.204 ruger ballistics

[243lee]

Hi,
I recently bought a nearly new t3x super varmint in the above calibre, initially thought i bought a dud as could only see one bullet hole at 100yds, after a quick run up range to check it was proven to be 5shots near on through the same hole!
At a lasered 200yds the 32 grainers were producing 8-10mm centre to centre groups while the 40s were 10-12mm groups so very clearly a stinkingly accurate rifle with both, even at a lasered 300 i didnt shoot a 5 shot group over an inch with either weight bullet,The 32s were marginally more accurate but more than happy to use either for work.
I have good access to both weights in factory ammo, my question to the more experienced with this cartridge is which does the majority use weight wise? And any particular benefits of either?
Although the 40s dropped an extra inch at 300 as they are heavier would they hold their trajectory better thsn the lighter bullets which would run out of steam quicker? When i push it out to say 4/500yds is this where the heavier bullet performs better?
Obviously the heavier bullet would hit harder and presuming would handle getting pushed around by the wind a bit better than the lighter 32s, just wondering what the thoughts of users of this calibre think.
Also heard the odd rumour of the 32s “splashing” on foxes ect causing runners, is this just an internet myth or can happen from time to time?
Any thoughts or advice greatfully received.
Regards
Lee

 

[Sniper308]

This was my first choice of calibre, but the amount of people that said get .223 was overwhelming. I opted for the .223 just because of the one sided vote, however I have always been curious of the .204 it seems so good on paper- no recoil, flat shooting etc

 

[243lee]

I could see the bullet trace at 300
The 32grainers were nearly bang on 5” low @ 300, the 40s were an inch lower again.
Looking like its going to be a very good longer range rabbit/corvid rifle, and of course fox at more moderate ranges

 

[bryn]

Zero at 200 and it’s flat to 250 and as long as the fox is sat up looking at you 350 is very achievable.
I use 40g v max. If you do go with 32g then shot placement is key. When I used them I had a few runners hence migrating to 40g which I prefer.
Bryn

 

[Longstrider]

I use 32grain Hornady Superformance in my .204 and it's a devastatingly good foxing rig. Not had a single runner yet, but have had literally hundreds of foxes with it out to silly distances. Never witnessed a 'splash' on Charlie. I just aim and shoot, and the fox falls where it was. Bang-Flop, job done.
Zeroed at 100yds I use mil-dots for elevation. 0.2 of a dot at 200yds, all the way up to a whopping 2 mil-dots at 500yds. My longest fox fell next to a willow tree that was lasered at 498yds. The carrion crow at a lasered 780 was pure luck ... according to my shooting mate

 

[old keeper]

39grn Sierra BlitzKings for me. The 204 is an amazingly forgiving calibre that seems to shoot most loads and bullet weights very well indeed

 

[243lee]

Iv shot a lot of different rifles and different cartridges over the last 30 years for work aswell as play and was genuinely suprised how easy it was to shoot it very accurately

 

[cjs66]

32g in my rifle is bang on at 50y, a tad under a inch at 100y and bang on again at 200. About 2" low at 250y. Never had a runner or a splash with the 32s.
Ive a great load made up with 39g Sierras but have no need to use them as the 32s are so easy

cjs

 

[PLC204]

A great round 40gr vmax is my go to in a t3x super varmint

 

[Muir]

I shoot 40 grain Noslers. Fly straighter, farther. Especially in the wind. ~Muir

 

[andy R204]

They are wicked when they connect

 

[Dazb1967]

32g in my rifle is bang on at 50y, a tad under a inch at 100y and bang on again at 200. About 2" low at 250y. Never had a runner or a splash with the 32s.
Ive a great load made up with 39g Sierras but have no need to use them as the 32s are so easy

cjs

Exactly the same here, No problem at all with the SBK 32's

 

[Vulpes]

Funnily enough, I've just put in a 1-4-1 variation for a .204 Ruger to use as a dedicated NV gun. Fast and flat out to 300, seemed perfect for the job.

 

[NP435]

Hi,
I recently bought a nearly new t3x super varmint in the above calibre, initially thought i bought a dud as could only see one bullet hole at 100yds, after a quick run up range to check it was proven to be 5shots near on through the same hole!
At a lasered 200yds the 32 grainers were producing 8-10mm centre to centre groups while the 40s were 10-12mm groups so very clearly a stinkingly accurate rifle with both, even at a lasered 300 i didnt shoot a 5 shot group over an inch with either weight bullet,The 32s were marginally more accurate but more than happy to use either for work.
I have good access to both weights in factory ammo, my question to the more experienced with this cartridge is which does the majority use weight wise? And any particular benefits of either?
Although the 40s dropped an extra inch at 300 as they are heavier would they hold their trajectory better thsn the lighter bullets which would run out of steam quicker? When i push it out to say 4/500yds is this where the heavier bullet performs better?
Obviously the heavier bullet would hit harder and presuming would handle getting pushed around by the wind a bit better than the lighter 32s, just wondering what the thoughts of users of this calibre think.
Also heard the odd rumour of the 32s “splashing” on foxes ect causing runners, is this just an internet myth or can happen from time to time?
Any thoughts or advice greatfully received.
Regards
Lee

I like the 39grn Sierra, no issue ever with critters gettin away. I will use the 32's if I must. Both are accurate in my Ruger No 1V

 

[Dazb1967]

I like the 39grn Sierra, no issue ever with critters gettin away. I will use the 32's if I must. Both are accurate in my Ruger No 1V

I can run both through my T3X without the need to zero between the two

 

[243lee]

Thanks for all the feedback, still undecided which to stock up on haha
Im Lucky in some ways as both shoot to same zero at 100 and both are bloody accurate, the 32s marginally more but the 40s are still a half inch group at 200 so still stupidly accurate
Might shoot a few groups out past 4-500 maybe and see if one opens up dramatically although no reason why they should i guess

 

[6.5_shooter]

I used the 39gr Sierra BK the most whilst I had my .204 and found them to be a nice sweet spot in between the 32s and 40s. Deadly accurate and a little more forgiving on a breezy day vs. the 32s. I also played around with the 26gr Barnes varmint grenades - on a still day these were laser flat and absolute dynamite. Whichever you stick with, the .204 is a great little cartridge!

 

[204rips]

I had the same experience when I picked up my T3x super varmint in .204, amazingly accurate rifle. I played around loading and hunting with both weights but ended up going with the 40gn vmax. Pushing 3650fps it’s a laser beam and hits plenty hard enough.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Not 204 Ruger, but 20 Tactical which is very similar ballistically. It has a 1 in 9" twist so I can use anything up to 50gn. However I found that 40 Vmax and 39 BK to be a very good combination of accuracy wind drift and terminal performance. I shoot quite a lot of crows out to 500+ yards, Strelok Pro a pair of Leica range finding Binoculars and a kestrel wind meter, make it relatively easy (as long as I feed in the correct data).

 

[243lee]

It does favour the 32s accuracy wise but still shoots 1”groups at a lasered 300yds so no issues there, i think il set a 400 and 500yd target up and shoot some 10 shot groups and see how they compare. Leaning towards the heavier bullet, do like the sound of holding the wind a touch better, obviously hitting a little harder and presuming as i stretch its legs will hold its steam a little further, hopefully the fog will lift tomorrow!