.204 Ruger Uppers and Max Cartridge Overall Length Limit

SodakJim

SodakJim

New member
I've been thinking about getting a .204 Ruger upper for my Rock River AR-15. It seems that you would not be able to seat the bullets very far out and still get them to run through a mil-spec magazine. Bullets seem limited to 32-50 grains that I am aware of, and they look like they are seated fairly deep. Some of Hodgdon's data shows everything but the 50 grain bullets are under the 2.250 COAL, and would go through a standard AR-15 magazine. They also show the 50 grainers at 2.300, or about .040 over the 2.260 that will work in most magazines. Are the chamber throats short to handle this in the ARs?

Another thing that has me wondering is the higher pressures the 204 Ruger generates. Does case life get shorter because of the higher pressures in the AR-15? The 50 grain bullets don't seem to do any better in the 204 than they do in the 223 Rem. so I doubt they get much use anyhow.

If you have one of these ARs in 204, I would be interested in your opinions and the results your getting.
 
Hi Sodak....I have had my AR for a year now . It is my first AR and second centerfire. I started reloading for it soon after getting it and have used the same set of about 100 Rem. brass to do all of my load testing. I have plenty of brass but it was simpler to just reload them than start new all of the time.... I also wanted to see how long the brass would last. Most of my loads now are of medium charge to 3/4 max. so case stretch has been not too bad . When resizing brass you can feel the difference in pressure on the handle corresponding with the load shot in it and only the max and near max put much extra effort into the handle. I am very frugal , so being down lower a bit with case life improved but good groups , is where I like to be. I have reloaded the same bunch 10-15 times now and have seen no signs , yet , of cases needing to be retired.
I run my col as far out as I can....just over the 2.26 with good function and no problems. I am shooting the 35 berger and have adopted it as my only bullet....it will do what I want and with no variables to think about while shooting or hunting , I only have to learn one load and trajectory. I like things simple.....I bow hunt with one pin....I never get the wrong one....and just learn the trajectory...works for me. SM
 
The 204 works great in the AR platform. You can expect good to great accuracy from most bullets but I've pretty much decided that the 39 or 40 grain pills work for me. I shoot near the top end of the published data in manuals, this is where it seems I get the best accuracy. I've not chrono'd any of the AR loads compared to my bolt gun so don't know the amount of velocity loss.
I did install the Superior Shooting System flat spring and the counter weight in the 204, this seems to tame the bolt carrier speed. This system is suppose to give you longer case life and a slight increase in velocity since it holds the bolt closed a milisecond longer.
Good luck
 
I don't think there will be any velocity loss to speak of. My son's load for the 35 Bergers is 26 gr. of Benchmark and it is going 100fps faster than my load, which is over max.
 
I've had my .204 upper for a little over 2 years. The barrel was custom chambered and set for shooting the 45gr as a max length.

My best and favorite load is the 39gr SBK with magnum primers and a powder load that is almost 1 full gr below max., COL is set at almost 2.24" and I think it is that little 'jump' that gives me my accuracy, without putting a lot of wear on my brass as I've been reloading the same 200rds for the last year, for the range (keeps me from getting into my PD stuff /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif).
 
Quote:
Hi Sodak. I have reloaded the same bunch 10-15 times now and have seen no signs , yet , of cases needing to be retired.
I run my col as far out as I can....just over the 2.26 with good function and no problems. I am shooting the 35 berger and have adopted it as my only bullet....

Hey Spiderman,

Your D-Tech sounds very close to what I was thinking about for a 204 Ruger. You have a lot of goodies on it like the comped 23in fluted barrel. Does it keep the muzzle jump down, and is it much louder? If you have a photo you could post or send in a PM, I would like to see it. Do you know if you would need a different buffer spring if you changed to a 223 upper? I'm using the Tubb CS buffer spring without the weight system to slow down the bolt speed, and it works fine for me. Do you know the total weight of your AR??

Thanks
Jim
 
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