new .204

[chuckhunter2]

The wife and I got up early and headed south into PA to expand my never ending quest to locate a .204. The first store I stopped at had a Savage model 11 but I wanted a heavy barrel. Several stores later produced a used Savage heavy barrel with a flimsy Tupperware stock. I assumed that this was the bottom end model. I would have to get a new stock if I bought it so I passed. I had called several other shops including one of the big distributors in PA but no one had any .204's. Even called Cabelas. I thought that the distributors retail store would have a Kimber Varmint since they advertised it in their sale paper but they did not have it.

We went further south ending up at a gunstore (150 miles from home) that I used to use when I lived in central PA. I walked down the wall of guns several times and did not see any .204's. I noticed some Kimbers and stopped to look at the wood. Then it hit me. Mixed in with the Kimbers was a Cooper. I hesitated to ask the caliber since I assumed it would be a .223. The clerk said ".204 Ruger". I looked it over and noticed that the test target was dated several years ago. I tried to haggle over the price but could only get $60 off. I bought the rifle.

Is everyone having problems locating .204's? They apparently are not very popular anymore. I am glad that I found a Cooper. My Cooper dealer told me yesterday that it would take a year to get one.

Tom

[Captqc]

Congrats on a score! I love my Cooper .204. Out here on the left coast you can still find them, but like most calibers, the .204 ammo is getting hard to find. Gary

[TucoTom]

Congradulations!!! You have a wonderful rifle in a great caliber. Enjoy!

The 204 Ruger isn't hard to find in my area.....

[Immortal]

I own three 204's and did not have a problem getting. Probably because they were impulse buys. Wasn't really looking for one but figured what the heck when I found them for sale.

Dave

[Great White North]

Congratulations on what sounds like a great rifle. You must provide pictures! The stores around me seem to have difficulty keeping them in stock. They say its the hottest small caliber at the moment.

[tbates]

Congrats!! That is a very lucky find. I bought 2 Ruger #1s in .204 in the past few years, one from Cabela's in KC and the other from BassPro in Springfield, MO. In the last few months I started another search and found the .204 to be quite rare. I've looked for the following: any Cooper, Remington 700 VLS, and Kimber 84M Varmint. I go to the Tulsa Gun Show twice a year as well as other shows and have cruised gun shops all around the KC area. I really want the Kimber, but no one has it in stock and retailers tell me it is a 6 month to one year "or longer" wait to get one. I had the opportunity to handle the equivalent of that model Kimber in .223 and still kicking myself for not buying it. I used the think in terms of one gun in each caliber, but lately I think having several .204s and .223s is a good thing. I have multiples of 17HMR and .22 rimfire, so why not my favorite centerfire too? Please stay in touch and let us know how the new Cooper performs!

[chuckhunter2]

Thank you for the replies. I will provide pictures once I get a scope on it.

Tom

[bow shot]

I see that basically everyone offers them in their lineups (Savage, Remington, TC, Ford, Chrysler, GM...), but seeing one "on the rack is a different story.

Was that Grice's in PA? I've had good experience w/them. But I live in NY (commie liberal idiot land...)

[chuckhunter2]

No. The dealer was Gieser in Sunbury. Grice is who I called for the Kimber. I have dealt with Grice many times in the past.

Tom