SmallCaliberCentral

Thinking of getting into the .204 game and am wondering about rifles. Have been a Model 700 man my whole life but I don't trust their QC anymore. What are the opinions of the Ruger VT? I like the heavy weight and long barrel but am wondering about accuracy and out of the box trigger? If not Ruger, who? I really want something heavy with at least a 24" barrel and wide forend. Don't really like the looks of the Savage even though they are accurate guns. Thanks all.

CZ Varmint.

I own a Ruger Varmint/Target chambered in 204.....darn good rifle, I prefer the trigger on this rifle vs the Savage. I would take either over a CZ. Just my opinion..... If I had the patients and room in my safe I would probably order a Cooper.

I had a 700 and it was a fine rifle...but I heard the siren song of a Cooper .204 Phoenix and like turned into love! Of course the Cooper was twice the price of the Remington! Howa is another option to look at. Gary

Captqc wrote:Howa is another option to look at.

Like anybody here will tell you, the rifle they are shooting, is, the best. As far as I know, Captqc, does not own or shoot a Howa, but I do. For the price, you will not find a better rifle, and the quality is there too. With a little load work, I got mine shooting way better than I am capable of. Sub MOA, with my reloads. Can't say anything as for factory rounds, as this rifle has never seen one. I did change out the factory trigger for a Timney. If you are not concerned about price, you can't beat a Cooper!

Cooper. C-Z Varmint/Target (wider forend than wood version). I'm not a Savage fan, either, but I wouldn't kick their Predator Max 1 (24" fluted bbl., DBM, Accustock) out of bed. If you can find one, the Tikka Varmint might be right up your alley; that'll be my next .204 to slot in between my Cooper and LVSF.

I also have a ruger vt . awesome trigger and after bedding it shoots as well as my cooper

futuretrades wrote:

Captqc wrote:Howa is another option to look at.

Like anybody here will tell you, the rifle they are shooting, is, the best. As far as I know, Captqc, does not own or shoot a Howa, but I do. For the price, you will not find a better rifle, and the quality is there too. With a little load work, I got mine shooting way better than I am capable of. Sub MOA, with my reloads. Can't say anything as for factory rounds, as this rifle has never seen one. I did change out the factory trigger for a Timney. If you are not concerned about price, you can't beat a Cooper!

Kevin, I was hoping you would chime in as I was thinking of your Howa when I listed it as an option. Gary

My Howa is sub 1/2 MOA with the right loads. You can buy the barreled action and then pick a stock you like. Any Howa or Weatherby Vanguard stock will work. Shoots factory Fiocchi 40 grain V max 1/2 MOA or less. The trigger is adjustable to about 3 lbs or so and is as good or better than Savage.

Bodei wrote:My Howa is sub 1/2 MOA with the right loads. You can buy the barreled action and then pick a stock you like. Any Howa or Weatherby Vanguard stock will work. Shoots factory Fiocchi 40 grain V max 1/2 MOA or less. The trigger is adjustable to about 3 lbs or so and is as good or better than Savage.

I can't find a local dealer here in central Minnesota who can order just the barreled action.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd:

Buy a savage or stevens action
Put a Shilen, Kreiger, McGowen etc. barrel on it.
Get a decent stock and bed it myself.
Since I only kill 'chuck and such, which means shooting maybe 1x every 1/2 hour, I would NOT go bull barrel again.

That said, I had a Savage VLP (accutrigger) that was great. It was my learning curve gun. Great trigger, and shot .5" easy, and .3" when I was shooting well (I'm not a very good shooter...) always off a bipod, bag in back.

Rock River AR for me now, but its a pain in the arse in these regards:
1) Always FL size
2) Crappy trigger that required some TLC to get it nice
3) NYS thinks they kill people, so they are now illegal here unless you register it.
4) I don't like the feel of everyting being metal.
5) weighs a ton to lug around for miles as I walk woods and fields.

But wow... can that dude shoot, LOL!! Matches the VLP no problem, took very little effort to achieve a great load.

savageboy23 wrote:

Bodei wrote:My Howa is sub 1/2 MOA with the right loads. You can buy the barreled action and then pick a stock you like. Any Howa or Weatherby Vanguard stock will work. Shoots factory Fiocchi 40 grain V max 1/2 MOA or less. The trigger is adjustable to about 3 lbs or so and is as good or better than Savage.

I can't find a local dealer here in central Minnesota who can order just the barreled action.

See if one of your dealers will or can contact Legacy Sports, in Reno, Nv and have one sent. They are the dealer/owners of Howa. Bill k

Bill K wrote:

savageboy23 wrote:

Bodei wrote:My Howa is sub 1/2 MOA with the right loads. You can buy the barreled action and then pick a stock you like. Any Howa or Weatherby Vanguard stock will work. Shoots factory Fiocchi 40 grain V max 1/2 MOA or less. The trigger is adjustable to about 3 lbs or so and is as good or better than Savage.

I can't find a local dealer here in central Minnesota who can order just the barreled action.

See if one of your dealers will or can contact Legacy Sports, in Reno, Nv and have one sent. They are the dealer/owners of Howa. Bill k

I was told by howa that all there dealers could get them. But if I ask the dealer they tell me otherwise.

I agree with Glen, CZ Varmint is always my first choice for a factory rifle. I would also recommend the Howa 204 as Bill K. noted, they are excellent shooters and a great value.

I got my Howa barreled action from my local FFL. I think your dealer is pulling your leg.