It's finally happened, Ruger and Hornady are bringing out a Hot-Rod .20 based on the Triple Duce Mag. I think the .17 HMR was a wake up call, "Little is Better!". I talked to a tech at Hornady, and from what he said it's about the ballistic twin of what I'm getting out of my Tactical .20. Being a product of the 60's I can only think of one thing to say "FAR OUT!!!!!!"---Shoot Safe---montdoug

Yes, I read that yesterday. That puts me in sort of a dilema. I was planning to build a Tactical 20 within the next 2 years. What would you guys do? Chamber it for the new 204 or the T20? Both have the ballistics I'm looking for. Interesting thing about them using a 32 gr bullet instead of the 33grainer.

Now yer talkin' !........... ........sound alot more interesting and a hellofallota more fun than the lame .25 caliber WSSM.........

I'll take one!

From Ruger's website:
Sturm, Ruger is proud to introduce five rifle models for 2004 in an exciting new caliber: the 204 RUGER. This small, fast, and efficient new cartridge is the result of another joint development effort between Sturm, Ruger and Hornady Manufacturing Company. The 204 RUGER shares the same case head and overall length dimensions as the 222 Remington Magnum, but uses a slender new 20 caliber, 32 grain, V-MAX� bullet. The 204 RUGER�s bullet has an extremely efficient ballistic coefficient of 0.192, and an amazing muzzle velocity of 4,225 feet per second.

When compared directly with either the 22-250 Remington or the 220 Swift, the 204 RUGER offers higher muzzle velocity and flatter trajectory. Because the 204 RUGER cartridge achieves a higher velocity with less propellant than either the 22-250 Remington or the 220 Swift, this new cartridge does not compromise barrel life. The 204 RUGER also offers lower recoil and muzzle report than comparable high-velocity, sub-caliber ammunition. Its conventional case shape avoids feeding problems and increased rearward bolt thrust associated with short and super short magnum cartridges.

Because this new caliber provides significant benefits for varmint hunters and target shooters alike, Sturm, Ruger is introducing five rifle models chambered for the 204 RUGER. These include three bolt action rifles and two single shot rifles. The Ruger M77 MKII bolt action rifles include: the M77R in blued steel with a cut-checkered American walnut stock; the KM77RLFP Ultralight All-Weather in stainless steel with a synthetic stock and a light contour barrel; and the Target Grey KM77VT Target rifle in stainless steel with a brown, laminated wood stock, heavy target barrel, and two-stage target trigger. Ruger No.1 single shot models include the No. 1 Standard in blued steel with a cut-checkered American walnut stock and the No. 1 Stainless Varminter in stainless steel with a black, laminated stock.

These new 204 RUGER models will be available beginning in March 2004
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firea...11-06-2003.html

Corrected link:

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/News-11-06-2003.html

I'll sure give Ruger and Hornady ALL the kudos as long as I get all the kudus!

Yes, kudos to Ruger and Hornady (and lets not forget Walt) for seeing the light after we custom bulletmakers prove the interest is out there so you can make the money!!!!!!

Russ your exactly right. Ruger and Hornady are to be commended for taking the jump but in truth they are only capitalizing on the market created by guys like Todd Kindler and yourself who got the ball rolling. I for one wouldn't be shooting the small stuff without the articles and research provided to spark the interest as well as the supplies to make it happen. Thanks!---Shoot Safe---montdoug

May I suggest that it is Todd Kindler [woodchuckden and Small Caliber News] who deserves all the credit for this. Todd single handedly brought the .20 caliber back to life. He got Douglas to start making barrels again and Berger to make bullets. He was the one who pushed Hornady to make the 33 grain VMAX. All sorts of other barrel and bullet manufacturers then got on the band wagon.

It speaks volumes of the arrogance of Hornady and Ruger that they left Todd completely in the dark on their project; gave him no creit for his development work and developed a standard factory cartridge to compete directly with the .20 Tactical which has been so popular. Basically, they road on Todd's coat tails till the .20 had market share, then slapped him in the face.

Thankfully, there will be other .20 factory cartridges which will not be quite so arrogant.

Jordan

And of course the big picture being....who the heck wants to try and make a Ruger centerfire a tackdriver? Not me...especially the newer guns. I have an old tang safety 270 that's great for deer huntig, but I'll use Todd's reamer dimensions and use a "good" action...or buy a cooper in TAC 20...

Jordan, your so right! Ruger wanted a propritary cartridge with their name on it, using the triple duce mag to start out with makes no sense compared to the Tact .20 but then they are back to being gun producers instead of round inventors, plus which at that point Todd Kindler comes up again and they don't want to share the credit. In spite of all that I believe it's great for us small caliber guys, cause with the new round more doors are opened and more components happen. The biggest fear I have goes along with rogerinneb, in that if most of these rifles shoot like Rugers (no offense to Ruger lovers) the caliber is going to catch the bad rap. And as I'm sure most .20 cal shooters have discovered in a good rifle rounds like the Tactical .20 shoots with the best of em. I'd truly love to see Rem or one of the others get Todd on board and bring out the Tactical .20. As I mentioned above, he's the reason I shoot the .17's and .20's and "Small Caliber News" is my favorite gun mag. "WAY TO GO TODD!!!"---Shoot Safe---montdoug