My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Experiences and effectiveness in hunting with the 204 Ruger.
Thumper
New Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:55 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ Varmint 4-16x42 Nikkon, Remington SPS sporter 4.5-14x40

My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Post by Thumper »

Ive tried the the 32gr v-max on a coyote last year only lose him at around 300yds. I snucked up on him with no wind making a good shot behind the shoulder with a bipod. He droped hard and blood was everywhere, but he got up to my superise and ran away into the hills. I than switched to the 39BK and started to see more fox than coyotes, and those 39s would split open fox like canoes. Those rounds were all factory rounds.

Now this year I started to reload using the fur freindly Berger 35grs. What I came up with is a 35hp, coal 2.31, Hornady case, 28.2grs of H-4895 lit w/ 205M primers. This load is good for 3 shots of .035" out of a Rem SPS sporter barrel, I'm guessing around 3900fps +or-. That works for me! My buddy used them on a called coyote at 100yrds, shot in the chest and he said it was DRT with a very small entry and no exit.

This morning I got my chance on a running coyote, he ran out to around 250yrds and stopped after I barked at him. He took a broadside shot through the lungs and turned around and ran about 30 more yrds than did a cartwheel in the snow, I than knew he was smoked pretty hard! I walk up to where I shot him and there was a good amount of blood splashed all over behind him at the shot. He left a good blood trail to where he expired. On inspection he had about a 20 cal. entry hole with an exit hole the size of a quarter. Gotta love that .204!

I am very happy with this performance of the 35gr Berger bullet, I feel like they will work for any fox, cat, or coyote at least to that 250yrd range with no problem! And no massive holes on prime fur either! I just wanted to share this information with all of you cause my data all came from this site and worked very well for both rifles. Thanks everyone........
CZ Varmint .204 4-16x42 Nikon Monarch
39SBK, 2.32coal, 27.7 H4895, Win case, Rem 7 1/2

Remington SPS sporter .204 4.5-14x40 Nikon Buckmaster
35 Berger, 2.31coal, 28.2 H4895, Horn case, Fed 205m
huntsman22
Senior Member
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:56 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: ruger 77VT and ruger mkII Ultralite
Location: Deer Trail, CO

Re: My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Post by huntsman22 »

Get back to us AFTER you use them on fox. Don't forget the pics........
User avatar
Captqc
Senior Member
Posts: 1036
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:09 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper Phoenix .204
Location: Tigard, OR.

Re: My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Post by Captqc »

Thumper,
Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are having fun but like Huntsman22 said pictures man, pictures! :lol:
Gary
Gmoney
Senior Member
Posts: 128
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:45 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage Predator Hunter .204 topped with a Leupy 4-12
Location: Houston/Mason, TX
Contact:

Re: My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Post by Gmoney »

0.035"?

Okay...

Nice job and take some pics!
http://www.Predatoroutfitters.com

Fully guided predator hunting by guys who live and breathe it.
huntsman22
Senior Member
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:56 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: ruger 77VT and ruger mkII Ultralite
Location: Deer Trail, CO

Re: My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Post by huntsman22 »

I wasn't going to say anything, greg..........After all, it's the innernet.......
User avatar
Rick in Oregon
Moderator
Posts: 4942
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Sako 75V, Cooper MTV, Kimber 84M, Cust M700 11 Twist
Location: High Desert of Central Oregon
Contact:

Re: My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Post by Rick in Oregon »

Thumper.....I'm guessing that you will be attending the next local BR match with that factory sporter rifle, right? This brings new meaning to "luck of the draw" in regards to getting a hummer for a barrel out of the box.

Congratulations...... .035".....wow.
Semper Fortis
Rick in Oregon
NRA Life/OHA/VHA/VVA

Oregon, East of the Cascades - Where Common Sense Still Prevails

Image
Thumper
New Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:55 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ Varmint 4-16x42 Nikkon, Remington SPS sporter 4.5-14x40

Re: My first dog with the 35 Berger!

Post by Thumper »

Yup my bad everyone, I think trying to just fit one .204" bullet inside a .035" hole would be a trick! You guys are sharp! I meant to type .35" but sometimes my fingers think they could do better. I guess I had engine clearances on my mind, and that'd be a loose one at that, dam gearheads!!! :eew: But anyway you all got the picture, these .204's are so much fun.

I ditched that yote cause he was mangy, so I'll try to get some target pictures, and more animal pics in the near future. But those pictures will only be in .035" sizes tho!!! :wink: Anyway thanks for the resposes!
CZ Varmint .204 4-16x42 Nikon Monarch
39SBK, 2.32coal, 27.7 H4895, Win case, Rem 7 1/2

Remington SPS sporter .204 4.5-14x40 Nikon Buckmaster
35 Berger, 2.31coal, 28.2 H4895, Horn case, Fed 205m
Post Reply