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	First, no other high performance 20 caliber cartridge was commercially produced. Second, the ammunition used to achieve the 4225 ft/s was available only from Hornady using a special powder not available to the general public.<ref name="chuck"></ref>		First, no other high performance 20 caliber cartridge was commercially produced. Second, the ammunition used to achieve the 4225 ft/s was available only from Hornady using a special powder not available to the general public.<ref name="chuck"></ref>

	Note that handloaders typically achieve velocities more in the area of {{convert\|4100\|ft/s\|m/s\|abbr=on}} using a {{convert\|32\|gr\|sing=on}} bullet.<ref name="hodgdon"></ref>		Note that handloaders typically achieve velocities more in the area of {{convert\|4100\|ft/s\|m/s\|abbr=on}} using a {{convert\|32\|gr\|sing=on}} bullet.<ref name="hodgdon"> {{webarchive\|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5TO9dFZMR?url=http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp \|date=16 November 2007 }}</ref>

	Note also that handloads using a {{convert\|40\|gr\|sing=on}} bullet in other commercial cartridges such as the ] also achieve velocities similar to those of the .204 Ruger. The advantage of the .204 Ruger is that it achieves these velocities with less powder, less recoil, and less heat than the larger cartridges. The 204 Ruger has a maximum range of approximately {{convert\|500\|yd}}.		Note also that handloads using a {{convert\|40\|gr\|sing=on}} bullet in other commercial cartridges such as the ] also achieve velocities similar to those of the .204 Ruger. The advantage of the .204 Ruger is that it achieves these velocities with less powder, less recoil, and less heat than the larger cartridges. The 204 Ruger has a maximum range of approximately {{convert\|500\|yd}}.

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.204 Ruger

Type

Rifle

Place of origin

USA

Production history

Designer

Ruger/Hornady

Designed

2004

Produced

2004–Present

Specifications

Parent case

.222 Remington Magnum

Case type

Rimless, bottleneck

Bullet diameter

.204 in (5.2 mm)

Neck diameter

.2311 in (5.87 mm)

Shoulder diameter

.3598 in (9.14 mm)

Base diameter

.3764 in (9.56 mm)

Rim diameter

.378 in (9.6 mm)

Rim thickness

.0449 in (1.14 mm)

Case length

1.850 in (47.0 mm)

Overall length

2.2598 in (57.40 mm)

Rifling twist

1-12

Primer type

small rifle

Ballistic performance

Bullet mass/type	Velocity	Energy
32 gr. (2.1 g) BT	4,225 ft/s (1,288 m/s)	1,268 ft⋅lbf (1,719 J)
40 gr. (2.6 g) BT	3,900 ft/s (1,200 m/s)	1,351 ft⋅lbf (1,832 J)
45 gr. (2.9 g) SP	3,625 ft/s (1,105 m/s)	1,313 ft⋅lbf (1,780 J)
40 gr. (2.6 g) Hornady V-Max, Norma	3,806 ft/s (1,160 m/s)	1,195 ft⋅lbf (1,620 J)

Source(s): Hornady Norma

The .204 Ruger is a centerfire rifle cartridge developed by Hornady and Ruger. At the time of its introduction in 2004, the .204 Ruger was the second highest velocity commercially produced ammunition and the only centerfire cartridge produced commercially for bullets of .204 inch/5 mm caliber.

Characteristics

The 204 Ruger was developed from the .222 Remington Magnum, which has the second largest case capacity in the family that began with the .222 Remington. Only the European 5.6×50mm Magnum is larger, which itself is a lengthened version of the 222 Remington Magnum. The 222 Remington Magnum provides about 5% more usable (below the neck) case capacity than the most popular member of the family, the NATO 5.56×45mm (.223 Remington). To make the 204 Ruger, the 222 Remington Magnum case was necked down to .204 inches (5 mm) and shoulder moved forward and angle increased to 30 degrees. Bullets available in .204 caliber range from 26 to 55 grains (1.7 to 3.56g). The Hornady factory load is listed at 4,225 ft/s (1288 m/s) with a 32-grain (2.1 g) bullet. To achieve these velocities, the factory uses a proprietary powder composition known internally as SMP746, specially formulated by Primex, and not currently (2013) available to handloaders. The propellant features a de-coppering agent that helps prevent fouling. Reloading data from Hornady, using commercially available powders, indicate velocity peaking at just under 4,200 ft/s (1,300 m/s) with the 32-grain (2.1 g) bullet in longer barrels. Many AR-15 rifle manufacturers now offer the .204 Ruger as an alternative chambering alongside the usual 5.56×45mm/.223 Rem.

Development

The .204 Ruger was the second Ruger-named cartridge produced by a partnership between Ruger and Hornady, the first being the big bore .480 Ruger revolver cartridge introduced in 2003 for the Super Redhawk. With the backing of a major gunmaker and a major ammunition company, the round was an instant success, with other ammunition makers and firearms makers quickly adding the new chambering. Ruger's initial offerings included the bolt action Model 77 MKII, and the single shot Ruger No. 1, and Hornady offered loadings with 30-and-40-grain (1.9 and 2.6 g) bullets.

The .204 Ruger has proven to be a very accurate and efficient cartridge: an early tester reported 1/2 MOA groups at 100 yards (91 m) with the Hornady loads and a Ruger #1 Varmint rifle. This is not surprising, considering that the first cartridge in the family, the .222 Remington, was a top benchrest shooting cartridge for many years after its introduction.

The .204 Ruger was intended primarily for varmint rifles, which require bullets with flat trajectories but not much mass or kinetic energy. The .204 was "splitting the difference" between the popular .224 varmint rounds such as the .220 Swift and .22-250 Remington, and the tiny .172 caliber rounds such as the .17 Remington and the .17 HMR. The resulting cartridge provides somewhat higher velocities than any of these, giving a maximum point blank range of more than 270 yards (250 m).

Velocity

Ruger's claim to being the velocity king with the .204 was based on two points.

First, no other high performance 20 caliber cartridge was commercially produced. Second, the ammunition used to achieve the 4225 ft/s was available only from Hornady using a special powder not available to the general public.

Note that handloaders typically achieve velocities more in the area of 4,100 ft/s (1,200 m/s) using a 32-grain (2.1 g) bullet.

Note also that handloads using a 40-grain (2.6 g) bullet in other commercial cartridges such as the .22-250 Remington also achieve velocities similar to those of the .204 Ruger. The advantage of the .204 Ruger is that it achieves these velocities with less powder, less recoil, and less heat than the larger cartridges. The 204 Ruger has a maximum range of approximately 500 yards (460 m).

Hornady now offers a 24-grain lead free cartridge that claims 4400 fps from a 26" barrel. However, Hornady's 35 gr NTX .22-250 claims 4450 fps from a 24" barrel.

Ballistics Chart By Hornady

.204 Ruger 32 GR V-MAX 83204	Muzzle	100 yd	200 yd	300 yd	400 yd	500 yd
Velocity/Energy (fps) / (ft-lbs)	4225/1268	3645/944	3137/699	2683/512	2272/367	1899/256
Trajectory (inches)	-1.5	0.6	0.00	-4.1	-13.1	-29.0

.204 Ruger 40 GR V-MAX 83206	Muzzle	100 yd	200 yd	300 yd	400 yd	500 yd
Velocity/Energy (fps) / (ft-lbs)	3900/1351	3482/1077	3103/855	2755/674	2433/526	2133/404
Trajectory (inches)	-1.5	0.7	0.00	-4.3	-13.2	-28.1

.204 Ruger 45 GR SP 83208	Muzzle	100 yd	200 yd	300 yd	400 yd	500 yd
Velocity/Energy (fps) / (ft-lbs)	3625/1313	3188/1015	2792/778	2428/589	2093/438	1787/319
Trajectory (inches)	-1.5	1.0	0.0	-5.5	-16.9	-36.3

References

Hornady
Norma product catalog
"20 Cal 55 Grain Match Grade Long Range BT Varmint". Retrieved 27 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
.204 Ruger by Chuck Hawks
.204 load data at Hodgdon Archived 16 November 2007 at WebCite
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Rifle :: Choose by Caliber :: 204 Ruger :: 204 Ruger 24 gr NTX® Superformance

External links

v t e Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Rifles	10/22 American rifle American rimfire AR-556 Deerfield carbine Gunsite Scout M77 Mini-14 Model 44 Model 96 No. 1 No. 3 Police carbine Precision rifle SR-556 SR-762
Submachine guns	MP9
Shotguns	Gold Label Red Label
Pistols	American pistol Hawkeye LC9 LCP MK I MK II MK III MK IV P-Series Ruger-57 Security-9 SR-Series SR22 SR1911
Revolvers	Bearcat Bisley Blackhawk GP100 LCR Old Army Redhawk Security-Six Super Redhawk Single-Six SP101 Vaquero Wrangler
Cartridges	.204 Ruger .300 Ruger Compact Magnum .327 Federal Magnum .338 Ruger Compact Magnum .375 Ruger .416 Ruger .480 Ruger
Subsidiaries	Marlin Firearms

Cartridges derived from the .222 Remington or its derivatives

First generation

Second generation

Based on .222 Remington Magnum	.204 Ruger
Based on .223 Remington/5.56 NATO	.17-223 .17 Remington 4.3x45mm DAG 4.32x45mm SPIW 4.7x45mm DAG 4.85x49mm .19-223 .20 Tactical .22 TCM 5.56×21mm PINDAD .223 Ackley Improved 6×45mm 6mm TCU .25-45 Sharps .25 Ugalde 6.5mm TCU .277 Wolverine 7mm TCU .300 Whisper 7.62×37mm Musang 7.62×40mm Wilson Tactical .30 TCU
Based on .221 Remington Fireball	.17 Mach IV .17 Remington Fireball .20 VarTarg .300-221/.300 Fireball .300 AAC Blackout .338 Whisper

Note: = Wildcat cartridge

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