.17 Mach IV vs. Tactical 20 vs. .204 Ruger

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Loki_762

New member
With any luck, I will be purchasing either a TC Contender or Encore frame within the next 5 months or so, and I want to make it a varmint gun. I plan on shooting ground squirrels primarily, but I am sure I will shoot some rockchucks with it as well. However, I am having a hard time deciding between the .17 Mach IV, the Tactical 20, and the .204 Ruger. The way I see it, there is both advantages and disadvantages to each. What I am looking for is a cartridge that:
1. Will allow me to see my hits through the scope.
2. Will not burn out my barrel in 1500 to 2000 shots.
3. Will allow me to make shots out to 300 yards.
As I see it, the advantages and disadvantages of each are:
.17 Mach IV - Advantages - Uses less powder, won't eat barrels, low recoil will allow me to see shots, and it SCREAMS!
Disadvantages - Light bullets used may not reach to 300 yards with enough energy to dispatch rockchucks, forming brass requires many dies (expensive), buying pre-formed brass is expensive
Tactical 20 - Advantages - Uses .223 cases as parent case, has heavier bullet selections than the .17, will most likely be better over longer ranges than the .17, and it SCREAMS!
Disadvantages - May not be able to see hits through scope, need to buy expensive custom dies, may be a barrel burner (I am unsure of this).
.204 Ruger - Advantages - Eventually will have factory brass for handloaders, available factory ammunition, has heavier bullet selections than the .17, will most likely be better over longer ranges than the .17, and it SCREAMS!
Disadvantages - Parent case brass is harder to get than .223 brass, may burn barrels quickly, may not be able to see hits through the scope, and at this time, dies are still a little on the expensive side.
Now, I know that dies are most likely going to be expensive, no matter which caliber I get. That aside, can anyone provide information on their personal experiences shooting these rounds, and help me to make this decision? I really want to have one of these calibers by next spring, so I need to get to deciding soon!
Thanks in advance,
Loki
 
About the only comment I have is that I have shot a couple of Tac 20's for several years and have not seen any more barrel wear in them than any other high performance round such as the 22-250, etc. I have used them for three years shooting PD's and larger stuff and have seen no evidence of excessive wear.

Haven't shot my 204 Ruger enough to really make a "barrel burner" assessment. I have shot 17 Remingtons for @ 30 years and they too will hold up to lots of shooting if its reasonable and you don't get the barrel overly hot. The Mach IV is known for its mild powder charge and good performance. - BCB

Edited for spelling - BCB
 
IMHO ... to meet the reguirements you stated I would go w/ the 17Mach IV.
Later on you mentioned $ being a problem. Well, if that is the case why are you buying a T/C. Get yourself a Savage & the barrel of your choice. Savages make great switch barrel guns. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
BCB,
What dies do you need to form the brass and reload the Tactical 20? Do you need a separate die to reduce the neck from .224 to .204, or does the forming die do it? Also, do you neck ream once you have brought the size down? What kind of case trimmer do you use? Right now, I just have the Lee handheld trimmer, but I suspect I will need something different, as I have not seen wildcat case guides for it. Finally, are you able to see your shots hit, or do you get enough recoil that it takes you off target?
Thanks,
Loki
 
Loki:

The Redding Tac 20 #1 form die just pushes the shoulder back on the 223 case but does not neck it down. I neck the case down to 20 caliber with the Redding FL size die and shoot to finish the forming process.

I have an RCBS case trimmer and I turned a .224" pilot down to .204" to trim cases. There is no need to turn necks on the Tac 20 as you are not reducing the case down enought to require it. I suppose if you wanted a tight neck chamber you might have to, but the standard Tac 20 does not require neck turning.

Both of my Tac 20's are varmint weight rifles, so you can see bullet impact when shooting PD's, etc. However, I have a stainless Ruger 77 Ultralite in 204 Ruger, and it recoils enough off the bench that you lose sigh of the target for just an instance.

I think that you would really enjoy the Tac 20. It has excellent ballistics and shoots very flat to 350 yards and beyond. The 17 Mach IV is an excellent cartridge, and I really like the 17's in general - especiallly the 17 Remington -, but the Tac 20 is really special in my opinion.
- BCB
 
Hi Loki.

I'd suggest the 17 Mach IV. I've got one that is a Bullberry barrel on an Encore frame. Super fantastic cartridge. Very efficient, low noise, plenty of speed and I can kill groundhogs with it out to 300 yards and have killed yoters out to 150, so why wouldn't it work on rockchucks. The hogs just tip over dead, no twitching or flopping around. The 25 grain bullet hits 'em like lightnin'.

I can see my hits easily without the aid of a muzzle brake.

For forming dies, you need just the 17 mach IV form die and the 17 Mach IV FL die. I also have a 221 Fireball trim die so I can make 17 Mach IV brass from .223 cases. If you're setting it up on an Encore, you've no need of a 17 Mach IV neck die.

Soooo..

17 Mach IV FL die set....$56.06 (FL and Seat)
17 Mach IV form/trim die......$30.56

Prices are from Bruno's Shooter's Supply and are current.

$87.00 Worth of dies, but how many times are you going to buy them???? Bet you pay about as much for 20 Tactical dies.

The Mach IV in action in SD this summer...nice red mist ring left behind.

100_00601.JPG
 
Definitely, the Mach IV can handle rock chucks. I've killed quite a few with mine. Have not tried it on any beyond about 250 yet though. But of the ones I've shot with it between 200 and 250, only one or two took any voluntary steps after being hit and none got out of sight before expiring. Using Starke 25's, mostly, but also some Kindler 25's and 27's.

- DAA
 
Hi Dave (DAA). It's me, Lee in OH above your post. I got a stash of the Starke 25's too. Man do them pills shoot (and kill too!!!!)

Have you tried any of the Neagle 25 gr. bullets yet??? They're made with Clint's dies. I have tried some and they shoot comprable to the Starke's in my rifle.

Any luck on muley's yet????
 
Hey Lee, no have not tried the Neagle's yet. I've still got a couple years worth of Starke's left /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif .

NO luck on mulies yet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif . Got out for a week at the start of the season, passed on a few little guys. Starting to look like I won't get out again, should have taken the meat when I had the chance!

- DAA
 
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