204 Ruger

greystone

Any thoughts on this caliber. I almost bought one today. The rifle in question is a H&R handi rifle. I'm looking for a fairly light easy to handle rifle. It will be used mostly for coyotes-max range of 200 yds mostly alot less. I'll be reloading for it. I know most people will consider it to minimal for coyotes but this caliber intrigues me and I like this little rifle. Any thoughts on this combination? Thanks
Dave
P.S I know most of you will direct me towards the 223,22-250,or 243 but I want to know about the 204-reloading problems, etc.

dcloco

204 is a great caliber. Use the 35 or 40 grain Berger or 45 SP bullets to save the hides on your coyotes.

Buy Remington brass...the Win stuff is junk.

I did the handi rifle trip as well. If you get a good one, you REALLY get a good one. I have the wood blocks made so that you can to a trigger job if you want to (if you buy a Handi rifle, it WILL need a trigger job).

Good luck!

Personally, I would buy a Savage or Howa sporter rifle in 204 for your needs.

greystone

Thanks dcloco
I'm a handy kind of guy and I'm not afraid to work on triggers. Whats the deal with the handi rifle triggers?

Highball

The little rifles shoot all out of porportion to their prices....one cannot expect to get a really good trigger, too. [:D]

They can be tweaked. However...I currently am in possession of a Ruger .45 Colt...and a Uberti 1873 .45 Colt.

BOTH were 'worked over on the triggers'..by the same guy. BOTH slip-fire.
I bought the guns before the fellow shot himself...or somebody else. The Uberti has plenty of meat to fix the butchery he did...the Ruger needs BOTH the trigger AND the hammer replaced.

I WANT a .204...so guess I better get about getting one.

dcloco

When doing the trigger work, there is very little involved. Some light polishing with 800/1000 grit.

One of the triggers I did, just needed a thorough cleaning, some lube, and came out at 2 3/4 pound pull.

5mmgunguy

The H&R handi rifle is a great rifle. The 204 Ruger is a great round. On coyotes at 200 yards or less...it will be dynamite! Use the 39 gr Sierra or the 40 gr Hornady. Noslers will work too, but with the solid base will punch through a little more. On the trigger a little polishing with a fine stone will work well, but go slow and try it frequently, you can always polish a little more but it is real tough putting material back. And you have to know when good is good enough. Buy it you won't go wrong! Try different powders and when shooting off sand bags or a a solid rest I put my hand under the fore end, I can shoot better groups.

ChetStafford

I have a CZ 527 in 204 it is a great shooting rifle I load a 32gr v-max at about 3700fps it devestating on coyotes[;)]

The 204 is a great little cartridge I would definatly recommend one to anyone looking for a good varmint rifle

The 204 gets near 22-250 velocity without the barrel wear[:p]

woodchuckjohn

Just my two cents worth. I love my Remington 700 in 204. A bit finicky on which ammo it likes best. Remington was all over the target at 100 yards ( two inch groups). The best was Hornady 32 grain, one hole accuracy at 100 and under an inch at 200. And flat, I couldn't believe how flat it shoots. Recoil is minimum and the recoil does not take you off the targer. You can see the bullet hole thru the scope as it hits.

Odawgp

The 204 Rocks!!!

IMO it is in no way minimal when it come to coyote's, true coyote harvesters have used 17 cal wildcat exclusively for yrs and yrs. 20cal being slightly bigger it will give the same if not better results. as far as knock down goes.

I reloaded for the 204 and have had no problems to date.

Its funny when people bash the hell out of the 223 when talking military use. but are all over it when it comes to varmint hunting. IMO it suffers from the same problems in the hunting world as it does on the battle field. it is a plinker in my mind.

22-250 and 243 are great calibers, for a fur harvester they are to big and in the end will ruin a prime pelt. for the weekend blood letter they are the ticket.

You will enjoy the 204 no doubt about it.

204targetman

204. is a great cal. The recoil is nothing. I wish I had gotten a heavy barrel tho. Heats up very quickly. My Ruger M-77 likes the 40 grain v-max from hornandy but I cant seem to get good groups with the 32 grainers. Go figure. Great coyote gun. I've never taken one at 300 yards but would not hesitate in taking the shot. The velocity combined with the v-max bullet makes for a great varmint combo. Explosive at times on the smaller vermin.

5mmgunguy

greystone...the bottom line is the 204 is a great cartridge...just don't expect to see 4200 fps with handloads...staying around 4000 fps with the 32 gr bullet and about 3700 with the 40 gr bullet is best and will deliver outstanding accuracy. And the H&R for the price is hard to beat. Love to hear how it all turns out.