Hello,

After I finish on my .300 target rifle, I plan on building my girlfriend a gun as well. (I am a gunsmith, these things don't just fall out my hat). She said she wanted something that was good on hunting, at the range, high velocity, and little kick. I recommended the .204 Ruger. I have chambered a couple Model 700's and an AR-15 in .204 before, but have never heard any miracles in hunting. I don't want to fail on this. So, I ask if anyone has experience with this cartridge to give some advice.
Thanks

Uh huh. They let you build guns in the dorms, these days?

I have a Ruger #1 in the .204 and it shoots well. It's a new round so probably not a lot of word back from the field on performance. It should be great for anything you use any of the .22 centerfires.

Uh huh. They let you build guns in the dorms, these days?

Dorm?

I graduated CMSU '02, I run a shop given to me by a good friends dad who passed away a few years ago. It's in LaMonte, about 15 miles outside Warrensburg. It's small, but good enough for the area.

I don't think the administrators would have appreciated me building guns in my dorm :D

What kind of hunting will she be doing? I know that many states require minimum calibers for deer and larger game. Here in Michigan, it's a .223 centerfire or larger. Also, you are seriously limited on bullet selection. The only bullets I've seen in 20 caliber are for Varmints and Paper.

What kind of hunting will she be doing? I know that many states require minimum calibers for deer and larger game. Here in Michigan, it's a .223 centerfire or larger. Also, you are seriously limited on bullet selection. The only bullets I've seen in 20 caliber are for Varmints and Paper.


I would probably say.... mostly varmint and anything smaller than a coyote. I will let her deer hunt with my rifle. I believe in Missouri that we also have a .223 large game hunting minimum. Thanks

My brother hunts coyote with his .17hmr. I know this has been argued over and over but reality shows this little round being tough enough if you use the NON-ballistic tip (TnT's).

So, I'd think the .204 would be dandy for coyote and smaller. Sure has my curiosity up and if the prices come down in about 3yrs I'll grab one and start working loads for it.

If you get one, let us know.


Perferator

I would probably say.... mostly varmint and anything smaller than a coyote. I will let her deer hunt with my rifle. I believe in Missouri that we also have a .223 large game hunting minimum. Thanks

Should be a great round then, as long as you're not worried about the cost of ammo.

edit: Which I'm sure you're not since you shoot a 50BMG. Should be chump change in comparison, even with silver bullets:)

Hello,

After I finish on my .300 target rifle, I plan on building my girlfriend a gun as well. (I am a gunsmith, these things don't just fall out my hat). She said she wanted something that was good on hunting, at the range, high velocity, and little kick. I recommended the .204 Ruger. I have chambered a couple Model 700's and an AR-15 in .204 before, but have never heard any miracles in hunting. I don't want to fail on this. So, I ask if anyone has experience with this cartridge to give some advice.
Thanks
My new whitetail gun is the ruger .204, I hunt in west texas and have shot coyotes,parrire dog and whitetail deer with great results. Everything I shoot just falls down and does not move. What is the best part you can see the bullet impact thru the scope.

Welcome to the forum. You can ignore any advice from the banned member BigFifty; his 'accomplishments' were mostly in his head.

Hope you like it here. Post some pictures of your critters if you get a chance.

I use the 204 Ruger for prairie dog shooting. For bigger varmints I ll use a 22-250 Rem or 220 Swift. You can find the 204 fans at www.rugerhunting.com

My new whitetail gun is the ruger .204, I hunt in west texas and have shot coyotes,parrire dog and whitetail deer with great results. Everything I shoot just falls down and does not move. What is the best part you can see the bullet impact thru the scope.

I hunted in Europe,Australia,Yukon,British Columbia,the US from the west to the north,and
now the mid west on my own land.I met many outfitters,and experienced hunters over the
last 48 years.The commmon consensus summed up in one sentence would be"allways use
the biggest caliber rifle,you can handle on big game."This reply should not be considered as a lecture,just something to be considered by hunters.Most hunters desire a quick and humane kill[some sadists may like to see a animal die a slow,and painful death]I also
understand,that we can not allways place the "perfect shot".But with a bigger [bigger then needed] caliber,the animal would be ankered,and a quick second shot,would kill the animal.
With small calibers,the animal could run off,and in a lot of cases never be found.I allready
can hear the voices in the background saying"I shot ten deer in the neck,or head,and I killed
all of them".Well,first of all,you dont shoot a deer in the neck or head,[this is where the deer
with the jaw shot off,come from]You aim behind the shoulder,this is what the experts will tell you.If somebody is able to place his shot a thousend times with a varmint caliber,and kill a
thousend times,he should never advertise this,because there will be many hunters trying to do the same,and just cripple many many animals.Game deserves respect.This is the minimum we can do for a animal,we kill.

I believe in Missouri that we also have a .223 large game hunting minimum.

Missouri only requires a centerfire cartridge with an expanding type bullet; something I'd like to see them change. There are too many real deer cartridges available to use a varmint cartridge on such a magnificent creature.

I have a 20BR, but would not consider it as an option for hunting anything larger than a coyote.