should I convert my AR to .204, if so please give advice!

The difference between a 204 22" barrel and a 20. Is 60fps

Between 22" and 18 is 226fps



Recently threw together a upper built on a Lilja 20" 204 barrel model AR740. Barrel weighs 2.6lbs which is nothing compared to most 204 24" barrels that weigh over 4LBS.

Weight of a calling gun means a lot to me and 2lbs difference on a AR can feel like quite a bit
 
Originally Posted By: Jamie-ZThe difference between a 204 22" barrel and a 20. Is 60fps

Between 22" and 18 is 226fps



Recently threw together a upper built on a Lilja 20" 204 barrel model AR740. Barrel weighs 2.6lbs which is nothing compared to most 204 24" barrels that weigh over 4LBS.

Weight of a calling gun means a lot to me and 2lbs difference on a AR can feel like quite a bit

Wonder what the difference in velocity is between a 24" and a 20"?

You are correct, according to the specs listed on Brownells, my 24" DPMS barrel is 4.4lbs
 
75fps

http://www.bullberry.com/204_ruger_velocities.html



Originally Posted By: HibsOriginally Posted By: Jamie-ZThe difference between a 204 22" barrel and a 20. Is 60fps

Between 22" and 18 is 226fps



Recently threw together a upper built on a Lilja 20" 204 barrel model AR740. Barrel weighs 2.6lbs which is nothing compared to most 204 24" barrels that weigh over 4LBS.

Weight of a calling gun means a lot to me and 2lbs difference on a AR can feel like quite a bit

Wonder what the difference in velocity is between a 24" and a 20"?

You are correct, according to the specs listed on Brownells, my 24" DPMS barrel is 4.4lbs
 
After reading the information on the Bullberry link, I have to assume (though it wasn't stated) that the tests were made with 32gr bullets, due to the fact that when Hornady first developed and sold the .204, their advertised muzzle velocity was 4100 fps with the 32gr and 3900 fps with the 40gr V-Max..

Local chronograph testing when the bunch of us got our .204s (all bolt actions) in 2005 failed to produce those velocities with factory rounds..Just under 4000 fps was the best reading with 32gr and we had a couple reaching 3800 with 40gr factory rounds..

If you start working with factory loads in heavier bullet weights (over 32gr), I think you will find relative findings to ours..

My .204 AR (custom build) with optic weighs in at about 10.5# and is great for shooting from a bench or bipod, but a little heavy for a carry rifle...If you want a decent carry rifle, then stick with the M4 Carbine in .223...

Hand loaded rounds with experimentation using various powders may produce near advertised velocities, but the cost there is throat erosion increases once you hit 4100 fps, or super hot burning powders...

Using a shorter than 22" will cost you the initial purpose of the round in both performance and trajectory capabilities...
 
I know that the bigger barrel is rougher to carry, but I cannot argue with the results.

This groups measured .413 in out of my 24in Specialized Dynamics .204 Ruger and this was shot with 32 gr Hornady V-max factory loads.

I also do not do a lot of reloading for my rifle so I like off the shelf calibers.

I currently have a 16in .223rem, an 18in .17rem and my .204, all of them built by Scott.


204 sight in 2 by SnowmanMo56, on Flickr
 
Killer! I don't reload either, and plan on trying the 32grain V-max. I can only hope for results like that!
 
I hate to start this but, remember when the 204 first came out everyone was saying how great it was going to work on coyotes. Well I think if you now ask a number of guys who shoot the larger Midwest dogs they will tell you it is no 22-250 regardless what bullet you shoot.
 
OK guys I'm about to order the last bit of pieces I need. I've decided on a 12" AP Customs carbon fiber handguard.

As far as cleaning, I know I need a new cleaning rod and accessories. Looks like Dewey one piece is the recommended brand. Brownells has them in various lengths, 25/32/38/42".... I was thinking the 32" should work for my 24" barrel AR.... can anyone back that up?

Also, is a bore guide a must need thing?
 
I prefer Pro-Shot rods personally, while there is nothing wrong with the Dewey rods, the Pro-Shots seem to have a better grade of bearings in the handle..The handles are also smaller so you are not scraping your knuckles on the buttstock or applying sideway pressure to the rod due to lack of clearance...

Measure your upper from muzzle to the rear of the upper receiver and add at least 12" to the actual usable rod length...While shorter ones will work, you may want to obtain a bolt action in .204 later and this length will work for both...I made the mistake of buying one just for my AR and wound up having to buy a second one later...

You do need a bore guide to help in keeping from damaging your bore throat from either the rod going at an angle or bending under pressure while running the rod through the bore...There is quite a bit of distance between the rear of the receiver and the chamber on an AR and controlling the rod flex with tight patches or brushes by hand is almost impossible...

This is a group of test loads out of my custom .204 upper with a match grade barrel...39gr SBKs at 100 yards..
 
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Yes get a bore guide. Go with the 38" rod you don't want to be short and if you ever want to put a muzzle break on you will like the extra length. I have been a 204 shooter since they came out. I have a rem 700, ar with 22" shilen select match, ar with pac-nor/Noveske 22" 3 groove, cooper 21mtv. All have a ballistic reticle of sorts. swarovski tds, leupold varmint or zeiss conquest rapid reticle varmint. Mine all shoot great with 32vmax and almost as good with 40vmax. Berger has some good pills too. I would look at the 40vmax or 39 sierra blitzking for what you are doing. If you want to reload Tac powder or n133 and n135 work great.
Throat erosion is blown out of proportion, I am between 5 and 6000 rounds of 32vmax at 4100 fps on my original stainless rem 700 barrel. The first 3" look like alligator hide and I have been sitting on a new barrel for a couple of years but it still shoots great. JB bore compound, sweets 7.62 and kroil help them stay alive.
My buddies all joke about the real world performance of this round. It makes die hard 22-250 and 243 shooters envious of its low recoil, low noise, great ballistics and unreal wind bucking. It does stop short of the bigger rounds when it comes to dramatic kills but it can't be matched on smaller pests. It will pink mistify prairie dogs, squirrels and bunnies nearly without equal. It kills larger pests unbelievably well buck does not blow them up. Perfect for coyote pelts. I know of a muley that was culled with one 26gr varmint grenade behind the ear at 175 yards. That load was 4420fps at the muzzle and I have pushed them to 4600 with no issues.
I have lots of calibers and rifles but the 204 is definitely my favorite.
 
Originally Posted By: OldTurtleI prefer Pro-Shot rods personally, while there is nothing wrong with the Dewey rods, the Pro-Shots seem to have a better grade of bearings in the handle..The handles are also smaller so you are not scraping your knuckles on the buttstock or applying sideway pressure to the rod due to lack of clearance...

Measure your upper from muzzle to the rear of the upper receiver and add at least 12" to the actual usable rod length...While shorter ones will work, you may want to obtain a bolt action in .204 later and this length will work for both...I made the mistake of buying one just for my AR and wound up having to buy a second one later...

You do need a bore guide to help in keeping from damaging your bore throat from either the rod going at an angle or bending under pressure while running the rod through the bore...There is quite a bit of distance between the rear of the receiver and the chamber on an AR and controlling the rod flex with tight patches or brushes by hand is almost impossible...

This is a group of test loads out of my custom .204 upper with a match grade barrel...39gr SBKs at 100 yards..


Awesome freakin group... I'm really looking forward to getting this upper finished!

As far as the bore guide, MidwayUSA has a Wheeler brand guide listed for 223/5.56/204 ruger... but I've got a bunch of stuff I'm ordering from Brownells this evening and would like to order one from them. They don't have one specifically listed for an AR15 in 204 ruger. I chatted with one of their specialists, and he informed me a 223 bore guide should work just fine as long as I use my 20 cal rod.... and if by chance it didn't work, I can return it for full refund.... so.... can anyone back this up? It makes sense to me that it should work, I just want to be certain.
 
For an AR, the bore guides interchange...The rod portion is the same as the .223, but works really well to keep the rod from flexing in a .204...Thia is the one I'm talking about that I use on my ARs...

 
Took advantage of black friday/cyber monday deals. From Brownells:

Barrel Nut $8.60
AP Customs Carbon Fiber Rifle Length Free Float Handguard $121.03
Badger Tactical Charging Handle Kit $29.89
Hoppes Bore Snake for 204 Ruger $17.99

$7.95 shipping, then 10% discount for cyber monday. Total came to $168.14

From BassProShops:

80 Rounds of Hornady V-Max 32 grain 204 Ruger $83.96

Free shipping, then finally used my $25 gift card I got last year. So total came out to $58.96
 
And..... here she is all together!!!



It doesn't shoot to shabby either. I put 20 rounds through it today sighting in my scope. Seemed to start grouping tighter the more I shot it. I don't do any crazy barrel break in procedure. I did run a bore snake down it that had CLP on it after 5 rounds then twice after 15 rounds.

These are 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Just used a bench with a bag in the front, nothing else. Those are 1" squares. I haven't measured from end to end, but it for sure is minute of coyote....



 
I think you will find, like most ARs, it will put out tighter groups after you get about 100 rounds down the tube..All those new parts need to work into each other and the higher number of rounds tend to burnish the barrel to a degree..
 
Originally Posted By: dwayLooks nice. Just curious what the weight is with the 24" barrel. Have you weighed it?

Threw it on my father-in-laws meat scale out in the garage, looks to be a sliver over 10lbs, that's with a cleaning kit in the buttstock and an empty 10round magazine.
 
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