at the numbers and that is why I will make the change.

If you are changing you should be sure it is to a better stick.

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I've worked up a couple of 204 Rugers. Kind of like them, lots of performance, but I think they run a little hot for me. If I do a 20, it will be either a TACtical, or maybe a VarTarg, the former most likely.


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I've had 4 .204s ... "ish".

The first was a late build 700 ADL just as they transitioned to the SPS. Accuracy was never better than 1.5 inches and 2.5 was more normal. At the same time I got a 14" barrel for my Contender. It was both inaccurate and produced the fireball from hell. I worked with both a while and abandoned the cartridge for 4-5 years.

3rd and 4th were semi-customs, PacNor 1-12" twist 3 L&G barrels. Sequential builds on the same action. The first rig was a 24" version of a 700 VSSF in an HS Precision stock, fluted, etc. It shot very well. At a certain point in a barrel's life, suddenly the round count between cleanings needed before bullets start to tumble or disintegrate on firing begins to drop far enough it interferes with a day's shooting. I hit that point and continued to use the gun with ever more frequent cleanings 'til it got to where I was having to pack an extra rifle to get through a day, then rebarreled again. The 2nd barrel is a factory sporter contour, fluted, and I moved the barreled action to a McMillan hunter's edge stock.

Funny thing, despite the change in contour and weight, after working up loads for the new barrel, I compared to what I shot in the older one ... exact match. I've never had that happen before.

I like .204. Lots.

Tom


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What weight bullets are you running Tom?


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OSU Sig: I agree with your comment on the 204 Ruger 100%!
Your comment: "I believe the 204 is the best prairie dog caliber out to 500 yards there is".
After having used this cartridge extensively for the last 14 years I have concluded that the 204 Ruger is THE best "all-around Varmint/predator cartridge" EVER made!
I have Hunted virtually every manner of Colony Varmint, predator, Varmint, small game and even wild Turkeys with the 204 and the cartridge leaves NOTHING to be desired.
Over the past 14 years I have bought and tested 8 (eight) Varmint Rifles in caliber 204 Ruger (some used most new!) and every one of them has been wonderfully accurate!
I still own all 8 of those 204's by the way - that is another testament to their accuracy!
I buy and sell a LOT of Rifles -but I never sell one that is especially accurate.
If you want an accurate, lethal, ultra low recoil, flat shooting, slow to warm a barrel caliber for shooting Prairie Dogs then (of course!) the 204 Ruger is the answer for you.
By the way your comment on the 204 and "500 yards" I would like to expand upon that briefly - 500 yards and under is the distance at which 99% of all Varmints and predators are shot at!
The 204 Ruger is NOT diminished by your 500 yard contention here!
IF.... I were starting out Varminting today (instead of 60 years ago!) THE 204 Ruger is the only caliber I would buy in a Varmint Rifle - instead of the myriad of cartridges and Rifle models I own now!
Don't let anyone denigrate the 204 Ruger to you - if you encounter someone doing so, you will know you have encountered a bullshitter!
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As usual VarmintGuy, you are spot on. I've been shooting the 204 for 7-8 years and see no reason to change. I'm thinking of getting a Ruger #1 in 204 as a main battle rifle against the prairie dog hoards. I haven't shot any factory #1's in the 204 so if anyone has feedback, I'd like to hear it.


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OSU SIG Since you mention the VMAX I have a question .

In my 223 the Nos Ballistic TIP shot a tad better than the VMAX.

Did you find any difference ?

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Originally Posted by OSU_Sig
What weight bullets are you running Tom?


32s (Nosler, Hornady), 39s (Sierra), 40s (Nosler, Hornady) and 45 (Hornady). I have a box of 39 grain Speers I haven't tried yet.

In this gun I'm shooting WW brass and Remington 7-1/2 primers .. because the firing pin hole is sloppy and the 7-1/2s are tougher than WW and Federal which gave me problems with primer piercing. Both 32 grain bullets shoot best in my gun with 28 grains of H335. All 3 39s/40s I've used all shoot best with 27 or 27.5 (I'm at work, don't have my load notes handy) of Varget. The 45s get 26.5 or 26.7 or something like that grains of Varget.

Right now most of my ammo is loaded with the 40 grain Hornady in hopes of an eastern Oregon coyote safari assuming some wind. The 39 grain Sierra is a hair more accurate but seemingly lower BC and a bit less explosive. Likewise, the 32 grain Nosler seems a hair more accurate than the Hornady but the Hornady has even more splat than the Nosler .. which is already pretty darn impressive.

Tom.


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I have found the 304 rougher to be exceptional on PDs with 32 grain bullets.
And I have had some very good results with 35 grain Berger’s on coyotes.


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OSU Sig: I indeed have a very pleasing Ruger #1-V-SS in caliber 204 Ruger (this is the stainless steel, laminated stock, heavy barrel model).
I love Ruger #1's and this one is NO disappointment.
I have owned it for 10+ years now and I just love it.
It shoots so well that it is with me for the duration!
My favorite quarry with it is a remote colony of Rock Chucks and once I get to it I only shoot ONE Rock Chuck - take a picture and move on.
I have a silver Leupold 6.5x20 variable on it and it is as handsome as can be.
Back when I was doing load development it showed GREAT promise with the 35 grain Bergers but at about that time I decided to feed all my 204's the easier to come by Sierra 32 grain BlitzKings and I switched this Rifle to this bullet as well.
I think they made the Ruger #1-B in caliber 204 Ruger as well but I have never had anything to do with that model in 204.
Good luck if you decide to try one.
Went to my loading log book here quickly before dinner and the smallest group I have shot with this Rifle is .343" (5 shots at 100 yards) next smallest is .422" (5 shots at 100 yards) - the largest load testing or sight-in verification group I have shot with this #1-V-SS in 204 Ruger is .658" (5 shots at 100 yards) - for those familiar with all stock factory original Ruger #1's that is very good shooting!
Dinner bell - more later.
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Originally Posted by VarmintGuy
OSU Sig: I agree with your comment on the 204 Ruger 100%!
Your comment: "I believe the 204 is the best prairie dog caliber out to 500 yards there is".
After having used this cartridge extensively for the last 14 years I have concluded that the 204 Ruger is THE best "all-around Varmint/predator cartridge" EVER made!
I have Hunted virtually every manner of Colony Varmint, predator, Varmint, small game and even wild Turkeys with the 204 and the cartridge leaves NOTHING to be desired.
Over the past 14 years I have bought and tested 8 (eight) Varmint Rifles in caliber 204 Ruger (some used most new!) and every one of them has been wonderfully accurate!
I still own all 8 of those 204's by the way - that is another testament to their accuracy!
I buy and sell a LOT of Rifles -but I never sell one that is especially accurate.
If you want an accurate, lethal, ultra low recoil, flat shooting, slow to warm a barrel caliber for shooting Prairie Dogs then (of course!) the 204 Ruger is the answer for you.
By the way your comment on the 204 and "500 yards" I would like to expand upon that briefly - 500 yards and under is the distance at which 99% of all Varmints and predators are shot at!
The 204 Ruger is NOT diminished by your 500 yard contention here!
IF.... I were starting out Varminting today (instead of 60 years ago!) THE 204 Ruger is the only caliber I would buy in a Varmint Rifle - instead of the myriad of cartridges and Rifle models I own now!
Don't let anyone denigrate the 204 Ruger to you - if you encounter someone doing so, you will know you have encountered a bullshitter!
Knowledge is power.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy


I have been shooting/reloading for 55+ years and the 204 Ruger is the MOST accurate Factory cartridge I have ever owned. As far as bullet weights the only ones I have used are the 39 Sierra's


Jim

Last edited by Hippy; 12/19/18.

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Originally Posted by ipopum
OSU SIG Since you mention the VMAX I have a question .

In my 223 the Nos Ballistic TIP shot a tad better than the VMAX.

Did you find any difference ?

I've been so very satisfied with the VMAX that I haven't tried the Ballistic Tip.

Hippy said it best. I have yet to do any substantial loading for the 204 because the Hornady 40 grain VMAX factory load is just extremely accurate.

Last edited by OSU_Sig; 12/19/18.

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My 20 Practical is fed two bullets...

32 V Max

24 gr NTX.....at about 4500 fps or so...


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