Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Loading the 204 Ruger, Video & Article

Have been loading and using the 204 Ruger for some years. Recently wrote an article and made a video about it:

https://ultimatereloader.com/2022/05/15/have-a-need-for-speed-try-the-204-ruger/

Regards, Guy

Thanks Guy. I'll give that a look tonight.

Cascade: Guy very much enjoyed your linked to video and article - thanks for that professional quality info fest.
I jumped on the 204 Ruger band wagon right away back in 2,004 and I am so happy I did.
I currently own and shoot 9 (nine) Varmint weight Rifles in caliber 204 Ruger - I consider the 204 Ruger to be the finest "all-around" Varmint and predator cartridge of all time!
As you did, I got superb accuracy from everyone of my nine 204 Rifles using the Berger 35 grain bullets - sadly those became to difficult to acquire readily and I switched over to the only slightly less accurate (in my Rifles!) 32 grain Sierra Blitz-Kings.
I have SEVERAL years worth of these fine Varmint and predator bullets on hand.
Give them a try in your CZ if you get the chance.
Thanks again for the well done video and article.
I forgot to sign in/up for your sites ongoing videos - back later.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

28.6 gr Lever with a 40 Vmax in a 20 practical with Rem brass and a CCI 400 are scooting 3,900 fps with tiny groups.

Bet your .204 would be bumping up against 4,000 fps with Leverevolution.

Gawd, I sound as negative as BSAgroupshooter.

Sorry Guy.

Great video and write up on a great varm cartridge!

Check out Lever when you get a chance though.

What bullet weights are you loading with Leverevolution?

EDIT: never mind. If I'd have looked above, I could learn a lot about this.

Varmint Guy - thanks. I remember reading many of your 204 posts over the years.

Higginez - thanks. I had not considered Leverevolution powder for the 204! Too busy using it in the 30-30 I guess.

Regards, Guy

Guy,

Leverevolution is worth a look!

Thanks for the video and God Bless!

Good video Guy. I'm still stuck on a .223 but the .20s have always intrigued me. I had considered a .20 Practical at one time.

20's are where its at in the p/dog patches

Still running these three..20 Vartarg..20-222......20 Practical

Devnull: Be careful - if you try a Varmint Rifle in caliber 204 Ruger you just may forget about your 223!
I used to delve into A.I. cartridges and wildcat cartridges (A LOT!) but the extra costs and inconveniences of those "investments" have COMPLETELY lost their luster for me! And I haven't done an A.I. or wildcat build for 15+ years now.
The 204 Ruger will hold its own with any 20 caliber wildcat and do so with a lot less wait, expense, hassle and assorted difficulties - plus if when the need arises the standard cartridge Rifles sell MUCH easier/quicker!
Been there - done that.
Hope you will try a 204 Ruger soon.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I'm with you VarmintGuy. I guess a person could wildcat numerous 20 caliber cartridges and get about the same as the 204 Ruger is in its native state. An added benefit to the 204 is how accuarate the factory ammo is. That sure makes it easy to get ready for season.

I have the same CZ527 you have in the video; bought it in '05 I think. It will not shoot the 40 gr Hornady VMax bullet at all. BUT the Sierra 39 grn BK makes it happy. It was my "cool down" rifle when i was able to get to the prairie dog towns. I would shoot it maybe 8 or 10 rounds while waiting for my main pd guns to cool down or I would have it handy to pick up and shoot a barking pd while the other guns were being cleaned. I shoot 28 gr of H4895 behind the 39 BK for just under 3900 fps. ( I know, it is above book max, but it shoots well in my gun)

OSU Sig: I agree with your contention on the factory 204 Ruger ammunition shooting so well!
My first 204 Ruger Rifle was a Remington 700 VLS with a Nikon 6.5x20 variable scope on it.
Back in August of 2,004 "brass" for the 204 Ruger was unavailable - but factory ammo was cheap!
Anyway I was gung ho to get shooting with my new 204 and to get "handloading" for it - I had to shoot the Hornday 40 grain V-Max ammo to get "brass"
Well that Hornady ammo shot so wonderfully well I was shocked - on August 8th of that year I sighted my Rifle in and broke in the barrel a bit and had 6 rounds left of that box.
I normally shoot 5 shot groups for accuracy assessment but "things were tight" and I decided to shoot two three shot groups with the six rounds at 100 yards.
Those two 3 shot groups measured .336" and .330"!
Years later I started getting the fever for a Remington XR-100 in 204 Ruger - it shot every bit as well with the 32 grain Hornady V-Max factory ammunition.
I did barrel break-in and sigh-in with this ammo of which, by then, I had a good store of the factory stuff.
I have created 5 shot groups at 100 yards as small as .358", .326", .322" with that factory ammo in that Rifle - again this level of accuracy from factory ammo in a factory stock gun stuns me!
Your point of the factory ammo shooting so well from 204 Ruger Rifles has been proven by me in SEVERAL Rifles over the last 18 years.
Long live the 204 Ruger!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Hoping to take my 204 to Oregon for sage rat shooting soon. Been a while since I did that.

Think I'll take the 17 HMR as well, and maybe something else, but mostly the 204.

Guy

My 204 ruger i been shooting hogs . It surprised me how fast they go down. I sold my 39 gr bking. Went to 35gr and 40 gr berger hps. Shooting berger 35gr hp at the moment. I came across a few boxes of berger 30 gr hp. Been trying to find time to shoot some of them. I use RL10 and H4895 in my loads.

Cascade: Good luck on your Oregon venture.
I was out Hunting "sage rats" today and did pretty well.
Near the end of my shoot I spotted a big Badger out in the middle of an alfalfa field - he was 250 yards distant when I first saw him and the first thought that came to me was, I wish I had one of my 204's along!
All I had along today were rimfire Rifles and pistols.
I tried a stalk with my Ruger 77/22 Magnum along but the Badger kept working away from me and finally denned up (or down as it were!) and he never came back up.
I know where he is now though and if the weather permits tomorrow (supposed to snow?) I will try for him again - and I'll have a 204 along for sure.
The "pups" are out now, big time, at my elevation (5,400').
Again good luck.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy