Just put together a 204 with an encore frame and heavy barrel.

I bought a 700ADL in 204 for my brother, and when I was sighting it in for him, I can't believe it was a sub.7MOA gun with 40gr hornady factory ammo. Figures. If I bought it it would have been a tomato stake.

So figured I would try one in a encore. Not sure if I am going to reload for it yet. Ammo is pretty affordable.

I'm gonna rebore to 220 Swift...

Did it not shoot well? One thing I don't like is the thin cleaning rods. Too much flex.

Big Country, just funnin bro... check out the thread on 204 vs. 220 Swift... borders on the ridiculous!

Just waiting on my Talleys to arrive so I can shoot my ADL I picked up a month ago on sale.

Had a Gre'tan shroud/pin assembly, and the trigger turned down to 2#. Hoping it is a shooter. Debating on what weight bullets to run. I am already running 40's in my 223AI, so i might try the 32 and go for speed.

quote:

I'm gonna rebore to 220 Swift.

HA! Brad, yur killin me! Good one! I about fell outa my chair!
I'm just getting started with my SPS. I think it's gonna be fun. BT53

bigcountry, man do I know what you mean about the skinny cleaning rods! I have a couple of stainless one piece models that have some dog legs bent into them but I will pass this on and it will make you happy after you get one TIPTON CARBON FIBER cleaning rod, get after it with these bend em' and they pop right back to where they were not to mention easy on the bore. Later,

Kirk

Ksmirk: Thank you for the tip on the Tipton Carbon Fiber rods! I have three 204 Rifles and I may just get another rod like you suggest for my uses.
I have two friends that tried to make due with 17 caliber rods and they ruined their rods! I have a Dewey 20 caliber rod now!

Brad: Our fellow poster and small caliber enthusiast Bigcountry (from Maryland) asked a pertinent AND serious question.
I am going to try to provide him with a pertinent, serious and actual HANDS ON answer!
I do not see the pertinence of either of your posts in this thread!
Do you own or have you shot a 204 Ruger?
If so please make a serious posting in this regard!

Big Country: I could not be HAPPIER with my 204 Ruger Rifles!
I have three of them and will be taking at least one of them along on an all day Coyote Hunt tomorrow. So I may add some to this thread again then.
I own and have used for some time now, 3 Varmint style 204's. The first one I bought was a Ruger 77 V/T. It shot the factory Hornady ammunition into groups (5 shots at 100 yards) as small as .530"! It now shoots my handloads into groups as small as .374"! I was impressed from day one with this Rifle and especially with the accuracy and lethality of the 204 Ruger on all manner and size Varmints!
Next I bought a Remington 700 VLS in 204! This Rifle shot factory Hornady ammunition (the only thing available back then!) into 3 shot groups at 100 yards measuring as small as .330" The reason I did load testing with only 3 shot groups then was because of an ammunition shortage! I used these factory bullets on Prairie Dogs back then and that is an ammo eating endeavour! Then when I had enough brass I went to Beger 35 gr. handloads and back to 5 shot groups at 100 yards! My last two groups with the Bergers in this Rifle measured .480" and .398" (again 5 shots at 100 yards).
Then in a moment of "weakness" I got a wholesale deal on a Remington XR-100 in 204! This wonder-gun shot factory ammo into groups as small as .326" and it liked the 32 grain factory Hornady ammo more than the 40 grain stuff that shot .682" for best group with that stuff.
Then I went to work with handloads and the Sierra BlitzKing 32 gr. bullets! I have shot four 5 shot groups for testing with this bullet and the four groups gave me measurements of .322", .402", .374" and .421"!!!
I could not be HAPPIER with a factory stock Rifle than I am with these three!
I highly recommend that everyone try a 204 Ruger. I am so impressed with the performance in the field as well as at the range! Among many other species of Varmints I have killed 3 Coyotes to date with my 204's.
Its amazingly superior ballistic numbers and lethality on Varmints has to be experienced first hand to be appreciated!
Accuracy like your brother has obtained is the rule and not the exception in my observations. I have talked to MANY Riflemen who rave about the accuracy the 204 Ruger Rifles produce.
I have heard just one negative report so far on a 204 Ruger Rifle and that Rifle has just begun load testing!
Best of luck with your Encore in 204. Be sure and let us know how it shoots.
Long live the Magical 204 Ruger!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG,

Keep up the fight... my .204 26" Enclore is doing fine and I like it more with each shot!! It consistantly shoots 32 gr Factory under "minute of crow head". I just got some 39gr BlitzKings to try.

I'm thinking about a .204 barrel for my Contender...maybe 22" and light taper for a handy "walkabout". Have you heard any reports on the light weight barrels and how they perform? I'll apply it to fox and crows mostly.

VG, I reserve impulsive passion for my wife, not debating the merits of varmint rounds... seriously dude, you need to go outside...

I'd just like to say that groups in the .4-.6" are certainly no big deal with a heavy barrel varmit gun. My old factory Ruger 77 Swift would average .5" and shoot .2s,.3s regularly. My Rem. varmit guns in .223 and 22-250 would do the same. Not slamming the .204 in any way just pointing out that heavy barrel small caliber guns shoot.

I screwed a shilen #3ontour on a Remmy 700 adl action and chambered to .204 Ruger......sadly it was disappointing in accuracy....this one just didn't shoot well for me.

I put my 700 ADL barreled action into a 700 laminated MR stock and have been very pleased with how well it shoots. The remanufactured ammo with Hornady VMax bullets that Cabela's sells shoots good enough for pdogs at 400+/- yards in my rifle.

Jeff

Brad: I will ask you again! Do you own, have you shot or have you Hunted with a 204 Ruger Rifle?
If you have something mature and substantive to add, do so.
The question was "How's Everybodies 204's Shooting"?
How's yours shoot Brad?
Long live the new and Magical 204 Ruger!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Dad gone, having trouble getting out to break in my 204. Hope it shoots as well as I plan. Well see. I got other issues right now. I need to pillar bed my forarm on my 204. Thanks for the info. Plan on going Fox hunting this weekend.