Guest rogern Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Hi guys had the .204 for almost a year now and decided its time to make it work for its living. I reload with 32grn hornady vmax over 28.3 grns of h335 and they shoot ok, zeroed at 1" high @ 100 yds it was shoting over the top of bunnies @ 200 yds! (any comments) I dont have a chrony. Do any of u use a .204 & reload, if so what date do you have please. The rifle is a Howa Lightening (ok but weighs a ton & has a that which promotes growth and vigour stock) 22" barrel with a 1/12 twist, Reflex T8 & 4 - 16 * 50 Fox scope. Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfox Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Few good loads for you here http://www.reloadersnest.com/index.asp Redfox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldie Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 28 grains of hodgdons 4895, under a 32 grain v/max, and a remington 71/2 primer, loaded to standard col of 2.250.Shoots very well indeed, not overly fast, but very accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogern Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Thanks both. Baldie, what would you think about lopping say 2" off the Howa 22" barrel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldie Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Dont do it buddy, i lopped 4" off mine, taking it down to 22", and it haemorraged velocity. Treat it like a 22/250, it needs plenty of barrel to burn in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogern Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Dont do it buddy, i lopped 4" off mine, taking it down to 22", and it haemorraged velocity. Treat it like a 22/250, it needs plenty of barrel to burn in. ok thanks, it shoots pretty good considering it has'nt shot much more than about 300 rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rich.K Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 I have a 22" barrel and am getting 3975 fps. I am planning at some stage on replacing it with a 20" barrel, purely for handiness with a mod on. The 22" barrel is giving me excellent performance and reckon I will loose just shy of 100 fps, I can live with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldie Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 Entirely up to you Rich, i,m only getting 3700 ish from mine, and can only speak from bitter personal experience. I will not shorten .204,s or 22-250.s in the shop, unless i,m forced to by the customer, they are both overbored, the 22/250, ridiculously, and they lose more than the 100 fps per inch often bandied about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rich.K Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Entirely up to you Rich, i,m only getting 3700 ish from mine, and can only speak from bitter personal experience. I will not shorten .204,s or 22-250.s in the shop, unless i,m forced to by the customer, they are both overbored, the 22/250, ridiculously, and they lose more than the 100 fps per inch often bandied about. Baldie, what length of barrel is yours, and is that with 32 grainers? Mine was 22" from factory and the ballistics are still supurb. If Iremember right, 1.5" high at 100, 2.4" low at 300 yards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldie Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Its 22" [the barrel ]and thats with the 32 grainers too. There is probarbly a hotter load out there that would give more fps, but this one, 28 grains of h4895 is just so accurate, it would have been a lot better, had i left the barrel at 26". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hi Chaps, I have a Sako 75 Varmint in .204 Ruger and I am very pleased with the thing, when I was using factory ammo (would shoot .5 inch 5 shot groups all day with the 32grVmax, didn't like the 40gr Vmax as much but still shot rabbits and a fox at 200yds). Whilst experimenting with reloading I found this recipe in Varmint Hunter Magazine (Oct 2005) which works really well with the 35gr MEF Bergers: 27.3gn H335, Fed 205M also 28gn Varget, Fed205M (not as accurate as the previous one) the speed is around 3700fps, but, I did struggle to find the right OAL for this: in my chamber the 35gr MEF Berger is outside the cartridge when one takes the measurement with the Stoney point tool, and my magazine will not allow more than 2.010' COL. At the end I seated it at 1.987' OAL using Hornady dies with a micrometer. Spoke to Todd Kindler (of Small Caliber News fame) and he suggested that the powder for the .204 is RL10x and I managed to get a tub, so I shall be testing that one to see what happens. At the moment, a load I tested for the 39gn Blitzking is very promising, giving me .75' 5 shot groups with about 3700fps, so I am sure I can make this shoot tighter if I find the right seating depth. Talking about seating depth: what is the group's experience with this cartrdge? when handloading do you seat close or far from the lands? I think we have particular issues with the factory-cut chambers, but I shall await for contributions from fellow .204Ruger users to see whether I am just useless or this is a universal problem. Hope this helps. shoot straight Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogern Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 Hi Finman With my Howa 1500 it is impossible to get the bullet anywhere near the lands, so i have seated it out to the diameter of the bullet (32grn VMax)and its shooting well. The more I use it the better it gets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Hi rogern thanks for this. It seems that the factory used reamer has an overly long freebore. I found the drawings for the reamers at Small Caliber News (vol7, No4) along with some interesting loads. the 28.3gn H335 with a 32gn VMax leaves my muzzle around 3800-3850, which is well slow. Yet, it is a very accurate load in my rifle as well (if I seat it long; 2.010' COL measured with the Stoney point tool). A suggestion that is made in the copy of the SCN I mention above, is to use Viht N135 and RL10x with either the 32gn VMax or the 40gn Vmax (no suggestions for the 39gn Sierra or the 35gn Berger, which I think are also very very promising bullets for the calibre). These powders seem to be able to achieve factory speeds with the 32gnVMax (28 or 28.5gn N135, 4060-4112 fps; 27-27.5 gn RL10x, 4086-4198 fps), but don't ask about accuracy as I have not tested these. In my experience, with zeroing my rifle (Sako 75 Varmint, Leupold VX-III 6.5-20x40) at 100yds, I am shooting about .5-1' low at 200yds and still cannot figure the range for 300yds, as I don't have the ballistic tables for my loads. I have now a tripod for my Chrony Gamma Master and I hope to be able to test the speeds and get some tables. Shoot straight, Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogern Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Finman, that load you mentioned is almost exactly what i am doing, except I load 28.5 grn h335. My accuracy seems ok but only killed bunnies out to 260yds, havnt a clue about velocity as i dont have access to a rangefinder, kind members have offered a loan, but I am one of those people that when I borrow it usually goes wrong. I have seen a load of 32.00 grns of h355 quoted with a muzzle velocity of 4300 !!!! not had the nerve to go higher than 28.50 yet. Just read my post again, obviously 'rangefinder' should have read Chrongraph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6mmBR Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 I would not go down that route or even try that load, this is what Quick Load shows 32gn H335 + 32 Vmax +00.0 122 32.00 4533 1460 115322 9039 100.0 0.621 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! It would be highly compressed and the pressure is horrendous. at 115322 psi Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rich.K Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 I would follow 6BRs warning, thats so seriuosly over pressure its insane to load!! I am out of Re10x and am switching, looking at Benchmark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogern Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Sorry about that, I was running on memory & thats not good for someone my age! The load from www.reloadersnest.com quoted was: Hornady V-Max 32 grns Hodgdon H335 30.70 grns Primer Rem 7 1/2 BR Case Rem formed 222 Rem Mag Barrel 26" Velocity 4320 I am not advocationg using this load, but I was thinking of going a bit higher than 28.50 grns. I have tried to attach the PDF load sheet & the link http://www.reloadersnest.com/pdf_us/204%20ruger.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Hi Rogern, thanks for the response (and also thanks to 6mmBR and RichK). I would be also reticent in using more than 28.5gn H335, particularly as I don't trust the factory (Hornady) brass. According to the American press, RL10x, VihtN135 and H4198 are the powders to use with cartridges such as the .204Ruger, Tac20 and the like. A fellow shooter from an american forum (Varmint Hunters Association) suggested that 28gn of Viht N135 is achieving factory speeds, and, as I have a tub of the thing (which I use for my 6mmBR; 65gn VMax, 7.5Rem, 33gn Viht N135 shoots 0.25' groups at 100yds), I shall be trying this when I get a chance. What is the group's experiences with the 39gn Blitzking and the 40gn VMax? I have had varied success with these bullets: whilst I can take bunnies at 250yds with the factory 40gn VMax, when I shoot on paper I struggle to get better than 1' groups. Another bullet that I cannot find any loads for is the 35gn Berger MEF, and some that I have tried with loads for the Tac20, seem to be shooting very well. Have any of you any experience with this bullet? Shoot straight, Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6mmBR Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Hi Rogern, please be careful, your load of 28.5 H335 is already above the maximum safe SAAMI chamber pressure for the .204, only by a bit but over non the less. I now Quick Load is only a guide but it is showing you are on the upper limits already so I would go no further. Velocity isn't everything accuracy. Here is the Quick load map for .204 with H335 and 32Vmax Cartridge : .204 Ruger Bullet : .204, 32, Hornady V-MAX 22004 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.220 inch or 56.39 mm Barrel Length : 22.0 inch or 558.8 mm Powder : Hodgdon H335 Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge, incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge. CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads ! Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time % % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms -20.0 79 22.80 3130 696 29809 7053 85.2 1.082 -18.0 81 23.37 3210 732 31974 7288 86.8 1.053 -16.0 83 23.94 3289 769 34305 7515 88.4 1.025 -14.0 85 24.51 3369 807 36814 7735 89.9 0.997 -12.0 87 25.08 3450 846 39519 7944 91.3 0.967 -10.0 89 25.65 3530 886 42435 8143 92.6 0.937 -08.0 91 26.22 3610 926 45583 8330 93.8 0.908 -06.0 92 26.79 3690 968 48982 8504 94.9 0.880 -04.0 94 27.36 3771 1010 52657 8664 95.9 0.853 ! Near Maximum ! -02.0 96 27.93 3850 1054 56627 8810 96.8 0.827 ! Near Maximum ! +00.0 98 28.50 3930 1098 60882 8939 97.6 0.802 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!**** +02.0 100 29.07 4009 1142 65477 9051 98.3 0.778 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +04.0 102 29.64 4088 1188 70450 9144 98.9 0.754 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +06.0 104 30.21 4166 1234 75839 9220 99.4 0.732 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +08.0 106 30.78 4244 1280 81687 9275 99.7 0.710 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +10.0 108 31.35 4321 1327 88045 9310 99.9 0.689 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! **** denotes your load Stay safe, happy reloading Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogern Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Dave thanks for that. the info i have is only obtained from the net so its not generally to be trusted I guess, I will take your advice and come down to say 28.3 with the H335. If the Vit N135 that finman mentions is getting factory velocity i will try that I think. That load shows no sign of pressure at all, primers look good, no extraction probes etc, but I will heed your warning and tame it down. Thanks Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6mmBR Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 No worries, Quick load is only a computer simulation but I have found it very useful in load developement. Your load may be perfectly safe in your gun, but it is close to the limit. Always be careful of loads on the net most are untested so always start 10-15% low. Here is a guide for N135, I think it may prove a bit slow for the 32gn heads and you will struggle to get enough powder in the case to get it to perfom. Load listed are showing they will be compressed. Cartridge : .204 Ruger Bullet : .204, 32, Hornady V-MAX 22004 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.220 inch or 56.39 mm Barrel Length : 22.0 inch or 558.8 mm Powder : Vihtavuori N135 Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge, incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge. CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads ! Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time % % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms -20.0 90 21.60 2977 630 25223 6655 86.6 1.153 -18.0 92 22.14 3054 663 27026 6877 88.3 1.124 -16.0 94 22.68 3132 697 28969 7090 89.9 1.095 -14.0 96 23.22 3209 732 31062 7294 91.3 1.067 -12.0 99 23.76 3287 768 33322 7486 92.7 1.039 -10.0 101 24.30 3364 804 35751 7666 94.0 1.011 -08.0 103 24.84 3442 842 38397 7833 95.2 0.982 -06.0 105 25.38 3519 880 41250 7984 96.2 0.952 -04.0 108 25.92 3596 919 44336 8120 97.2 0.922 -02.0 110 26.46 3673 959 47682 8240 98.0 0.894 +00.0 112 27.00 3749 999 51277 8341 98.6 0.867 ! Near Maximum ! +02.0 114 27.54 3824 1039 55136 8424 99.2 0.840 ! Near Maximum ! +04.0 117 28.08 3899 1080 59302 8488 99.6 0.815 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +06.0 119 28.62 3973 1122 63806 8531 99.9 0.790 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +08.0 121 29.16 4046 1164 68681 8554 100.0 0.767 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +10.0 123 29.70 4118 1205 73964 8558 100.0 0.744 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! N135 may be better with a heavier 39/40 bullet. Cheers dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Dave and Roger, the 28.3 gn H335 load is from the Hodgdon manual for the 204Ruger. I am a bit perplexed about the readings you get from Quickload, particularly as it would class a 'manufacturer suggested' load as 'Dangerous'. Similar things can be said for the VihtN133 posting that (Dave) put out, as the recommended load for the Tac20 (which has a smaller case capacity than the .204Ruger) is above 27gn. I was getting over 4000fps with 27gn N133 in my rifle, but I then run out of this powder and now I shall try and use the N135, which I trust as I have used it before. This from the Hodgdon website (www.hodgdon.com) Cartridge: 204 Ruger Load Type: Rifle Starting Loads Maximum Loads Bullet Weight (Gr.) Order BW Powder Bullet C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure 32 GR. HDY V-MAX 32 H335 .204" 2.250" 26.0 3703 40,600 PSI 28.3 4044 54,800 PSI 35 GR. BER HP 35 H335 .204" 2.240" 25.5 3665 45,400 PSI 27.5 3915 56,600 PSI 40 GR. HDY V-MAX 40 H335 .204" 2.250" 25.0 3508 47,300 PSI 26.8 3738 56,700 PSI 50 GR. BER HPBT 50 335 .204" 2.300" 22.5 3039 43,700 PSI 24.3 3268 54,700 PSI Is it possible that this programme caters for the US legal teams more than it does for realistic loads? When looking at the published load map for the Viht N135 for the 204Ruger (from the Small Caliber News issue 7(04)), they go up to 28.2 on the Viht N135, with assurances for no dangerous pressures. The mind boggles! I guess we have to keep exchanging info on our experiences with these, and see what works here. Looking forward to the exchange. Shoot straight, Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Sorry guys, in my previous message I mention H4198 when I think that the correct powder is H4895. I use neither of these so I got a bit confused I guess. Apologies for the confusion. Shoot Straight Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogern Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 If anyone is interested I have just printed all 28 sheets of load data for the .204 from Reloaders Nest. You could get them yourself or I can email them to you no bother. Regards Rogern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
325WSM Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 I also have about 50mb of articles on the 204 (+20 Benchrest) and allied subjects both reviews and reloading info if any one wants copies. Please specify what is wanted or I will send everything. mry716@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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