Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 22-204 Ruger

Who has one here? I want to rebarrel my 204 M700. I already have a 223AI.

The 22-204 appeals to me because you don't have to fire form, just run it through a die and you are done. I made a dummy round by opening up the 204 case in my 223AI die, worked perfectly. I think you could then get a Redding S die for the 204 and get the larger bushings to fit 224 for resizing.

The only problem I see is mag constraints with longer bullets. Thinking running AI mags would be a solution though.

(before I get lectured...no, the 22-204 is not the same as a 222 Mag)

Open up the mag.

just barrel to 222 Rem Magnum and be done with it

No, the .22-204 isn't a .222 Mag.

You alter the box mag to fit the round. With my 14 twist Hart .22-204 on a 722 action, I removed the box spacer and JB welded a piece of aluminum in that space and used the .222 follower. That set up feeds rounds loaded with 40 gr. bullets very well.

With my M-7, 7 twist Brux, I removed the box spacer and cut a .308 follower to fit the narrower .223 box. That arrangement is great for feeding rounds loaded with bullets like the 75 A-Max, 75 SSII, etc. That set up doesn't feed shorter COAL rounds as well.

So, it depends on where you're headed, what bullets you plan to shoot and the COAL of those rounds.

I know you'll enjoy the .22-204. I do.

DF

So modifying the max box is the only solution? Does anyone make a mag box that fits better? I know the AI mags are 2.550" OAL which would be nice. I want to shoot 75gr+ bullets.



222 Rem Mag brass is extinct. 204 Ruger brass is not.

Modifying the existing box is the only way I know. Maybe someone makes a suitable box, I'm not aware of it.

These modifications are easy; I'm not sure I'd want to spend money on an aftermarket set up.

DF

cool, appreciate the feedback.

aalf did a lot of early work with the .22-204. Do a Fire search and a Google search for alf/aalf/.22-204.

A std. short action M-700 follower (.308/.243 etc.) plus a good file will, in a few minutes, produce a .22-204 follower perfect for long COAL .22-204 rounds, box spacer no longer needed.

DF

I've read about the 22-204 a little but not much. What does it gain? How much over a standard .223? If you want to push a 75gr fast why not just go with a 22-250 or 22-243. After having my 22-243 Ack I wouldn't want anything less (except a 22-250) in a .22 cal for big bullets. And for small bullets a .223 is fine for volume shooting.

Here's a link to some info.

DF

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8761169/2

I have .223's, both semi's, an AR and a custom Ruger Mini gun, a .22-205, a .220S, and now, two .22-204's.

Do I NEED all those..???

NO, but NEED is a four letter word to a Loony...!!

DF

I've had a 22-204 for a long time plus I have my own 22-204 reamer. Like the 223AI with it's cheap cases. 223 barrels can be easily rechamberred to 22-204, they don't even need to be set back as the reamer cleans up the chamber and you don't need a crush fit to fire form. I have a few spare 223 barrels but barrel life seems pretty good.

With appropriate bullets, the .22-204 is a great round.

I'm going to try ingwe's suggestion of the 55 gr. TSX. That one seems about right.

I also like 75 gr. VLD's, A-Max's and SSII's in the fast twist gun.

The .22-204 has slightly more case capacity than the .223AI, doesn't require fire forming and feeds slick with the right box mag set up.

What's not to like...

DF

Yet people still want to f'in argue about it.....



Wayne Deere

Good to hear from you, aalf.

I posted earlier that you'd done a lot of the early work on this round.

I know you heard, "It's the same as the .222 Mag", until you wanted to puke...

It ain't the same...

Thanks,

DF

How different is it?

Once again I wish to thank you for not telling me about this till I was knee deep in 223AIs and stuff for them.....

adam32,

Like to .223 AI, most of the velocity gains in a .22-204 are due to increased pressure. That's because the SAAMI standard maximum average pressure for the .223 is only 55,000 psi, which applies to both factory ammo and handloading data. Generally you can handload .223 ammo to 65,000 psi with no signs of increased pressure, or other problems, which results in about 90% of the velocity gain people claim from either the .223 AI or .22-204.

Why not post pressure/load data for the 22-204 from past work, to apply apples to apples comparisons.....

You saying there's SAAMI pressure, then there's "Fire pressure"...

Who'd a guessed such a thing...

There's a good chance a hard core Loony with a can of powder could light up a chrono...

DF