.204 which manufacturer?

[Hoppy]

just but my lisence in to swap out a .243 for a .204 Ruger. looking at a few different options:

• a Kimber pro varmint in stainless steel barrel 24" around £600 mark
• Tikka T3X stainless 20" around £800 mark (worried about it being a bit short)
• Ruger M77 stainless 24" around £600 mark
• Sako S491 (brand new custom barrel but old stock and action) £750 mark

I dont have much experience with any of these makes and not sure how i would rank them in order of quality? did look at a brand new savage arms rifle in a shop at around £750 but felt poor quality.
any recomendations or if anyone knows of a good rifle about to hit the second hand market please let me know.
Should have my lisence back in 5-7 days.

 

[Dazb1967]

I have the Tikka and really cant fault it, Its accounted for a lot of foxes if that's what you're going to use it for.

 

[Hoppy]

I have the Tikka and really cant fault it, Its accounted for a lot of foxes if that's what you're going to use it for.

only think with the Tikka is its only a 20" barrel, and i have found Tikka's a bit short in the stock?

 

[Dazb1967]

only think with the Tikka is its only a 20" barrel, and i have found Tikka's a bit short in the stock?

I have mine on a GRS stock

 

[Border]

only think with the Tikka is its only a 20" barrel, and i have found Tikka's a bit short in the stock?

Rebarrel it with a longer barrel next time. I believe you can get stock spacers for the T3/T3X.

 

[Strike]

I have a Tikka T3 lyte stainless, I reload and shoots 32grn Hornady and Nosler 32grn really well.
39grn Sierra also shot fairly well, 40grn Hornady not so good.
Has easily delt with foxes out to 320m.
I also have a .243 and .308. I prefer the .204 for it's mild recoil and it's slightly less noisy.

 

[eldon]

Tikka super varmint for me and it does what I need admirably.
39gr around 3700 whats not to like?

A touch heavy once fully loaded but that can be taken into account.

 

[hairlesshunter]

I have a Howa 204 for 6/7 years I did change the stock more or less straight away used it for 2/3 years then put her to bed when I got my 243 but have just recently started using the 204 again a forgot how well it shoots that well I was once doing a three shot zero and all three shots went through the same hole or I had two really bad flyers so for a cheaper option the howa is a fine rifle and I believe it’s the same action as the weatherby

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

That Sako S491 is cheap. That’s the price of the rebarrell. Funny enough, that’s what my 204 is, Walther barrel on a S491. Wouldn’t swap it for anything on your list.

 

[Burger]

I own a Tikka T3X 20'' and it is faultless. Runs 39grn SBK at 3700fps without any problem.
The gun sits in a GRS stock.

Owning three Tikkas they are brilliant out of the box and very accurate.

 

[Cyres]

Mate has a Tikka it's a tack driver but endless feed issues with the mag. Worst magazine ever made.
D

 

[Strike]

I have a Tikka T3X Lyte Stainless.
Brilliant rifle, crap magazine.
Replace the magazine with :-

Tikka T3 & T3x 4 round steel lip magazine .204​

Problem solved.

 

[jb1]

I'd go S491, lovely action, can top feed and I just love the look of mine in 17 rem.

 

[Scottb123]

Also consider mag length if you reload sometimes you you can’t get out long enough with 39 sbk

 

[Rake Aboot]

I do love a Tikka likes.

Ace triggers.

 

[johnboy57]

I have a model 527, CZ American 204 Ruger, wood blued, left-hand action, with an aftermarket trigger with a Vixen V-11 5- 20x50 (30mm tube) with illuminated reticle that loves 32/39gr projectiles and ADI Benchmark 2 powder.

 

[griffshrek]

Tikka tikka tikka , nothing wrong with the others ,the tikka just pips them in my view .
I went from a 22" 204 to a 20"on the tikka and have not noticed any difference on foxes

 

[the prowler]

204 Ruger sako75 and 20vartarg sako75.
I'd go for a sako if you can find one and have the funds. Sako85.

 

[MarinePMI]

If you want new, go for the Tikka, Ruger's and Kimber's do not have a stellar reputation for consistent quality control over the years.

But that Sako sure would temp me. It would come down to parts availability for me, if I jumped on that Sako.

 

[Reynolds1415]

T3x super varmint here sat in a mdt xrs slightly heavy but an absolute tack driver, shooting rabbits at 500y on a calm day no problem. 39g sbk 27.3 rs40.