Hi everyone!
My real name is Dave, but you can call me Baba (BabaOriley is a WHo tune). I figured it may be a good time to officially introduce myself, because as far as I know today, I'll be taking receipt of my first 204 this coming saturday morning. I've been reluctant to post much, because I feel opinions need to come more from experience rather than what one has read. It's been hard not to jump in a few of the conversations here, and preface my comments with "from what I've read", but that doesn't work.
I've been waiting on this rifle 6 months+ now, as apparently Shilen was slow to send Mike at Dedicated Technology a 1:10 twist that was the required 23" for my barrel.
My 204:
- DTech AR-15 w/DPMS lower, standard A2 buttstock (not Mike's standard Olympic, only because I was born in St. Cloud (DPMS). Thought it'd be something unique about it.)
DTech tuned Rock River 2 stage trigger
23" 1:10 Shilen, with DTech integrated compensator
Magpul Winter trigger guard
12-25" Harris bipod
Armalite 30mm one piece scope mount
Those are the specs as provided by DTech, but I'll want to take a look at the bipod before I stick with that. I'll be picking it up at a gun show, so if there's some option I want, I'm betting it will be available. I already have a soft Ergo grip to add to it, and will be starting out mounting a 4-16x50 Millett TRS-1 scope. I also have a couple Aimpoint red dot scopes I may try on it.
It's kind of funny, how I've waited so long for this rifle, and have never owned an AR, I now have every trick piece of reloading, cleaning, shooting, and whatever else gear for it, sitting here waiting. I bet half of it may have been a worthwhile purchase, but oh well. I've just been REALLY anxious to get this thing shooting. I've made up a plan to do load testing covering about 8 bullets and 5 or 6 different powders. We'll see if I'm still motivated to do that after I find the first load that shoots MOA.
I'll probably end up putting most rounds through my 204 shooting paper initially, but the main reason I bought it was to have a rifle that shoots more like a laser out to 3-400 yards than my 270, with less fur damage on coyotes. I was originally all set to go with a CZ Varmint in 204, but after looking at the costs involved just in that, I may as well shell out for the custom AR and have semi-auto if I ever need it too. The semi-auto should come in handy on prairie dogs in South Dakota next summer. I've never been out there but you guys sure make it look fun.
Last night I loaded up 200 rounds to use breaking it in using 27.3 grains of Varget pushing 40gr Noslers. I didn't trickle each round, but checked randomly and never saw more than a .2gr deviation. I don't really like how long Varget is. It doesn't flow through a measure very precisely, but it seems to have a nice range +/- for over under weight charges, while generating close to the same velocity/POI in other rifles I've tried it in so far.
OK, LOOOONG introduction... Time for bed about an hour ago... I'll end this with my first attempt at a contribution to the board:
I was bored last night and excited about this rifle being so close to arrival, so I took some pics of this first batch of ammo. Tonight I took one of the pics and resized it to work as wallpaper. I offer them up to you guys for download if you wish. You should be able to download any you want by clicking on them to view them first, then right clicking and saving them to your computer. Choose the one that most correctly fits your screen size.
Hopefully after this weekend I'll have some pics of the actual rifle for you guys, and a range report. I do have a postal shoot target, and may end up having to shoot it with these first rounds I have loaded, with no load testing. I'll have 3 days with this rifle before I need to have the target postmarked.
This winter I'll hopefully be posting pics of all the big coyotes I shoot!
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Update: OK, night before I have to shoot my postal shoot target... Picked up my rifle Saturday, and didn't get to shoot it until Monday. Spent about 5 hours Monday afternoon/evening breaking it in. Shoot/Clean Shoot/Clean. The first batch of 40gr Noslers I loaded up shot just 'OK'. 1" at 100 without a whole lot of concentration. Tonight I loaded up some 40gr Bergers, and 39gr Sierras, both with 26gr H4895. I figured I better try what's been working for everyone else, so I hope these turn out to work better. I only have 100rds through the rifle yet, so we'll see.
Some more wallpapers for you...
My Brother in law just retired from the Army too. 
my name is Ryan and I am married and we have 2 wonderful boys and let me tell you THEY ARE BOYS. I live in northeast Ohio and the ground hogs are plentiful in this area. I use my 17HMR pretty regular around here on the farm and I have taken 2 coyotes with it this past winter and numerous hogs but there comes a day where a man needs more power so I recently bought a Remington VTR in the 204 that I topped with a Burris 4.5x14 tactical. I have not shot it yet but give me a couple days and I'll get her zeroed in. My friend has the same rifle and I was really impressed with it. I absolutely love this site it is the best I have found. I look forward to talking to you all and gaining some more knowledge. I would like to get into the reloading end but I don't have the time or money to invest. One of my good friends handloads for his 220 swift and he said he would load for my 204 so we'll see how it goes. Anyway hi again out there to all of you and happy hunting!
