204 With short barrel....before and after

[xswanted]

I posted this on accurate shooter as well.

Thought it might have some interest here to.

o make a long story short I found myself one 204 long in the gun safe. It was an 8 twist built on a 700 action. Douglas barrel HS stock, tuned up the trigger, it’s a great little rifle.

I wasn’t overly happy with shooting heavy bullets from it though. 55s at 3300 and 50s at 3500. It shot well with the 50s but I wasn’t happy with it for whatever reason.

So I had it cut down to 16.5” to make a dedicated suppressor rifle out of. I don’t like carrying a 24” barrel rifle with a can on it but when the barrel is short they are a lot more fun to me.

I had my gunsmith trim this barrel from 24” to 16.5”

At 24” it would shoot the 50gr Berger at 3500fps. It was a pretty warm load, however worked in the gun fine.

I was a tad concerned with losing too much velocity but pleasantly surprised when I got it back.

At 16.5” it chronyed at 3250fps.

250fps lost for 7.5 Of barrel comes out to 33.3 fps per inch of barrel cut off.

My 223 with 16.5” barrel would shoot the 53vmax at 3085.

Ballistically it’s not much different than a 223, slight advantage maybe but it’s pretty close.

Information to anyone out there looking to cut down a 204.

[long shot]

Any difference in accuracy with the barrel being bobbed?

Aaron

[Grey_Wolf]

I have a 20 Extreme that I built on a Savage action, youth model synthetic stock with a short Benchmark barrel. Because of our gun laws I could only go to an 18" barrel and have it remain non-restricted. Yeah I know - don't get me started. Anyway the idea for it was a short, light porch gun that my wife could shoot coyotes with cause they were coming in the yard during foaling. She couldn't steady the regular gun as she was sick and losing strength.

It would shoot great to about 125 yards which was more than she needed from the porch but not beyond. I lost her two years ago. About a year ago I was looking at this thing and wondered what it would shoot like with a better stock (also I'm just not a fan of plastic/synthetic stocks but at the time it was all about weight saving) so I ordered a Boyd's thumbhole and bedded it in. Wow what a difference! It went from more like shot gun patterning at 200 yards to shooting under moa at 300 with the 40 grain V-Max and H4198. I had reservations about the short barrel and accuracy but this has surprised me. It's hitting a 4" gong at 400 yards seven out of ten shots, maybe with better glass.... who knows.

I have a friend that is trying to get the gun from me now, more accurately it's his son that covets it. He just loves that thumbhole stock with short barrel. They've been shooting coyotes this winter with his Dad's 20 Extreme and loving it. Having a bit of a time parting with it but I do have a Sako L461 action sitting with no barrel looking for something to do....

[DAA]

I chopped six inches off my .20-250, from 25" to 19", for the same reason, to have it still be reasonably handy with a 7" suppressor attached.

It fared a little worse. Went from 4240 fps with 38's to a flat 4,000 fps. So, right at 40 fps per inch.

Saw nearly the exact 40 fps, per inch, cutting a .17 Mach IV from 24" to 19".

- DAA

[kenbro]

Google Bullberry Barrel Works to find their results from starting at 24” and cutting a 204 barrel down to 15 inches in 1 inch increments.
Ken.

[Rick in Oregon]

Originally Posted by kenbro

Google Bullberry Barrel Works to find their results from starting at 24” and cutting a 204 barrel down to 15 inches in 1 inch increments.
Ken.

Right here:

https://www.bullberry.com/204-ruger-velocity-data

HTH

[kenbro]

Thanks Rick, I cannot do that.
Ken.

[xswanted]

Originally Posted by long shot

Any difference in accuracy with the barrel being bobbed?

Aaron

None.

Groups at 100 yards may have actually been slightly better.