Are these on the shelves yet? Anyone have any comments?

Nothing spotted yet at my local Gander Mountain or two other large shops. A buddy is drooling over these so I've been on the lookout for him.

Personally I am lukewarm about these. From what I gather the performance levels advertised can only be attained by using the Hornady ammo, which uses proprietary powders. For the moment, at least, it does not look like an effective handloading proposition. If a person doesn't roll his own it is no matter, of course.

Bob,
Maybe Mid March

What I'm not getting is why Ruger bothers to chamber this in a rifle with a 20" barrel. If it has all that potential, then 26" is where its at. If you want the lightweight, short rifle, then you wight as well go with a more standard cartridge and handload. I am interested in the 204 in a full length rifle for prairie dogs, but I just can't understand the point of cutting 6" off the performance.

Rick L.

Aim4thefur: I just reviewed one of the press releases from Ruger. They are going to offer the 204 Ruger in 5 Rifles. 3 of those Rifles are 26" barrel Models. 1 of those Rifles is a 24" Model. And 1 is of a barrel length I am unfamiliar with. Perhaps that is the 20" barrel Model you are worried about?
Solution simply buy one of the longer barreled offerings.
Good luck if you decide to try one!
I am excited about the 204 myself as I live in long range and large Varmint country!
Good for Ruger and Hornady following (admitedly many years and decades behind) Remingtons on going policy and program of offering new and wildcat cartridge chamberings! I for one really appreciate all the new cartridges coming along!
May I list just some of my favorites to become factory chamberings?

Here goes with just a few of my "new" favorites:

221 Remington Fireball
222 Remington
223 Remington
222 Remington Magnum
22 Bench Rest Remington
22-250 Remington
6mm Bench Rest Remington
6mm PPC
6mm Remington
25/06 Remington
260 Remington
280 Remington

Yeah, thanks for the all efforts and risks the Gunmakers have taken to bring us the new cartridge chamberings in factory Rifles! By the way I own and use at least one of each of the above list.
I think the factories need more kudos and encouragement in this regard rather than negativism and scorn!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Hey VarmintGuy,

I think you will love the .204 for the kind of varminting you do up there. A Tactical Twenty on a 700 action is my most used rifle at this point, and I am extremely happy that Ruger and Hornady teamed up on this new round. Like others, I am sure hopeful (but not confident) that Ruger puts forth its best effort on making these accurate out of the box. There are plenty of good bullets to choose from now in addition to the Hornady, so bullet availability should not be an issue.

Mike Johnston

I was thinking of trying the target rifle with the 26" barrel, I just didn't think there would be a real demand for the lightweight walkaround rifle with the short barrel. Not like you're going to tote one off into the mountains.

Just to let everyone know. I got my 204 Ruger Hornedy dies today in the mail from Midway. I imagine the ammo and guns won't be far behind. Midway is running specials on 222 Rem Mag brass, and 32gr V-max bullets. Ed

I dont think this will go very far because the avalibility(or lack there of) of brass. I would much rather just build a 20 tactical or 22/243.

My computer says that a 222 rem necked to .204 shooting a 32 gr bullet has an optimal bbl length of 26.1 inches and will drive a 32 gr bullet 4220 fps.

Hey Sabot,

What software you running that gives optimum barrel length?

Thanks,