1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Share information about reloading the .204 Ruger.
Motoshooter
New Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 9:20 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka

1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Motoshooter »

Gidday

Went out with my TikkaT3 and couple of boxes of factory Winchester 32grain ammo. I zeroed at 100yds. At 200yds bullet drop is 3,5" and at 250yds drop is a whooping 9,8".

Thats not flat to me!

I have not had a chance to use a chrono but Im wondering what you guys are seeing?


Guess I must soon start to reload myself.
Lead Lobber
Junior Member
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:04 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M77 Mark II Target Barrel Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Lead Lobber »

Zero at 200 or 250......
Motoshooter
New Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 9:20 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Motoshooter »

Maybe I try that next time. If zeroed at 200 I guess its gona be 3" high at 100yds, at least according to my first test of bullet drop. Right?
broper
Senior Member
Posts: 321
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:12 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington 700 sps
Location: Parma, Idaho

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by broper »

In my opinion 3" at 100 yds. is too high for varmint cartridges. I zeroed mine 1" high at 100 yds. and that works real well. I have no problem hitting badhers at 300 yds. I've shot groups as small as .169 at 100 yds. but never shot any groups farther than that.
Bob
User avatar
247sniper
Senior Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:26 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Custom .204 Ruger !

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by 247sniper »

My rifle shoots the opposite and I dont know why, I have zeroed at 100 yards and its still bob on at 200 yards! And only 5 inch low at 300 ! Never have been able to understand it, especially since I have a relitivley low muzzel velocity of 3707 ftps!


Steve.
User avatar
247sniper
Senior Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:26 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Custom .204 Ruger !

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by 247sniper »

Motoshooter wrote:Gidday

Went out with my TikkaT3 and couple of boxes of factory Winchester 32grain ammo. I zeroed at 100yds. At 200yds bullet drop is 3,5" and at 250yds drop is a whooping 9,8".

Thats not flat to me!

I have not had a chance to use a chrono but Im wondering what you guys are seeing?


Guess I must soon start to reload myself.

Are you using a range finder to confirm them distances?

Steve.
Motoshooter
New Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 9:20 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Motoshooter »

Yup, using a range finder to confirm :)

Also went out with a chrony just now. Average
speed 4100fps at muzzle in calm winds.

It groups nicely already BUT Im a little surprised it does not shoot flatter (as desribed above). But then again I have only shot 25 rounds from a new rifle.
User avatar
Glen
Moderator
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2005 9:22 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Rem700ADL
Location: New Philadelphia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Glen »

Get some 39gr Sierras. You should have a different trajectory that will be more satisfying to what you're looking for.
Friends Are Friends By Nature.

RIP Russ,Blaine, & Darrell!!

I don't like repeat offenders. I like DEAD offenders!!
Ted Nugent


Isn't there a minimum age for grampas??
^^^^^^
Audrey Renae told me "No there isn't"!!

Glen
Motoshooter
New Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 9:20 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Motoshooter »

Would any of you tell me what you are loading and what the trajectory is like in your case?
User avatar
Lonegunnmenn
New Member
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:39 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Howa 1500 204 ruger

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Lonegunnmenn »

29 gr or RL-15 with 39gr SBK 2.295" col Hornady brass 2in high at 100 yds

My gun (howa 1500) does wired stuff with factory loads too it did well with nosler ammo though and HSM 39gr SBK . I would work up some loads for it
User avatar
futuretrades
Senior Member
Posts: 835
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:16 am
.204 Ruger Guns: HOWA 1500 .204 Ruger Varmint, Bull Bbl, Lupy 6-18x40 custom

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by futuretrades »

After firing hundreds of rounds down range, using both 32gr Vmax and 39gr sbk's at paper and mostly at "Skippy", I can tell you from experience, out my rifle both bullets poi is close enough that I do hold in the same place, looking thru the scope, out to around 300 yards. Any distances farther than that, the 39's are my bullet of choice, because the 32's begin to drop substantially. I cannot tell you how much these 2 bullets drop at any range, because I have never shot at paper targets at marked distance greater than 100 yards. I sight all my rifles dead on at 100 yards. I use my Leupold reticle to make all of my hold adjustment points at any distance.
Like some of the other posters here, I would suggest trying the 39's for any distance you are shooting.
NRA Benefactor Life member
HOWA 1500 Varmint 204 Ruger, Bull Barrel, Hogue Overmold Stock, Leupold VXII 6-18x40mm AO LRV Custom Reticle Timney Trigger
Cooper Mdl 21 20VarTargW/Leupold VXIII, 6-20x40AO Varmint Hunter reticle.
Lead Lobber
Junior Member
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:04 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M77 Mark II Target Barrel Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by Lead Lobber »

Zero at 200 should only be .7" high @100 yards(with a 40 grain). This is off the Hornady ballistics chart......

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/bal ... istics.pdf

I zero my .204's around the 270 yard mark. The 100 yard mark is a hair over an inch high.
broper
Senior Member
Posts: 321
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:12 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington 700 sps
Location: Parma, Idaho

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by broper »

In my 700 Rem. VLS the 32 gr. Varmageddon is the most accurate bullet. I've shot three shot groups as small as .169 with it. The 39 gr. shot around 3/4' +/-. I had a 39 gr. sierra splash on a badger at about 200 yds. and a friend had one splash on a coyote so we pretty much just use them for ground squirrels and rockchucks. I've shot badgers with the 32 gr. Varmageddon and it puts them down hard. Never got a splash with them. My favorte load is 28.5 grains BLC(2) . I've shot as much as 30 gr. with no signs of high pressure but the 28.5 gr. load is more accurate in my gun. I like the 40 gr. V-Max bullets real well but they're not quite as accurate as the 32 gr. Varmageddons.
User avatar
247sniper
Senior Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:26 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Custom .204 Ruger !

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by 247sniper »

broper wrote:In my 700 Rem. VLS the 32 gr. Varmageddon is the most accurate bullet. I've shot three shot groups as small as .169 with it. The 39 gr. shot around 3/4' +/-. I had a 39 gr. sierra splash on a badger at about 200 yds. and a friend had one splash on a coyote so we pretty much just use them for ground squirrels and rockchucks. I've shot badgers with the 32 gr. Varmageddon and it puts them down hard. Never got a splash with them. My favorte load is 28.5 grains BLC(2) . I've shot as much as 30 gr. with no signs of high pressure but the 28.5 gr. load is more accurate in my gun. I like the 40 gr. V-Max bullets real well but they're not quite as accurate as the 32 gr. Varmageddons.

What is a splash???

Steve.
User avatar
247sniper
Senior Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:26 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Custom .204 Ruger !

Re: 1st shoot, NOT so flat trajectory ?!

Post by 247sniper »

Motoshooter wrote:Would any of you tell me what you are loading and what the trajectory is like in your case?

This is what my rifle is doing to the exact. 200 Yard zero, it is spot on at 100, yes spot on! at 300 it is 5.3 inch, 400 yards its 16.5 inch and 500 it is 36inch.


When zeroed at 100 yards the figures are basically identical out to 400 yards!

How you getting on?



Steve.
Post Reply