204Ruger

I thought that it would be great for new users coming to this web site to see what loads forum members found to be best for hunting or accuracy. This would give them a list of loads that they could work up to.

If possible please include:

Gun used, Bullet (brand & weight), Case, Primer, Velocity, Accuracy, Range temp when tested. Also indicate if these loads were maximum in your gun so that others would know they need to start lower and work up to them.

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CZ527 Varmint. Barrel length of 25.6 inches. Chronograph was set 10 feet from the muzzle. All range temperatures were between 71 and 95 degrees F. Both of the loads below are listed as maximum according to the various reloading references. I started with powder charges 1.5 to 2 grains lower and worked up to them.

32 Sierra BK, 27.5 grains of H322, Hornady case, Federal 205m primer, velocity was 4031 fps and accuracy .4@100 yds. The 32 grain Hornady Vmax with the same load shot in the 5's. I shot the same load in Winchester cases and got 4107 fps and the same accuracy as the Hornady brass. Accuracy and point of impact has remained consistant even at 95 degrees F. using either brand of brass.

39 Sierra BK, 30.0 BL-C(2), Hornady case, Federal 205m primer, velocity was 3815 fps and accuracy .4@100.

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TC Encore. Barrel length of 26 inches. Chronograph was set 10 feet from the muzzle. All range temperatures were between 80 and 91 degrees F. The loads listed below is a good working maximum in the Encore. I started with powder charges 1.5 to 2 grains lower and worked up to it.

34 grain Midsouth HP, 27.9 grains of H4895, Winchester case, Remington 7.5 primer, 3991 fps with four five shot groups average of .449 at 100 yards. By far the most accurate load in this gun.

A couple of items about this bullet:

1) it has a fairly low BC (.149). Not the best for windy days, but should be fine for most eastern hunting. I will take 100 loaded rounds on a PD hunt soon and report back here if it works at extended ranges.

2) it can be loaded close to the lands in the Encore with substantial amount of the bullet in the case. When measured with a Sinclair tool maximum OAL was 2.326. I am loading it to 2.300. I would sure recommend that if tried in any gun that you check to see what your maximum OAL is with this bullet.

I would have to say my best accuracy load was 27.5grs of BLC-2 with a Rem 7 1/2 in Hornady brass with the 32gr V-Max. Simply made a small cloverleaf at 100yds. 24" barrel gave up 3727fps on a brisk calm 30 degree day. I settled on the 39gr BK @ 3780fps. This load is over the Sierra max. 28grs of H4895. WSR primers & 2.300". ES is 56.78fps & it is good for 3/4" ar 200yds.

Remington VLS. Shilen SS #8 heavy bull - 26". Freefloated and glass bedded. Bushnell 4200 6x24x40 mildot.

The goal is not top speed. This is a prairie dog gun that weighs 15 pounds. Looking for loads I can shoot 100 an hour and not worry about barrel heating. I've settled on:

32 VMAX - Winchester case - Remington 7 1/2 BR primer - Benchmark at 26.4 grains - OAL 2.312.....Chrony's at 3870. 100 yd 5 shot groups average 3/8". Hodgdon data is 26.0 to 28.0.

40 VMAX - Hornady case - Remington 7 1/2 BR primer - BL -C(2) at 29.0 - OAL 2.312......Speed 3700. 100 yard 5 shot groups average 1/2". Hodgdon data is 28.0 to 30.0.

The first couple hundred shots were loaded to 2.245 OAL. Shot OK, but not great. Worked up in length to 2.300 and longer, and that is where the real tight groups started to come together. I'd make them longer, but they won't fit in the magazine. Also tested 322 and 335, as well as some with Winchester primers. But those were 2.245 OAL.

Update 1-4-06

Shot nearly 2000 204 rounds at prairie dogs last summer. The 40 VMax in 204 beats 40 and 50 grainers in 223 or 22/250. Not even close. So much more fun. Much less wind drift, bullet drop. Can see your shots land. The splat factor is ridiculous. The 32 Vmax shoots a lot like a 40 in 223, but with less smack on target. Don't see any reason to load them over a 40.

This fall I rebarrelled a Howa Varmint 223 with another Shilen #8 in 204! Life is too short to shoot a 223 at prairie dogs when you could be shooting a 204.

If an when you start to get your loads close to the maximum, you should consider using primers with thick cups. The Federal 205M IS NOT one of the primers with the thickest cup available. The three primers available for small rifle with the thickest cups are: CCI 450, CCI BR-4, and Remington 7 1/2. Using a primer with a thick cup may just save you from some blowback through a pierced primer.

Be safe and go with the primer with the thickest cup you can find when you start messing around with loads on the upper end of the powder charge weight scale.

My most accurate load to date is 29.7 gr BL-C(2) and Sierra 39 gr. BlitzKings. The 40 gr. V-Maxes shoot almost as well. I get good velocity with this load as well.

The best coyote load I have found is 28 grains of H4895 with the 35 Grain Berger match bullets.3950 fps muzzle velocity,and .4 inch groups.GOOD SHOOTING Chad

I've been visiting for a while and just joined. Dont get to the range as much as i would like so still devoloping loads.

I use ADI 2206H powder which i think is sold up there as 4895.

first set of loads with 40gn Vmax wouldnt group. Tried the 39gn Blitzking and 27.8 gns (which got off a post on this site). Loaded out to just fit the magazine of the ruger VT. One flier about a cm away and four holes touching. 28gns gave same four holes touching with flier slightly closer (100m range). Vmax didnt start grouping until over max at 28.3 gns and better at 28.5.

Totally agree with call on primers. First tried Winchester small rifle and firing pin hole was severe dent even on starting loads. Now use Rem 7 1/2 Benchrest primer with no such cratering problem.

Only had time to field test loads once. Got a crow at 200 paces with the 39gn BK and 28gn load and used 40 gn Hornady factory and same BK load to cull some roos and hares. Maybe just the way the shots landed but the Vmax seemed to make bigger holes and knock down the roos much more emphatically.

Started life in Northern Ireland and first job was in the police force ( think thats where the gun bug started). Been in Oz since age 21 (39 now) and really enjoy hearing from you guys in US

Trevort-- Welcome Aboard. It's good to have an international flavor here. We have a few different parts of the world represented here & am glad to report that everybody here in my opinion is a good guy. Always some good info in everbodies posts & am waiting for your reports from down under.

Rifle: Savage Model 12FV
Case: Any
Case length: 1.84"
Cartridge OAL: 2.25"
Bullet: 40gr. V-Max
Powder: 30gr. BL-C(2)
Primer: Federal 205M
Velocity 10ft from muzzle: 3800-3810fps
Accuracy: .2" or less at 100yds.
Best 3x group with this load: .102" @ 200yds.

If you use the 40gr berger hpbt moly in this load with a 2.35" OAL the velocity will be in the 3750-3760fps range and the accuracy will be slightly worse but still shoot well.

I would like to see some more "Pet Loads" listed here. I know there's more out there.


I'm beginning to like the Re10X load of 25.1grs under a 40gr Berger HP lit by a Rem 7 1/2 for 3650fps. Ran out of good weather this fall but have some loaded for the spring.

cz-527 21.9'barrel
win cases, rem 7.5 primers
35 berger, col 2.27
31 Blc2 [overmax/hodgen data]
temp-50's
vel - 3860
2-200yd 5 shot grps ave. 1.28"

Rifle Cooper M 21 SVR
Scope Leupold 6.5x20 VX-3
Best Loads To Date
32 grn Sierra COL 2.320
Rem 71/2
Reloader 10X 26.2 grns
Velocity 4120fps 10 ft from muzzle
5 shots @ 100 yds went into .268"
Case Remington

32 grn V-Max COL 2.230
Rem 71/2
Reloader 10X 26.2 grns
Velocity 4105 fps 10 ft from muzzle
5 shots @ 100yds at .352"
case Hornady

Have not yet used the Sierras on prairie dogs, but the splatter factor with the V-max was very high. Just about as good as my 6mmBR with 55 grn Noslers at 3810fps. I think the sierras will be better than the Hornadys. Just bought some Nosler 40 grns, and am looking for some load data for them. Any help will be welcome. Thanks

Savage VLP 26" barrel >

27.8g H-4895, 40 v-max, RemBR primer = -3900fps

26.2g RL 10X, 40 v-max, Rem BR primer = 3900fps

26.4g RL 10X, 39g Blitz King, Rem BR primer = 4000 fps

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CZ American 22" barrel >

26.4g RL 10X, 39g Blitz King, Rem BR primer = 3825 fps

28.0g H-322, 32g V-Max, WSR primer = 4050 fps

Remington 700 VLS
40 v-max 25.2 RE10X .5 group
39 blitz 22.5 IMR-4198 .5 group
both with CCI 400 primers
and winchester brass

Still experimenting with loads for my .204 Encore (only 140 rounds total to date), but have several shooting 0.5 to 0.6". My tightest group yet has been 0.34" with 39 gr. Blitzking over 25.5 gr. of Benchmark, CCI-BR4 primer, new Win. cases, and OAL of 2.365". Haven't checked any with chrono yet, as still looking for most accurate loads. This Encore barrel shooting better and more consistant than previous 22-250 barrel and have been pleasantly surprised! Sold the 22-250 barrel and replaced with Tikka Varmint thats a real tack driver; now have best of both worlds!