Savage 223 VS. 204

H

hoginator204

New member
Buying a Ground hog rifle for my son who is left handed like me. Got a price quote from the Savage Custom Shop
for a 116 left hand stainless with 24" skinney barrel and a wood stock for $670.00. I can get the standard left hand 116 in 223 for $519.00
With the 1-9 twist and having to shoot heavier bullets it won't be as flat shooting to 300 yards. I like the 204 but
it is FINIKY to load for..it fact it drives me crazy with my present Ruger #1 204.
I feel I can get acceptable accuracy with the 223 skinney
barrel but no speed with 55 grains bullets plus.

Am I right or wrong???? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Hoginator,
I can't speak for the .204, but I have a Savage Model 12 (1 in 9 Twist) in the .223 Rem with the heavy barrel (26 inch) and have been having excellent results with the 50 grain V-max (Black Hills Blue Box). The ballistics read 3300 fps and I have found it to be very effective on Ground Hogs. I got 2 last week...one at 275 yds and the other at 485 (Lasered)...also missed 3 shots at 350 (windage troubles).I am also left handed, but I've shot right-handed bolts all my life and just feel comfortable with it now. So I don't think you have to shoot the heavier bullets as you stated. I've heard an awful lot of good stuff about the .204, and If I reloaded, I'd probably have been tempted to get it...the .223 ammo is pretty cheap and highly available. Good luck with your decision!!!
Muskrat
 
My Savage 12 VLP in 204 will put 3 shots under a dime at 100 yards with little load development. I like it better than my 223 for ground squirrels. It is closer to the 22-250 ballistically. You can see the hit better on the 204. Both calibers will work well for ground hogs. I think the 204 is just a little higher on the fun scale for me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I too like the 204 Ruger cartridge yet some shooters have
it easy finding an accurate load and other have to try many mutiple combinations of bullets, powder, seating depths to achieve .5 inch groups. I have over 850 rounds thru my Ruger #1-V and HAVE NOT found any load that will sustain itself consistantly. It will shoot .4 or .5 one day and all over the targdot the next.
The Savages due better than most which is why Savage is my primary choice. With the smaller bore diameter of .20 the twist of 1/12 is a possible issue . The T/C Encores love the 32 grain bullets but not the 39/40's. Some rifles
love the 39 gr blitz but spread the 40 gr. v-max's. With-in just 8 grains of bullet weight some rifle barrels just plain say no to some bullets.???? And I haven't even mentioned powders and the DEEEPPP seating of bullets issue. as well.
 
The 8 grains of bullet weight aren't what's making the difference in accuracy. It's the additional length difference in the bullets that causes some factory 204's to not shoot the 39-40 grain bullets. Although factory barreles are listed as 1 in 12" twists, they may not be in fact with the smaller bore. They may be slightly more than 12" twists and can't handle/stabilize the longer .204" bullets.

Your accuracy problems with your Ruger #1 in 204 Ruger sounds more like a typical Ruger #1 needing some accurizing attention on the front forearm hanger rather than a problem with the cartridge.

Folks who have played with accuracy/bullet seating depth to any degree have consistently found the 204 Ruger seems to like the long jump to the throat offered by SAAMI spec reamers in spite of "conventional wisdom" preaching otherwise.

JMO - BCB
 
Don't fall into that trap believing that a fast twist Bbl can only shoot heavy bulets.

I have an old skool Savage 110 FP in .223 that shoots 40's thru 60's (Vmax) sub 3/4 moa.
 
I shoot two of the Savages in .223 and love them. Can't wait to get my hands on a Savage in .204. Hoginator: I'm not sure where your at , but the Sportsmans Warehouse locally here in Utah sells the Savages in the FV models for $439.00. (Heavy barrell, syn. stock).
 
I know a guy who is an avid shooter and reloader. He goes to S.d. prairie doggin every year. He also has a Ruger #1 in 204 and he is very unhappy. I hate to bust your bubble but Ive heard that the ruger #1 has accuracy problems. Now thats just hear say. I hate to hear that I have a not so good design and I dont want to have you upset with me.I just thought I owed it to a fellow varmint hunter to be honest and agai its hear say I have no first hand exp. with the #1. My 77 MK11 does pretty well but Ive not got to really ck it out yet at long range or even 100 for that matter.
Daryl P.
 
I know a guy who is an avid shooter and reloader. He goes to S.d. prairie doggin every year. He also has a Ruger #1 in 204 and he is very unhappy. I hate to bust your bubble but Ive heard that the ruger #1 has accuracy problems. Now thats just hear say. I hate to hear that I have a not so good design and I dont want to have you upset with me.I just thought I owed it to a fellow varmint hunter to be honest and agai its hear say I have no first hand exp. with the #1. My 77 MK11 does pretty well but Ive not got to really ck it out yet at long range or even 100 for that matter.I hope I didnt pick a caliber thats difficult to get shooting good.I almost went for the 223 and still have doubts to my choice.
Daryl P.
 
Purplecoyote,

I have seen Sportsmans wharehouse ads on "The Best of the West" but I am in the East. I always free-float my Ruger #1 fore- ends and glass bed the for-end tip. This has helped but will not solve an inaccurate barrel. I am likely to send the Ruger #1-V 204 for A RE-BARREL....THEN TRADE IT. To honest to sell it to someone.

The Ruger #1 is a handsome rifle shooting some ugly groups.
I would prefer a ugly rifle (SAVAGE) shooting some real
pretty groups.

P.S. I have seen some #1's posted that really shoot even the #1 B's...just not mine. Ruger quarantee's 1 inch groups
from their HB varmint guns with Factory ammo.
 
Quote:
The Ruger #1 is a handsome rifle shooting some ugly groups.
I would prefer a ugly rifle (SAVAGE) shooting some real
pretty groups.


Why not go for something in the middle.....
A nice looking rifle that shoots very acceptable groups...
Like a Remington 700 or Ruger M77! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I picked up a Savage 16 and installed a wood stock in place of the 'plastic' and think it is about as accurate as I can shoot.

[image]
Savage16-204Ruger.jpg
[/image]

I don't think she's ugly.... maybe not classic, but not ugly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
The 204 is like shooting a lazer. Flat and FAST. I have 3 now with a ar on order in 204. I dont know about the new 45 gr hornady but 39gr and down will shoot. I use 35gr bergers in my sps and 39bk in th cz. No problems with either. My encore seems to like the factory 32gr pretty well but one at a time isnt my cup of tea.
What ever you choose have fun.

Frank
 
I have a Savage with a 1:9" barrel. It loves 40gr vmax bullets, I'm getting 5-shot groups in the .5 to .6 range but I'm not done developing thatload yet.
 
if you are interested in a new savage, there is a guy on savageshooters.net that sells limited run guns at discount prices. i dont know about left hand but he had some right hand model 12 .204s heavy barrels for 369.00. that is the best prices that i have found.
 
hey i checked with the guy over at savageshooters and he hasnt got any left hand 204s right now. he does have some left hand model 12FLVSS guns. thease are 26 in heavy barrels. he has them in 223, 22-250, and 308. the price is 470.00 shipped to FFL. i also looked around and alote of guys over there have bought guns from him. just wanted to make sure it wasnt a scam. he goes by the name northlander. if you need anything just send me a PM.
 
Northlander is THE MAN! His name is Jim and his biz is Northland shooters supply. Ive bought all kinds of stuff from him for my Savage rifles, always a good deal. Email him when youre looking for stuff and youd be suprised what hes got.
 
yeah he has the best prices that i have seen on savage guns. and by the way i would recomend savage guns to anyone. i have owned a bunch of savages and there has never been any problems. i am getting ready to build a new 220 swift on a stevens action. savage guns are the easiest i have ever seen to rechamber. the last 220 i had was a 12BVSS and shot sub .5 inch groups with factory barrel. i wish i still had it.
 
Yup, Savage rifles are great! I think they are by far the best rifles for the money. Ive shot all kinds of rifles and think that the Savages are the best out the box shooters and the accu-trigger is a great feature. Ive got several and will probably stick with Savage rifles for a long time.
10FP .223
12 FV .204
16 FCSS .22-250
93 .17HMR
Every one is a shooter, cant go wrong.
 


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