My next .204...

General discussion and information about the 204 Ruger.
Orion2see
New Member
Posts: 48
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:48 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper Varminter
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma
Contact:

My next .204...

Post by Orion2see »

......will be an AR-15 with 24" Shilen barrel 1-9" twist. I'd like to experiment with the heavier bullets and see how they perform in the gusty Oklahoma wind. I don't see many folks here on this forum shooting 1-9" twist barrels. I'd welcome any comments from folks that are shooting faster twist .204 barrels.
BabaOriley
Senior Member
Posts: 312
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:21 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Dtech AR
Location: SE MN

Re: My next .204...

Post by BabaOriley »

I think my next 204 upper will be a Dtech also, but a lighter .750? profile, 20" 11 twist. That should knock about 3 pounds off the weight, and make for a much more maneuverable coyote rifle, shooting anything from 32-45gr, yet still give enough velocity and accuracy to use as an alternate to my 23" on prairie dogs. I have verified my 10 twist Shilen will shoot 32-50gr, but I think the advantage of the .204 over other calibers is lost when moving into heavier bullets.

There's only 3 bullets available above 40 grains. The 45gr Hornady SP, which I believe may be the best coyote bullet available for my 10 twist. I plan on testing with the 45gr this summer. I think I bought 6 boxes @$10/100 on midway's clearance this spring. The 50 and 55gr Bergers are the only two heavyweights, and with the velocity you lose to gain the B.C. of those heavy bullets, I think you may as well step up to a 6mm to access a much better variety of high B.C. bullets.

In my experience with this cartridge so far, I think I'd be content to stick with the 32-40 grain bullets. They all work so well. Any heavier and I'd want to see a much greater range potential, and just deal with more recoil.
Mike
Senior Member
Posts: 676
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:05 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper, RRA
Location: Springfield, MO

Re: My next .204...

Post by Mike »

Orion2see wrote:......will be an AR-15 with 24" Shilen barrel 1-9" twist.
You and I seem to be on the exact same page...

forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6685
joghotrod
Senior Member
Posts: 124
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:34 pm
Location: Baton Rouge Area

Re: My next .204...

Post by joghotrod »

Orion2see wrote:......will be an AR-15 with 24" Shilen barrel 1-9" twist. I'd like to experiment with the heavier bullets and see how they perform in the gusty Oklahoma wind. I don't see many folks here on this forum shooting 1-9" twist barrels. I'd welcome any comments from folks that are shooting faster twist .204 barrels.
I have 3 Dtech AR uppers and one of them is 1/9 twist 24" Shilen. It likes 50 Grain Bergers. It does a good job on PD's in the wind if you can read the wind. :mrgreen: I'm not that good, but in the right hands it will reach out a good ways accurately. I haven't tried the 55's.

Jimmy
.204 Ruger M77 Mark II Weaver 6-24
.222 Rem. BDL Varmint Leupold VX III 6.5-20
.204 Dtech AR 24 in. 1/9 twist SS Fluted Shilen Barrel with Compensator, Leatherwood 8.5-25 uni-dial Also 1/12 twist Shilen. NRA Life Member
6BR Dtech Upper, Shilen 1/8 twist.
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