Thread: 22/204

I recently acquired a Sako Varmint 85 in 223 with the plan of running in a 204 reamer with a 224 pilot.

My plan was to run the 53grn Vmax for culling macropods as well as Foxes and rabbits.

I had bought the 85 thinking that because they were available in 204 that the magazine length would have been adequate for the task.

Well I was mistaken on that point so I resorted to the 40 grn Vmax and proceded to work up an accurate and fast load This was at 100m and squares are 1/2" 5 went right then two clicks leftAnd here it is set up with Ziess HD5 5-25x50

Impressive, I have the Terminator Tikka 22-204 that I was considering selling, I may have to re think my options before making a decision.

i do have one but havent done much with it as the 6.5/204 gets to go hunting a lot

I had 55 gr doing 3850 and exploding bunnies...

Awesome fun

Cant you get it to go any faster.................

I've been shooting a 22-204 since 2006, I had PTG grind me a reamer just for opening 223's up. I have put a 6mm pilot on it to open a 6x47Rem to 6mm-204 and had a gunsmith build me a 25-204 in 2005 by running a 204 Ruger reamer and cutting the neck and throat separately.

Just a quick question, did you build a 22-204 or a 223 Improved. Do you blow out 223 to fit the 204 chamber or expand and trim 204 brass to 45mm or did you cut the neck and throat separately to use full length 204 brass?

I really like shooting the 22-204, it is my goto rifle for coyote pelt hunting. I'm shooting 40gr NBT's right at 4000fps, it drops coyote like "The Hammer of Thor" with no pelt damage.

22-204 at work, crappy pelt and I was experimenting with 50gr lead-frees. Savage model 10, Sightron II 1.5-6x40mm



At the time I built mine the 223 was the rage BUT it you needed to buy custom dies to load it. The 22-204 you could use 204 Bushing dies and swap out the bushing and expander ball and load 22-204, in fact with a little mod to the die I am able to load 6mm-204 an 25-204 with the same die just swapping out the innards.

You obviously have a few savages. I like the idea of writing the cal on the rifle so you take the right bits. I owned 2 Weatherby vanguards at one time and rushing to get ready for a hunt grabbed the wrong one.
I got some good photos with the camera though.

Originally Posted by Husky1600

Cant you get it to go any faster.................

Smith ran a 204 reamer in with a 22 cac pilot the cut the neck and lead.

Wish Lapua would make some brass for the 204 Ruger then you could really ring its neck.

Norma does