Introduced by Ruger in 2004, the 204 Ruger is the first cartridge to bear the Ruger name. Based on the near-obsolete 222 Remington Magnum case necked down, the 204 Ruger uses a light .20-caliber (.204-inch) bullet to achieve dramatic velocity. Although there are numerous wildcats, it is the only standard 20-caliber cartridges. With 32 and 34-grain bullets it's among the handful of cartridges that exceed 4000 feet per second; with heavier bullets from 35 to 45 grains it's still very fast. Accuracy is usually excellent and the .20-caliber bullets tend to hold up better in the wind than 17s. It is thus suitable for varmint shooting at longer ranges, and is plenty powerful enough for game up to coyotes in size. The 204 Ruger rapidly achieved a significant following, with both ammuniton and rifles available from multiple manufacturers. It is not as popular as the 223 Remington or 22-250...but probably runs a close third in varmint hunting circles.
