Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SMALL-BORE CENTERFIRE
.204 Ruger
A small-bullet centerfire varmint cartridge using nominal .204-inch projectiles. Factory loads commonly emphasize light, streamlined bullets and high published muzzle velocities.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.125–2.260 in
53.975–57.404 mm - Case length · max
- 1.850 in
46.990 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2045 in
5.194 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.378 in
9.601 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Small-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2045 in / 5.194 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 4 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 24–40 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.204 Ruger is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 204 Ruger. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
It is not a .22-caliber cartridge. Bullet mass and bullet diameter are different specifications.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Ruger and Hornady introduced the .204 Ruger in 2004, bringing a .20-caliber centerfire cartridge into broad factory production. It drew on the .222 Remington Magnum case family and was presented as a high-velocity varmint cartridge. The partnership joined a rifle maker with a bullet-and-ammunition manufacturer, allowing rifles and factory ammunition to be launched as a coordinated commercial offering.
The design occupied a useful space between the established .17- and .22-caliber centerfires. Small, light bullets gave it the speed and relatively light recoil that varmint shooters wanted, while later projectile choices emphasized more than muzzle velocity alone. It subsequently appeared in both bolt-action rifles and AR-pattern firearms. Its significance is not that .20-caliber experimentation began in 2004, but that an existing small-caliber idea gained the standard ammunition, rifle availability and recognizable name of a major factory introduction.
Historical sources: Ruger: original 2004 joint Ruger–Hornady introduction ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited .204 Ruger examples, bullet weights are 24, 32, 40 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
24 grains
4,400 fps
NTX® (26" Bbl)
32 grains
4,100 fps
HORNADY® V-MAX®
40 grains
3,900 fps
V-MAX® (26" Bbl)
Compare all 4 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady83209 | 24 gr 1.56 g | NTX® (26" Bbl) | 4,400 fps 1,341 m/s | 26 in | Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗ |
| FederalV204VM32 | 32 gr 2.07 g | HORNADY® V-MAX® | 4,100 fps 1,250 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗ |
| Hornady83204 | 32 gr 2.07 g | V-MAX® (26" Bbl) | 4,225 fps 1,288 m/s | 26 in | Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗ |
| Hornady83206 | 40 gr 2.59 g | V-MAX® (26" Bbl) | 3,900 fps 1,189 m/s | 26 in | Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.204 Ruger: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 24 gr Hornady NTX® (26" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 4400; 100: 3667; 200: 3046; 300: 2504; 400: 2023; 500: 1604 |
| 32 gr Federal HORNADY® V-MAX® | Federal | 0: 4100; 100: 3536; 200: 3040; 300: 2596; 400: 2193; 500: 1827 |
| 40 gr Hornady V-MAX® (26" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 3900; 100: 3482; 200: 3104; 300: 2757; 400: 2435; 500: 2136 |
| 32 gr Hornady V-MAX® (26" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 4225; 100: 3645; 200: 3137; 300: 2685; 400: 2275; 500: 1903 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .204 Ruger?
A small-bullet centerfire varmint cartridge using nominal .204-inch projectiles. Factory loads commonly emphasize light, streamlined bullets and high published muzzle velocities.
What diameter does .204 Ruger use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2045 inches (5.194 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
It is not a .22-caliber cartridge. Bullet mass and bullet diameter are different specifications.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 73 ↗
- Sierra: .204 Ruger cartridge background ↗
- Hornady: cartridge development interview ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
- Ruger: original 2004 joint Ruger–Hornady introduction ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.