Need New Rifle

[JohnP]

I'll start out by saying I am not a fan of Ruger rifles.  However I gave my favorite coyote rifle(Sako) to my ten year old grandson, so I'm in need of another coyote/bobcat getter.  I hardly get out of the house anymore so I don't need another high dollar safe queen.  Been thinking about a Ruger American Predator in .204.  Anybody have one, if so what is your opinion of them, also the .204 in general?

[HaMeR]

I really like my .204 for crows up to coyotes. If we could hunt bobcat here I would use it for that too.

[JohnP]

Thanks Glen, do you reload or factory rounds?  I'm in the process of getting rid of all my reloading gear and will probably only shoot factory ammo. 

[HuntnCarve]

John,

My neighbor won a Ruger American rifle 7mm-08 in raffle.  I put a scope on it for him and helped him sight it in at the range.  It shot about 1-1/2" - 2" groups with factory Remington loads.  With my reloads it was at about 1" groups at 100 yard.  The only thing I did not like about the rifle was the flimsy synthetic stock.  It would flex too much at the forend for my liking. 
Ex. I shot a 3 shot cluster with it that was 1-1/2" high dead center. Perfect!  My neighbor then shot a group and he was 3" low dead center???  I've a lot more experience behind a rifle than he.  So I shot another round.  It went right into my previous group...
So I watched him fire the next shot.  Found he was wrapping his off hand around the barrel and squeezing it into the forearm of the stock.  The stock would give enough that he was pulling the barrel down.  After I corrected him, he fired a group right on top of mine.  So the synthetic stock in my opinion is not rigid enough.  - Otherwise the rifle functioned fine, and shot very well.  I know it's not a .204, but it might give you alittle insight on the rifle.  If you can compare it to a wood stocked version I would probably go that route.  Hope this helps?

Dave

[HaMeR]

Yes I do shoot reloads. The factory ammo around here has gotten too high. $24/20rds of 204. Kinda steep but if there's not a lot of volume it would be ok. The Hunting Shack ammo should be 50rd boxes.

http://thehuntingshack.com/?page_id=198

Midway appears to have quite the assortment.
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?dimensionids=15631

Sportsmans Guide has given me good service over the years.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/productlist?k=204+ruger+ammunition

[gravesco hunter]

The 204 is an excellent coyote round ,i shoot it in an ar platform,my loads are 35 gr handloads pushing 4000fps ,i have a ruger in 223,it groups good but i am just not a big ruger rifle fan

[FinsnFur]

I thought someone on here was a 204 encyclopedia I cant find any of the info he was posting a while back.

[JohnP]

Had my high paid driver take me to a few gun stores yesterday, she was shaking her head the entire time.  Mumbling something about two safes full of guns, can't drive, can't hear, needs glasses, gets the shakes and he wants another gun. 

Dave your evaluation of the Ruger is correct and I didn't like the feel so I passed on it.  Ended up buying/ordering a Savage 25 Walking Varminter, .204, should be here late next week.  Then we'll have another episode of head shaking, can't drive, can't hear, needs glasses and gets the shakes as she drives me to the range.  I'm going to start calling her by her indian name Three Horses, you know nag-nag-nag.

[riverboss]

Sounds like we married sisters JohnP.

[HaMeR]

 

[HaMeR]

http://www.204ruger.com/forum/

[riverboss]

The 204 is a bad dude! But I like heavy bullets I have a tendency to take hard angle shots.
I can't help it if a coyote comes in I'm shooting no matter what the angle.

[JohnP]

Picked it up yesterday along with two boxes of Hornady Superformance Varmint 32 gr V-MAX.  No range report but some first thoughts: Easy on the eyes for a Savage, came with weaver type bases.  Has two Savage logos stuck on it, one on the stock and one on the forearm.  Haven't tried to peel them off yet as I don't know if it will leave a mark on the stock/forearm.  But the really bad part is the magazine is PLASTIC and if you load it to full capacity you can't cycle it.  Really piss poor engineering. 

[riverboss]

I hope it shoots for ya JohnP I would be surprised if it doesn't. I don't think the sticker will leave a mark on it
As for the clip I feel you pain! Nothing is made to last.

[JohnP]

Decals came off, no marks.  Weaver GrandSlam 6-20 fine crosshairs with a dot.  Probably be another week or so before I get out to the range.

[HuntnCarve]

John,

Looks like that rifle/scope will do the job.  Yeah, the plastic magazines just don't appeal to me either.  Hope you can get it working 100 percent.  Otherwise, make the first shot count!
We'll be looking forward to a range report.

Dave

[Dave]

Nice, John.
- And I agree, it is easy to look at! 

[HaMeR]

Nice lookin rig Mr. John!! 

I had no idea Savage switched over to plastic mags. 

[FinsnFur]

Very nice

[trailtwister]

No range report?

  Al