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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
How many use a version of the 20 cal for their calling rifle? I use both the 204 Ruger and the 20 Practical. Both are death and destruction on varmints. 35 gr Berger in the 204 and the Sierra 39 gr BK in the 20 Practical. Flat and accurate .
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 375
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 375 |
been wanting to know more about the 204. kinda dipping my feet in the pool at this point. not sure if it's worth it - ammo's hard to come by around here, pretty expensive, and not too sure about ease and expense of reloading them. not familiar with the 20 practical at all...kinda interested in finding out about these!
"Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak arabic, love music, and never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers, and warriors." ~Hunter S. Thompson
I'm still clinging bitterly...how about you?
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
The 204 is easy to load for, brass is easy to come by and the 20 practical is the 223 case neck to 20 cal with no other change.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 517
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 517 |
Love my .204's the 35 gr Berger for predators and the 39 gr BK's for varmints out to 400 yards. Can't have too many .204's! 
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 24,450
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 24,450 |
Ya, what everyone else has said.  It ranks second only to my 17 Rem. Easy to reload and very easy to find an accurate load for. 35gr. Berger's and 37gr. CRT's are what I use. IMR 8208 XBR or H4895 will really make them sing an accurate fast stepping song.
Last edited by K22; 12/30/11.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
H4895 is the Powder to start with.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
Im putting together a .204 this winter...anybody tried IMR 4895 in one yet...Im looking at 40gr Vmaxes.....
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 145
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 145 |
I dont used my 204 Ruger for preditor calling but I have found thats its one fine prairie dog shooting cartridge.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
Mine will be used primarily for gophers, secondarily for PDs and lastly for coyotes/chucks and the like...
I was told to go with the 40 grainers because of our usual windy conditions here, the extra weight helps a little...which I have found to be the case with the .223 as well...
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 |
Yep 40's do better, but are a tad bit slower than lighter 30's.
I was lucky enough to get a tikka varminter in 204 Ruger, what a tack driver !
Used to have a WOA in 204 as well - way, way too fun to shoot.
Spot
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,784
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,784 |
Yes... I always try IMR 4895 in EVERYTHING.. It did well...
however the reason it is not my GoTo powder in my 204 Ultralight Barreled Ruger put together rifle is due to testing AR Comp powder from Alliant...
it is supposed to be a Temp Insensitive version of RL 15 with a slightly faster burn rate according to Alliant...
the factory hasn't tested it in the 204 according to a conversation with Ben Ammonette at Alliant... however with ALL the Bullets I have tested in the 204.. it consistently is the accuracy winner... nothing but little ONE hole groups..
that and my GoTo bullet in this caliber has become the 32 grain Nosler Lead Free Ballistic tip...its a very long bullet for its weight being lead free...
winter weather has prevented a chronograph session with the combo...but for little bitty holes at short or long distances ( 300 yds tested so far) these two win top honors in this Ruger's 20 Stainless Light weight barrel...
the barrel was a gift as a take ...set it up for Seafire Jr.
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,723
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,723 |
When I had my 204 I shot 35 grain bergers for coyotes and they are VERY fur friendly. I think I only had ever exit a coyote and it left about a dime size exit but other than that just a .20 cal entry hole and a very dead coyote with insides that looked like they were put in a blender. When shooting prarie dogs or jack rabbits I shot the 39 grain berger bullets.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,576
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,576 |
Are you guys using small rifle or small rifle magnum primers?
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26,389
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26,389 |
I like my 204 alot, good caliber. But I like my 17 Rem quite abit more however. Fantastic calling cartridge IMO.
Different strokes I guess. They all go bang and kill stuff.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 |
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,196
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,196 |
nearly 200 coyotes under my D-Tech .204's belt. I'm another fan of the 35 gr. bergers, althoguh I used the 40 gr. Bergers some as well. I use H-4895 over Rem. 7.5 primers.
Have switched to my .223 D-Tech now though, since I got a suppressor on it. It seems to work pretty well too.
Laws aren't preventative measures. In other words, more laws won't prevent gun crime from happening.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
Are you guys using small rifle or small rifle magnum primers? I use nothing but Rem 7.5BR Primers in all my 20's and my 17 Rem.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 59
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 59 |
Have three 204's now and plan on getting another. For yotes the 35 & 40 gr bergers and the 45 gr hornady sp's are the perfect medicine. For p-doggin, I prefer the 39 gr BK.
Savage Vaporizer
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,916
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,916 |
I just run the 40 grain nozler, for everything.....
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
Nosler BT I presume...I havent even looked at those, but I laid in a stock of 40 Gr. V-maxes...dat sound OK?
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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