39 blitzking

[PaddyD]

Well, I've decided to give them one more try with H4895. Hopefully, it won't be money wasted as for as small as these things are they sure are pricey compared to the Hornady Vmax's. I think it might be the only powder I've yet to try with them. The thing that is baffling me about these 39's is regardless of the powder when I get over halfway up the charge table the groups start doubling in size. It's like they only like to go slow in this barrel.

[broper]

39 gr. Sierra wouldn't shoot less than about an inch in my .204, 40 gr. V-Max shoots about 3/4" but when I went to 32 gr, Varmageddon I got a .169 group. Also, I had a splash on a badger that was hit right behind the shoulder and a buddy had a splash on a coyote, both with the 39 gr. Sierra. We decided to use them on nothing bigger than rock chucks. The 32 gr. Varmageddon works beautiful on badgers, pin hole in, no exit. DRT ! I was loading BLC(2) and bullets long enough to just fit in magazine. I didn't try any other powders or tweaking seating depth.

[Bill K]

I use a lot of the 32 Nosler's on all my varmints, from squeeks to coyotes. Never a issue with anything, other than entrance and very rarely a exit, other than on the small squeeks and rock chucks. A couple of examples on entrance with no exit or so called splashing. Just my thoughts. And not I am getting the same results with nosler's lead free bullets, as I had to go to them with the new laws in Commie California, to save the Condor's. However that has proved to not be issue, as the lead free are as accurate and in some cases more so, with the proper load workup. Bill K

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[broper]

The splashes I'm talking about blew on the surface and no penetration or not enough to kill. Just made a big red spot, the badger and coyote both got away.

[Bill K]

I understand you splash comment. I am just saying and showing that in thousands of shots on various larger critters, I have never had any splash effects as you mention. Always in and never out, just enternal organs sound and feel like mush. Bill K

[broper]

Oh ok, got it. I'm gettin' old !

[broper]

Bill k,
Went back and read your post over. I guess I just didn't read close enough the first time. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Like I said, I'm getting old. The .204 is one of my favorite cartridges. I've never tried the non lead bullets, but maybe I need to. I've heard and read several people say they were pretty accurate. I find a load that works in my gun and I pretty much stick to that and quit trying different loads. Right now 32 gr. Varmageddons and 40 gr. V-Max work best in my rifle with BLC(2). 28.5 gr. seems to be the sweet spot with the 32's and 30 gr. with the 40's. I am thinking about working up some loads with the 35 gr. Bergers. Looking forward to this coyote season, hope it's a good one.

[Bill K]

Not a problem.. I am also getting pretty old.. I have/had good results with those same bullets, but have started finding and using lead free bullets, due to my state banning lead bullets on all our game/hunting, even the non-game animals i.e. ground squirrels, coyotes and all. But as I said this has become a non-issue as the Nosler lead free are doing as well or better anyway, and they sure are putting the critters down.
I am also finding some of the Barnes non-lead bullets to be working in some of my larger calibers and in the 224 calibers with heavier bullets i.e. 224 Valkyrie and the 1/7 twist 223 Rem's.
So, like you, I/we just find and work with what we must. Part of the sport we enjoy. Bill K

[truckerwalt]

i am sure you couldn't go wrong by using the 40 grain load data for the .204. i have found with 39 BK that 25 grains of H-322 shoots a lot better than i can. if you can find them use rem. 7 1/2 primers you will get your best accuracy--i have tried them all and the rem's are the best