Okay, so I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my .204 Ruger lately, specifically about how long the barrel is gonna last. Figured I’d just lay out my whole experience with it here, start to finish.
Getting Started
First off, I picked up this rifle a few years back – it’s a Savage, nothing super fancy, but it’s been a solid shooter. I was really drawn to the .204 Ruger because of its flat trajectory and, you know, it’s just a cool little round. I mainly use it for varmint hunting, prairie dogs mostly, and some target shooting.
My Reloading Process
Now, I’m a reloader. I don’t shoot factory ammo very often. For me, half the fun is working up the perfect load. So, keep in mind that my experience with barrel life is probably going to be different than someone who’s just blasting through boxes of Hornady.
- I started with some basic load data from a couple of reloading manuals.
- I experimented a lot with different powders – H4895, Varget, stuff like that.
- I also played around with different bullet weights, mostly 32-grain and 40-grain.
Keeping Track
I’m kind of a nerd about this stuff, so I keep a detailed logbook. Every time I go to the range, I write down:
- The date, obviously.
- The load I’m using (powder, charge weight, bullet, etc.).
- Number of rounds fired.
- Group sizes (if I’m testing for accuracy).
- Any notes about how the rifle is feeling or if I notice anything unusual.
Cleaning Routine
I’m also pretty religious about cleaning. I clean the barrel after every range trip, no matter how many rounds I’ve put through it. Some folks say that’s overkill, but I figure it can’t hurt.
I use a good copper solvent and a bore guide to protect the chamber, and I follow a wet-patch, dry-patch routine until the patches come out clean.
What I’ve Seen So Far
So, after a few years and, I’d guess, around 2,500 rounds, my barrel is still shooting pretty darn well. I haven’t seen a significant drop-off in accuracy.
I’m still getting sub-MOA groups at 100 yards, which is plenty good enough for my needs.
I have started to notice a little bit of throat erosion when I look with a bore scope, but it’s nothing major yet.
My Takeaway
Honestly, I think barrel life with the .204 Ruger is pretty decent, especially if you take care of your rifle and don’t push it too hard with crazy hot loads. I’m expecting to get at least another 1,000-1,500 rounds out of this barrel before I have to think about replacing it.
I keep hearing from others that theirs last much longer, but I’ll cross that bridge when it comes.
Your mileage may vary, of course, but that’s been my experience. Hope this helps!
