.204 Ruger

[Mark Jones]

Well, my new Tikka t3 brought from Pete of here went out tonite for a quick test, a little worried as he did say best not to take it out in the wind but the few rounds I had with it shot quite well. Shooting 1/2 MOA I had a few bunnies, all headshot furthest being 185 yds. To say I'm happy, it's very quiet and can see the strike in the scope, both useful for what I have in mind. Now to get a picatinny rail so I can have NV on standby!

[tisme]

Glad you like it and got a smaller group than here ? it really is a nice rifle.

[Mark Jones]

Glad you like it and got a smaller group than here it really is a nice rifle.

Just playing with you to try and lower the price

[247sniper]

185 yards is such an easy shot for a 204 when you are use to it. they seem almost effortless at that range even in windy conditions.

 

 

Enjoy your 204 buddy.

[gbal]

185 yards is such an easy shot for a 204 when you are use to it. the seem almost effortless at that range even in windy conditions.

 

 

Enjoy your 204 buddy.

Indeed,and here's why:d/d inches;200 zero ;10 mph wind: note 300y is much more of a challenge

 

Hornady 32 Vmax @4225 200y 0/4.1 300y 4.1/9.8

 

Fed 32 Nos Ball Tip@4030 200 0/4.4 300y 4.7/10.6

 

Hornady 40 V Max @3900 200 0/3.3 300 4.3/7.8

 

Nosler 40 Ball Tip@ 3625 200 0/4.2 300 5.5/10.2

 

note too,that 195 fps for 32g ,at 200y make no real difference;and by 300y it's still under an inch

Quite similar for 40g -275 fps at 200y is only an inch, but by 300 it's nearer 21/2

 

Worth bearing in mind if tempted to up velocity,or more likely concerned about a shorter barrel (data for 24",each inch less loses about 35 fps).

For comparison,a 223 40g Vmax @3800 gives 200y 0/5.5 and 300y 5.5/11.9 ie a bit less vel and BC ( 223 .2,and 204 .275) adds 2 windage inches at 200y,and 3 more at 300y (12" is getting iffy for a rabbit hit,given wind reading errors 300 y away.)

 

gbal

[247sniper]

Even 10 inches of wind drift at 300 yards is easy to account for. A broad side rabbit provides a massive kill zone at that distance, if it's max of 10 mph wind at 300 yards and 10 inch of drift, dial in a shoot.....even if you get the wind reading wrong by 2 mph (which is a lot!) that would only equate to approx 1.5 inch error. Still well within a minute of rabbit.

[gbal]

Even 10 inches of wind drift at 300 yards is easy to account for. A broad side rabbit provides a massive kill zone at that distance, if it's max of 10 mph wind at 300 yards and 10 inch of drift, dial in a shoot.....even if you get the wind reading wrong by 2 mph (which is a lot!) that would only equate to approx 1.5 inch error. Still well within a minute of rabbit.

Ok,but if you read what I said-it was that 12 inches wind drift(223)is a getting bit 'iffy' at 300y,and in context-the point was that the 204 retained a useful edge with 10 inches.

I'm not sure that every shooter can judge a wind 300y away over varied terrain to 2mph-especially given that wind tends to vary moment to moment (gust) ....nor that rabbits always present broad side on-they don't,and that much reduces 'kill zone'

 

Lets take it to 400y; 204 Ruger 40gNos BT @3625 is 17.2/19.3; and the 223 40gNos BT 3600 20/24.7 : seems we are now iffy for both...

For me "Iffy" means hit % less than 90%,not that a very good wind reader/shooter cannot get some hits (ethical issue is non instantaneous fatal hits).

 

But it does depend on those skills,and tolerance of imperfect shots....

 

My main point was that 'average'-make that newish shooters-might should be aware of the realities,and that the 204 has an edge-but no cartridge is a 100% lazer at windy distances of 300y and beyond.

Skill can't be bought/upgraded by a chambering (much!).

 

I know some can do-but you are better than most!

 

atb

g

[Alycidon]

If you have not already tried the 39gr SBK give it a go, I found it slightly better than 40 gr VMax accuracy wise and it held together better at high speed in a fast twist barrel.

 

A

[sandyb]

My favourite load used to 32 grain nosler BT's with N130, but having acquired a large number of Sierra 39 grainers, I face them a go an really impressed with Viht N133. A ragged hole, but that was on Saturday, will have to see how the group is affected on spring and summer when the weather is a lot warmer.