204Ruger

New member. First time posting. Been reading this site for a while. Will be picking up my Savage Model 12fv this morning. Wondering if anyone has found any good loads using Hodgdon CFE 223 powder. Hoping to use 32 and 39 grain bullets.
Thanks Carl

Anybody? Anybody, Anybody???

Carl. I am using in the neighborhood of 29.8 with the 32 in my 204. You can start below that, some, and work up in your rifle. Believe you will find it works well. Don't shoot many of the 39 grain loads, so no help there. Also go too or use the Hodgdon data site for info on loads or a good reloading book for other loading data. Bill K

Thanks for your input Bill K.
Carl

Hi Carl, I've been using CFE 223 the entire time I've been shooting the 32 GR V-max through my model 12 FV & the rifle seems to be happy with the powder. The load my rifle likes the best is 30.0 GR on top of Rem 7 1/2 primers in either Winchester or Hornaday brass. Make sure you do a good job of breaking in the barrel before you do any serious load development otherwise you'll chase your tail until the barrel is happy. Start at the low end of the recommended load on the Hodgdon reloading page & work your way up slowly until the bullet groups acceptably. I'm just starting to work on the 39 GR blitz king load as the predator population around here is exploding. Stay tuned.

Thanks much WesF. Appreciate the help. Just starting on this journey.

Hey Carl,
Under reloading the 204, the post just above yours "FAVORITE LOADS" I believe has a bunch of loads using CFE223 in the latter threads towards the end. I know one of the members DARKKER raves about using it. You may want to pull up some of his posts or PM him. I just never had as good of groups with it as I have had with X-Terminator, AA2230, H322, or RL10. Just a thought. Good luck buddy,
Jim D

Yes, Darkker raves. ...uh, about CFE223, I mean!

Ive used it just a very little, too. It seems to work fine. Haven't actually tried many powders in my 204. It's at a 'smith for now, so sadly I'm not able to shoot it during the outstanding weather this time of year (I'm in southern AZ). :-/

MZ5, roger that! Why is your gun sick? Hope it gets well soon.
JD

Thanks. It shoots ok, but I want it to shoot really well.

Thanks for all the great information

I have a savage 12 vlp. Same action and barrel. Im using 31g and 31.8g with nosler 32g varmageddons. Hornady brass cci 450 primers Both will do 1/4" at 100. I worked up very slowly to 31.8. This is well above maximums so be aware.

Thanks for the info

I have found that 28.7 CFE223 over rem 7 1/2 primers at 2.3 coal works well with 39SBK and any 40r pill in all three of my .204's

Thank you.