Budget friendly hot rod

[adamsredlines]

Well, been on the fence for something like this forbway too long and bit the bullet. I thought I wanted a 22-250, but I wanted to shoot fast and light for Pdogs. Most all stuff now is set up for heavies, or not threaded, or has internal box mag...so


Ruger American Gen2 in 204 Ruger.

I figure if the "heavy" 204 is about like the light 22-250 stuff, this gets me my goal for weight and velocity....and comes threaded and uses AICS pattern mags. Now, to see what bullet weight it likes!

 

[rockchalk06]

.204 is a caliber I've never really considered. My old Sheriff swore by it for Dogs and Yotes

 

[adamsredlines]

20gr at 3k fps is pink mist. (17 WSM)
Can't wait to see what 24gr at 4400 fps does.

 

[adamsredlines]

Threw a cheap Vortex 4-16 on it and picked up some 32gr ammo. Hopefully my 24gr stuff shows up tomorrow and I'll test it out this weekend.

 

[CS Boomis]

I’ve been shooting the 40s out of my CZ forever. It’s an amazing round. I zeroed .75 high at 100 and just put the crosshairs in the middle of a yote out to 300. They hit the ground with rigor mortis. I’ve never shot across a chrony, but the box claims 3800 fps. It was better when the ammo was 11.50 a box.

 

[adamsredlines]

What twist is yours?

I'm obviously a rook, the Rugers are 1:12 and from what I've read, that will do well with 39gr or lighter....40 could go either way, and heavier than 40 won't be good.
I'll be running suppressed so kinda paranoid about one coming out of the pipe wonky, so no can until I shoot a few boxes of each and make sure they're stabilizing.

 

[CS Boomis]

According to the old factory data mine has a 1:12 twist. I put a Tasco 6-24 on it when I bought it. When I was zeroing it in the first time it would cloverleaf five shots and I shot five distinct groups in a one inch square while making adjustments. Mines the heavy barrel American with a set trigger, bone stock. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Light recoil, low report and absolutely hammers anything it hits. I’m curious how far it will actually be effective. When I bought it people hadn’t even started shooting across time zones and they were claiming 5-600 for small varmints.

 

[adamsredlines]

24gr stuff finally came in, will go pick it up this weekend.

Also gave this doodad a try so I can use my Atlas on this in the field.

 

[adamsredlines]

So mine seemed to stabilized 40gr, but seems everybody swears by the Sierra 39gr Blitzkings....so I grabbed a box of them to do some comparisons to the 40gr Vmax.

I didn't shoot a bunch of the 40s yet, just enough to group them. How big of a sample size do I need to ensure I won't get one that doesn't stabilize, and tries to go through my can sideways? That's my biggest fear.

 

[Pochanaquarhip]

So mine seemed to stabilized 40gr, but seems everybody swears by the Sierra 39gr Blitzkings....so I grabbed a box of them to do some comparisons to the 40gr Vmax.

I didn't shoot a bunch of the 40s yet, just enough to group them. How big of a sample size do I need to ensure I won't get one that doesn't stabilize, and tries to go through my can sideways? That's my biggest fear.

View attachment 10519

Eleventyseven

 

[CS Boomis]

I just got an email yesterday about an outfit running a sale on their AR uppers in .204 . I might have considered it when ammo was cheap, but not a chance now. I comb the grass for brass if I lose track of it on multiples.

I don’t know that I’d worry much about a can though. The report is pretty quiet for a centerfire and it won’t do anything for 3500 plus fps.

 

[adamsredlines]

I use a Brass Goat on my AR so I don't have to fetch stuff, it's quite handy and not obnoxious like the big bag type brass catchers.
I'll disagree on the can too. It's not stealth, obviously, but it's very hearing safe. It's nice to be out there without ear plugs, you can listen to the pdogs barking and know where to look.
Once it warms up here, gonna work up a load and crank some out for spring. I'm pretty pumped.