G'day,
Was wondering if any one can give me their veiws on the different brands of 204s on the market.I've looked at Kimba,Remington,Savage,Cz etc.Thats fine to look and read the write ups but some of the mag. writers have ties to various brands.(yeh I know that doesn't happen)
Maybe some of you guys own one and can give me an opinion on the pro's and con's of the various makes and favorite loads.
I've got the permit(7 weeks wait)and now the search starts so any info would be great.

358,
I have owned a Ruger Model II in 204 for well over 12 months now and have put about 1500 rounds through it to date. I have shot probably a hundred roos on permit with it, a fair number of foxes as well as a few rabbits and whatever. In my opinion, it does everything the .17 Rem I had for years, plus one I still borrow occasionally, would do.

I have reloaded for both and I find them a bit more fiddly that our other centrefires like the .22-250. The .22-250 is a very good all round rifle for me. I shoot a fair few foxes with it and have no trouble. I have found the heavy jacketed ones do little damage to the skins MOST times. Yep, I skin them and keep them for personal use.

I use BM 2 almost exclusively with some 2209 occasionally (in the .22-250).

If I had a choice of three firearms for what I do (excluding competition shooting), I would get a .22 (obviously), a .22-250 and pretty sure the third would be a .204 (particularly now ammo and components are becoming so more available).

but its only my opinion.

Last time i loaded for the 17 rem was IMR 4320 powder, so a few years ago.

I think the comparison of the 17 and 204 is very contensious (sic). BOTH are very good at shooting VERY flat over a long range (300 yards plus)

My opinions though.

A passing thought I will add.

I always cleaned the 17 so it was as good as I could get. always did the right thing and cleaned it from the breach end.

But in the early 80's, I had unlimited access in another area of the state that was very hilly and the gullys were full of bracken and rabbit warrens. so I used to spend the first couple of hours chasing the bunnies into the open with my GSP then shooting them with a 685.

In the afternoons, I'd find a nice pearch overlooking a few warrens and shoot the little critters when they came out. i might have only used about ten rounds shooting foxes around here on an average night but I got a buzz out of seeing rabbit hit by the 25 gn pill from my 17.

So it got a lot of use over a couple of years. How many rounds would be a rough guess.

But by about 1986 (for many reasons) when I wanted to use it again for long range fox shooting at night, the groups were not as good.

I suppose I should have used a .22 or the .22 mag (Sirling Model 15 and very accurate) for closer shots. Like the bunnies that would pop out under 50 yards. But I liked the 17 effect.

I guess when it was showing signs of age I should have rebarrelled. But circumstances (and life) being what they are, I never.

If I HAD another new 17, would I shoot the close in ones to see what happens?

358,

I do not own any of the rifles you mentioned, but have been thinking seriously about buying a .204 (as my gun safe has a notable gap at the bottom end of the calibre range).

Accordingly, I have been looking at various rifles and while I have been a long-time Ruger owner (and still think that the M77 would be a good choice) I have been very, very impressed with the Kimbers and will probably end up with one in the safe. The only question is which model. I really like the 84M in the classic styling but recently played with a varmint model and almost weakened on it - decisions, decisions!

I really like the trim, scaled-down action, the Mauser claw extractor, the 3-position safety and the general finish of the Kimbers. They are also fitted with match-grade barrels and match triggers - so they should shoot brilliantly.

By the way, I am curious about your handle - are you a fan of the .358 Win, or the calibre in general?

I'd be tempted to look at a Savage ... even though they look butt ugly. Besides, the non-gunsmith, barrel interchangeable capability has me absolutely intrigued.
Cheers...
Con

Con et all

Do you know the twist of the savage .204's??

What about the barrel knox diameter??

Considering getting a savage take off and recutting it to suit a Sako 461 action.

thanks

later
p

G'day gentlemen

Been following this thread for a bit and perhaps I can help with the discussion. Or not!

Try out this forum www.mausercentral.com/forum and browse around in it. You don't have to join up, but rather can browse as a "guest" and read all the stuff there. If you should care to ask a question, or post a thought, you will have to join. It's painless, and we don't require sacrificial rights to your first born male child! LOL
One of the members there, groundhogdevastation..or as we call him GHD has been shooting a .204 for quite some time, and has developed several loads for some of the ammo manufacturers. He uses it to shoot groundhogs, don't know if you know what they are or even have anything like them in Australia. Anyway, he has ranged it out on groundhogs to over 400 yds...about 380 meters or so.

One of our members is a kiwi, muzza, and he seems like a nice enough bloke...but I like kiwis and Aussies.

Spent some time down under a long time ago, Sydney, Nowra, Goolagong, Canberra...lovely country, great people, and loved a pint of Toohey's at the end of the day.

John

Muzza!!! and I thought we had the one and only

quote:

Muzza!!! and I thought we had the one and only

Just as I suspected....Kiwis are just like Taswegians - inbred and all from the same family with the same name!

Two headed Muzza

Two headed Tasmanians, definitely,

Where is our world going?

Moaris Rule! The world will leap frog ahead!

Greybeardbushman;
Thanks for your advice and thoughts on the 204 and 17cal as well.I have a 2 Sako's in 17 one a factory heavy barrel stainless it seems a lot less finicky than the molly barrel and shoots better.I love the the way they drop bunnies and foxes.Thats why I want to try a 204.And yes I have the other toys 220 swift,22/250'222 and 223. Much as I know I cant shoot them all at once it's like pulling teeth to sell them or cut down.
BwanaBob;
I too have been impressed with the Kimber the 84m has the 26" barrel but the timber stock is very ordinary on most Ive seen.Saw one at the Coffs dealer when I was up for the Safari show man it was unreal my mate bought it on the spot. The Pro Varmit has a shorter barrel but is even better finished.Tikka have a couple of models coming around September.Savage and Ruger are pretty good also but what an ugly stock.For me uncomfortable too.
As for the handle 358,no I dont own one but would love to one day.At the moment I cant see the value in any more large calibers with the drought etc not enough about at the present.Went to a mates property out Cobar 3 weeks ago and the only grunters around are all around the dams at night.We had fun knocking a few over with the night vision as they came in for a drink but not the numbers there were a couple of years back.
Salvage33;
Thanks for the web site very good.Glad you liked Aussie beer and our country.I like that amber fluid you guys brew, Bourbon,hey shit I Bought so much of it I must have shares in half the distillerys over there.
As for Aussie and US relations John Howard is trying as hard as he can to make us the 53rd state.
Ogre6br;
Dont know about the Savage barrel fitting an L461 but MAB. do a 204 for around $500 that screws straight in.Western firearms told us that the Rugger heavy barrel will screw into a Tikka action,that may be worth a look.

Ogre,
Savage rifles: Thread pattern for all standard chamberings is 1.055"x20tpi. Twist in 204Ruger is listed as being 1:12". Is that what your after??
Cheers...
Con

358,
Welcome to AR by the way. Also being nitpicky ... MAB will fit you a barrel, they wont provide you with a "screw in" barrel. Been there, tried that! Closest they will come is to supply a profiled/chambered barrel ... but no threads... apparently not allowed ... we're Aussies remember, and cant be trusted with such items.
And ... with a forum name like 358 ... you really do need one!
Cheers and welcome again...
Con

358

Only thing I couldn't get used to was driving on the wrong side of the road! LOL As for bourbon, ordered a bourbon and water in a pub one afternoon and the barkeeper just looked at me. Immediately switched to a rum and coke.

On one of my trips to Oz, was invited to go shoot some bloody 'roos. Host had a couple of Enfields and some surplus ammo. We did in a few (eleven I think) then he said it was time for a beer. LOL

Really enjoyed Sydney, the people were very friendly, the shielas' were even more friendly, and two of them escorted me to a club on Coogee Bay (?) I think that was the name of the place.

Hell, even the police were nice to a semi-drunk Yank! I was surprised at that.

Oh well..enough of my trip down memory lane.

John

Hi Con.
Your right MAB barrels are'nt threaded,i'm running off at the mouth again.Mate just bought one through Western here in Sydney to have fitted to a 461 action.I want to see how it shoots another friend has just bought a Kimber 84m will be very interesting to see how they go.
I have the chance to buy any of the Remingtons at a very good price but Im stuffed I know what to do,too many to choose from.
As for my handle, 358 has nothing to do with my shooting,it is a number Ive had in my work place for 25 years.
Paul.

Hi salvage33,
Sounds like you know a fair bit about Sydney and our "sheilas" (very tounge in cheek).You must have spent a fair amount of time down under.
Interesting to hear how you culled a few "bloody roo's" and then sank a couple.You can have our beer Ill have your Bourbon.
Paul.

Con,
Forgot to mention that it has taken a month to convince dear heart that life is almost unbearable without a 204 and I have got to have one to restore my mental wellbeing.So if I was to tell her that I wanted to buy a 358 Win or Whelan SHOOT that might be a little over the top. Nah. she's pretty good realy.It's just that I already own 30 odd rifles and some I haven't shot in a year or more so another one would just sit in the safe.
Im lucky my son is a shooter as well so we do use what we have fairly regularly.
Paul.

358

Your last post is very familiar.

We own a fair few firearms and shoot a few times a week (I love our small country town) but there is always a reason to buy another. drew has inherited that from me.

Luckily he doesn't like the grog like his old man

Honestly ... I'd buy the cheapest varmint weight Savage I could ... the 12FV. I'm after quotes on one at the moment ... but in 243Win.
Cheers...
Con

My wife is shooting a Remington LVSF, and it's an excellent performer. Very pleasant cartridge to shoot or load for.

I'm currently collecting the bits to build another 204...this one will be based on a left handed Rem 700, use a McMillan stock, and probably a fluted Maddco #4.

Of the factory heavy barrelled rifles, my favourites are the Remingtons. I'd say Sako if they made one that wasn't quite as heavily 'handed'.