SmallCaliberCentral

hey all new to this forum, have been a keen shooter for around 5 years now and have had a 204 for a few years now, im mostly just a recreation shooter trying to control the local varmint population and have done a small amount of profesional roo shooting, I also shoot f-class with my 308. Anyway so i decided to give my 204 a makeover, it started out as a run of the mill light barreled stainless howa in a hougue stock with a nikko stirling 4.5-14 nighteater, after a few years of not being entirely happy with its accuracy (rarely under 1" groups) decided to do somthing about it so i carried out the following modifications..

-MAB/Tse heavy varmint contour barrel (made locally in brisbane Australia) in 1 in 10" twist in .204 ruger of course!
-Wild Dog heavy varmint varminter stock (also made in brisbane Australia)
-Timney Trigger.
-Leupold VX-3 6.5-20*40 LR with varmint hunter retacle.
-Leupold QRW 30mm low rings.

Shoots incredibly well now with 39BK still working on the 40Vmax, went strat into the .3"s with no load development! heres a few pics....Enjoy

Welcome to the madness my fellow Aussie. Thats a fine looking rig u have built there. Let me know how that new barrel treats you and i look forward to seeing more range reports and pictures.
We all love pictures.

Boomer

Nice looking setup.

Nice looking project! Sounds like it shoots as good as it looks too. Be careful shooting out of the sunroof. I'm interested in your load data, I have a 1:10 barrel also.

I'm glad my computer didn't block this wonderful gun porn! Thanks for posting!

Sweet looking rifle!

But where's the dolly to carry it?

Nice shootin stick mate.
Sounds like the mods have payed off.
Love to see some target pics and load test reports

Boomer...the tse barrel so far seems very good, it's the second barrel I have bought of them the other being a 1 in 8" twist .223 it usually shoots around 1/4 moa @ 100m, very good customer service there and well priced!

Hedge.... Yeh it is no lightweight haha basically sits on the dash of the landcruiser so doesn't get carried far

howa204--WOW!!! That is one nice looking rig you have there!!!! Is that rifle strictly for shooting off a bench or the bonnet of your hunting rig or do you have a gun bearer who will carry it for you. The barrel looks extremely heavy. How much does the rifle weigh?

Keep us informed on how it continues to shoot and thanks for the report and photos.

Pretty piece of iron

Silverfox-.... It's only a benchrest rifle when load testing but it definately isn't a walk around gun I built it to shoot out of my ute while spotlighting, I have a shooting rest on the drivers side door, it weighs around 6kg/13pounds which makes it nice and stable while rested! I'm thinking of trying it for the 300yd range in f-class Which could prove interesting

Ive been looking for a barrel for a custom i'm planing on so great to hear of other shooters experiance with barrel makers!