SmallCaliberCentral

A friend of mine just picked up a Ruger M77 MKII varmint in 204, brown laminate, gun metal grey finish, wide beaver tail stock on it. This is last years model and the dealer indicated that he had a couple dozen that he was getting from Ruger at a discounted priced that he wanted to move.

dealer is in Missouri so sale price with tax out the door was about $550.

Tell me your thoughts on this 204. I already have a couple 204's but if this is a great deal and the performance of the rifle is there it may be worth picking another one up.

I bought this rifle when they first came out....must have been 2002 or so.....and I've never regretted. it's been a real shooter from the get/go, and seems to like the 32grains as much as the 39s. It's not finicky about powder either, shooting very tight groups with RL10X, Benchmark, H4895, N133 and AA2015. Based on my experience, I wouldn't hesitate. Your mileage may vary......

At one time I had 4 MKII varminters someone decided they wanted my swift so now I have 3. All four rifles would shoot under an inch straight out of the box with factory ammunition. All of mine are old enough to have blued actions with polished stainless barrels, that was long before .204 Ruger was around.

This was the first 204 that I owned. It shot factory Hornady 40's rather well (under .75"). But hand loading was a different story. It was not consistent with ANY combination and could never get a decent load that was repeatable. I know others have had luck with that rifle, but as for me, no more Ruger rifles. I traded it in for a CZ and never looked back!

I got a few of those Savage model 12's but my big rifle for down range shooting is the Ruger model 77 in a bull barrel 25-06.

Hello out there all you SAVAGE GUN Lovers!!!

Well,

I am the friend that Big Bullseye is talking about, and I just got back from the range a while ago....

Tried out some of my handloads.....

this is one of my better 5 shot groups at 100 yds off my cheap rest and bag...... 10-15 mile wind coming from my 4-O'clock.....

BB - I bought one of the M77 MkII VT's used (very, very lightly) for a touch more than the $550 you can get that one for. It shoots as well as I can and I have not been disappointed. For that money it would be hard to do better IMHO.

I had one and it was very accurate with the 40 grain vmax.
Reloads would shoot into .25in at 100 yards all day.
A mate then got one and I tried my reloads in his rifle and got .25in groups as well.
Load was win brass. cci br4 primer and 27.7 grains of h4895.
I just seated them to mag length.

Spent some time with my M77 this morning. 32 gr hornady was excellent. 40 gr was poor, and 45 gr -- couldn't even figure out where they were hitting.

Was shooting from 200 yds, right to left wind about 15 mph. Was holding POA about an inch right. I am thrilled with the 32 gr v-max but it looks like this is all my Ruger is going to accept.

Kirk

Kirk--if you handload you need to try some 35 grain Bergers and 39 grain Sierra Blitzkings. If not I think you can buy factory Federal loads with the 39 grain SBK. I highly recommend that you try one of these unless you only want to shoot the 32s. A lot of 1:12 twist barrels will shoot the 39 SBKs well, but wont shoot the 40s.

Thanks for the recommendation. Will try the 39 gr and see how it does. The performance of the 40 is pretty poor and the 45 was just awful. Couldn't even hit the backing at 200, much less the target.

Got a Les Baer 204 on the way

Can't wait to compare with the M77. Gonna be a long week waiting for it.

Kirk

kirk wrote:Got a Les Baer 204 on the way

Can't wait to compare with the M77. Gonna be a long week waiting for it.

Kirk

Which one? Barrel length? What match ammo they recommend?

http://www.lesbaer.com/204Ruger.html

I have done limited testing with the 32 vmax's in my m77, but mine doesn't really seem to like them very well. What mine does do a a good job with is the 32gr nosler bt's. It is consintently under a half and more often than not in the 1/4 in. range. That is with 28.9 of W748. Due to lack of time right now I haven't tested much in this gun. I am also thinking I need to try 39 sbk and the 35 bergers. But until then I am going to keep with what I know.

Which one? Barrel length? What match ammo they recommend?

AR .204 Ruger Super Varmint Model 24 inch barrel.

I understand that Baer recommends the 32 gr factor Hornady ammo.

Can you provide name and location of dealer referred to in original post?