bm my only concern for using the 204 on deer would be bullet construction. Right now there is nothing that I know of that is what I would consider a "deer bullet" available in 20cal. Of several rifles by several makers I shot with in Wyoming this spring at a dealer expo the 204 was the most anticipated by all. We even were "goin long" and firing the lil 204 at a bush in a clearing on the hill behind the range in Cody, WY. The Rangemaster told us it was 950yds away. He later pointed out a steel ram under a tree @ 1k yds. They bet me I couldnt get the 204 up there. After a couple of "feelers" being fired, they lost!!!

LOL now I will admit that the bullet drop and wind-drift were so bad at that range that when sighting the target it was at appx 7oclock and nearly out of the sight picture in a 24 power scope! But it was the lil engine that could. I had already spent several hours puttin shots up there with everything from a 22-250 too a 300SAUM. The 204 really surprised me by its very loud muzzle report and the noise from such a small gun. But keep in mind we were firing from under a steel roof and from atop concrete benches.

The gun is fun to shoot but in all honesty anything that could be done with the 204 could be done with a 22-250 and there are many more bullet selections available in the 22-250. You can get some custom Berger and Barnes offerings that make a hot 22 a viable deer caliber if you are patient enough for nothing but neck shots and the occasional broadside lung only shot on small deer. Drive a 60-80 grain 22cal bullet (like I said they ARE available in the aftermarket) over 3500fps and you would be surprised how surgically precise a "deer rifle" a smallbore can be.

Too my knowledge no one builds such bullets for the 20 yet. I am not sure that there is enough case capacity in the lil 204 (essentially a 222 Rem) to drive bullets over 50 grains at velocities that would make them spell lights out on anything larget than a coyote. The only offerings right now are hyper fragile ballistic tip types that blowup on chipmunks. I wouldnt risk loosing an animal with such equipment. The only shot you "might" kill with regularity on would be right in the ear or through the eyesocket. Thats more un-sportsmanlike "playing" than responsible deer hunting if you ask me.

Good luck,
RA