I want to purchase a bolt action .204 - I know there are afficionados out there who recognize quality when they see it and then buy it. My question is - who produces a very accurate .204 that I could suppress and shoot pdogs and other varmints without going bankrupt. I'm not afraid to pony up some money, but I am an average shooter who doesn't need more gun than my skill level allows - with my retirement drawing near, however, I will spend more time shooting and certainly want to improve with a good gun. Vague enough?? Thanks for your opinions.
.204 question
- Thread starter prairiefire
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Re: .204 question
The .204 is a very accurate round to begin with. I really haven't seen many that won't shoot. Any Savage Varmint would work, or a Tikka T3 Varmint. If you want to go crazy you could always get a Volquartsen Custom.
The .204 is a very accurate round to begin with. I really haven't seen many that won't shoot. Any Savage Varmint would work, or a Tikka T3 Varmint. If you want to go crazy you could always get a Volquartsen Custom.
Re: .204 question
A friend of mine had one in a CZ 527 if i remember right. It had the light colored maple stock and the set trigger on it. It was killer to 250 yards on groundhogs and other varmints. The barrel would have to be threaded for a suppressor.
A friend of mine had one in a CZ 527 if i remember right. It had the light colored maple stock and the set trigger on it. It was killer to 250 yards on groundhogs and other varmints. The barrel would have to be threaded for a suppressor.
Re: .204 question
Understand that if you shoot a 4000 fps bullet from a suppressed rifle, it's still going to make a lot of noise. The biggest change the suppressor will make is to disgronify the shooter's position. In fact, if you're downrange and the bullet comes by you on its way to the target, the loudest noise you will hear will be coming from the direction of the target, not the direction of the shooter, so your perception of his position will be about 180° off.
As for rifles, the CZs are a good choice. And Tikka and Sakos.
Right now Savage seems to be building a lot of Model 12s with accuracy well in excess of what you'd expect in that price range, and from an off-the-shelf rifle. My groundhog gun is a 12 Varminter Low in .204 that shoots 5-shot groups under an inch @200 yards with factory ammo and 3-shot handload groups 1/2" and less (sometimes <span style="text-decoration: underline">a lot</span> less). But that's a 12-lb rifle, not real handy if you're a mind to stalk and shoot.
Understand that if you shoot a 4000 fps bullet from a suppressed rifle, it's still going to make a lot of noise. The biggest change the suppressor will make is to disgronify the shooter's position. In fact, if you're downrange and the bullet comes by you on its way to the target, the loudest noise you will hear will be coming from the direction of the target, not the direction of the shooter, so your perception of his position will be about 180° off.
As for rifles, the CZs are a good choice. And Tikka and Sakos.
Right now Savage seems to be building a lot of Model 12s with accuracy well in excess of what you'd expect in that price range, and from an off-the-shelf rifle. My groundhog gun is a 12 Varminter Low in .204 that shoots 5-shot groups under an inch @200 yards with factory ammo and 3-shot handload groups 1/2" and less (sometimes <span style="text-decoration: underline">a lot</span> less). But that's a 12-lb rifle, not real handy if you're a mind to stalk and shoot.
Re: .204 question
I have a Cooper Varminter that I like a lot. I had no trouble finding a good load with both 32 and 39 gr bullets, trigger is decent not great, very nice action, for around $1400.
I have a Cooper Varminter that I like a lot. I had no trouble finding a good load with both 32 and 39 gr bullets, trigger is decent not great, very nice action, for around $1400.
Re: .204 question
Smithcollector reminded me of something. Factory barrels are all 1:12, which almost certainly will stabilize the 39-gr SBK but anything any heavier will be a crap shoot. With the 40-gr V-Max, Accutip, etc., some 1:12s will, some won't. Which is really shortsighted because they're making .20 bullets now all the way up to 55-gr, and if you're shooting in windy conditions, a 20-cal bullet can't be too heavy.
Smithcollector reminded me of something. Factory barrels are all 1:12, which almost certainly will stabilize the 39-gr SBK but anything any heavier will be a crap shoot. With the 40-gr V-Max, Accutip, etc., some 1:12s will, some won't. Which is really shortsighted because they're making .20 bullets now all the way up to 55-gr, and if you're shooting in windy conditions, a 20-cal bullet can't be too heavy.
Re: .204 question
I've owned three .204 Rugers. One Remington 700 VLS, one 700 SPS-Varmint, and a CZ 527.
The VLS has been the most accurate, followed by the 527 and the SPS-V. However, I never worked up a dedicated load for the SPS-V, just shot my VLS load in it. The VLS shoots under half MOA after a bedding job and trigger job, sometimes getting .25 MOA. The CZ was about .5-.6 MOA. The SPS-V shot about .5-.75 MOA using the VLS load. Both the VLS and the SPS had the same headspace, surprisingly enough.
I'd consider the SPS-Varmint for the money.
I've owned three .204 Rugers. One Remington 700 VLS, one 700 SPS-Varmint, and a CZ 527.
The VLS has been the most accurate, followed by the 527 and the SPS-V. However, I never worked up a dedicated load for the SPS-V, just shot my VLS load in it. The VLS shoots under half MOA after a bedding job and trigger job, sometimes getting .25 MOA. The CZ was about .5-.6 MOA. The SPS-V shot about .5-.75 MOA using the VLS load. Both the VLS and the SPS had the same headspace, surprisingly enough.
I'd consider the SPS-Varmint for the money.
Re: .204 question
I have a model 12 i bedded with JB weld and it shoots .45 all day ill try to get some picture of the groups when i shoot this weekend.
I have a model 12 i bedded with JB weld and it shoots .45 all day ill try to get some picture of the groups when i shoot this weekend.
Re: .204 question
I have the rem 700 VLS and it is hard to miss the target, I made hits on a 7x6 inch plate at 954 yds, in zero wind though, to see if it was possible and I am still dumbfounded about it and so ar my two spotters.
I would have to recommand that model.
I have the rem 700 VLS and it is hard to miss the target, I made hits on a 7x6 inch plate at 954 yds, in zero wind though, to see if it was possible and I am still dumbfounded about it and so ar my two spotters.
I would have to recommand that model.
Re: .204 question
Remington xr-100 rangemaster gets my vote. It is a solid action (single shot) laminated resin filled thumbhole stock, heavy barrel 12 twist, 40x trigger. This is my go to varmint rig. Think they quit making them as remington seems to do every time they have something very good from factory. Mine shoots factory hornady 32g v-max 1/4" if I do my part. Gonna load up some 39g blitzkings soon. I predict very tight groups.
Remington xr-100 rangemaster gets my vote. It is a solid action (single shot) laminated resin filled thumbhole stock, heavy barrel 12 twist, 40x trigger. This is my go to varmint rig. Think they quit making them as remington seems to do every time they have something very good from factory. Mine shoots factory hornady 32g v-max 1/4" if I do my part. Gonna load up some 39g blitzkings soon. I predict very tight groups.
Re: .204 question
Single-shot kill with 20 mph wind. If I remember correctly, it was 746 yards or somewhere there about. Was shot from the trailor on the truck in the background.
Single-shot kill with 20 mph wind. If I remember correctly, it was 746 yards or somewhere there about. Was shot from the trailor on the truck in the background.
Re: .204 question
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2brothers641</div><div class="ubbcode-body">35g Bergers and Varget is a very deadly combo also. </div></div>
The sierras have the best bc I have found. Hope my rifle likes them.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2brothers641</div><div class="ubbcode-body">35g Bergers and Varget is a very deadly combo also. </div></div>
The sierras have the best bc I have found. Hope my rifle likes them.
Re: .204 question
I have both, but prefer the AR15 with a 24" barrel for P-dogs--both it and my 700 are equally accurate but the fast follow up
and increased firepower of the AR15 gets it more use than the 700
I have both, but prefer the AR15 with a 24" barrel for P-dogs--both it and my 700 are equally accurate but the fast follow up
and increased firepower of the AR15 gets it more use than the 700
