Little disappointed...

[Blacktail]

Got a 700 sps, 24" snout, shoots great with the hornady 32's. The hornady 40's shoot about 4".. Anyhow chrono'd the 32's, advertised 4225 fps, mine averaged 3650!! This common with factory fodder in the 204? Later

[Glen]

That's about right for most rifles with the 40's for sure, The velocity does seem way too low for the 32's. Should be much closer to 4000.

[TwentyBore]

Yes, it is quite common, Hornady 40-grainers can be tough.

If you can swing it, try the 39-grain Sierras. And try them over RE-10x, if you have it.

[toasty]

Anyhow chrono'd the 32's, advertised 4225 fps, mine averaged 3650!! This common with factory fodder in the 204? Later

I would bet it was your chrono, you might be 50 fps lower, but no way your 600 fps down. Try a different day or a different chrono.

[PDog Rex]

I have the same gun, Remington 700 SPS in .204 caliber, I have tried all kinds of powders and bullets. This spring I scored some Hodgdon Varget!
Loaded up some Hornady 32 grain ZMax (zombie max) with 28 grains of Varget. It shoots 1/2 inch group at 100 yards, that is my "go to" powder. It is hard to find at times. Have never chrono'd these but the reloading data shows about 3700 fps.

Rex

[Blacktail]

Anyhow chrono'd the 32's, advertised 4225 fps, mine averaged 3650!! This common with factory fodder in the 204? Later

I would bet it was your chrono, you might be 50 fps lower, but no way your 600 fps down. Try a different day or a different chrono.

Well I thought the same. My 6.5/06 AI was $$$ for speed. Sooo we chrono'd my gunsmiths kimber 204, with said ammo, averaged 3600!!! Different lot of ammo too. So, has anybody chrono'd any 32 gr factory fodder that'll reach 4 grand? To busy to start load work up before my Montana trip. Thanks

[Silverfox]

Blacktail--My Savage 12VLP in .204 Ruger was purchased from Red Rock Sporting Goods in Miles City, MT on June 3, 2004. This Savage 12VLP has a 26" barrel compared to your 24" barrel so you might lose anywhere from 20 to 80 fps with the 2" shorter barrel. I purchased 15 boxes of 32 gr. V-Max Hornady factory ammo when I purchased the rifle. I didn't receive my bases and rings until the next week, but then I started testing the 32 gr. V-Max Hornady factory ammo. I spent some time adjusting the scope to get the point of impact to hit 1 inch high at 100 yards. I set my Chrony Beta Master chronograph up and shot some of the factory loads over that on June 22, 2004. It was 57º during my first 5-shot test and those shots averaged 4,041 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle. The temperature during the next 5-shots was 62º and the average speed of those shots was 4,079 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle. I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't getting the advertised 4,225 fps too.

The next time I shot factory ammo over the chronograph was on August 20, 2004. I shot a string of 10 rounds and the temperature when I started was 70º. I waited about 30 seconds between shots, but didn't let the barrel cool down completely. The lowest speed round hit 4,128 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle and the fastest round hit 4,193 fps. The average velocity for the 10 shots was 4,160 fps.

My next test over the chronograph with factory 32 gr. V-Max loads was on August 30, 2004. It was 85º when tested a 6-shot string over the chronograph. The lowest velocity was 4,154 fps and the fastest round hit 4,229 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle!!! The average velocity of those six shots was 4,192 fps at 12 feet from the muzzle. Factoring in the chronograph was 12 feet from the muzzle, the actual muzzle velocity was probably somewhere around 4,210 fps--my best guesstimate!

I don't think many .204 Ruger shooters were able to get the advertised 4,225 fps from the 32 gr. V-Max factory rounds. So, don't be too disappointed. I do think that the 3,650 fps sounds pretty slow even for the factory ammo though. My 12VLP muzzle velocity increased as I got more rounds down the tube. Maybe your rifle will pick up some velocity as you fire more rounds??? If you get great accuracy with 3,650 fps, BE HAPPY!!!

[Bill K]

Do not believe any of us can really, honestly get the FPS the companies do and post on their products. They use enclosed pressure actions and barrels most of the time, in laboratories and not rifles as we do in the real world. But we can sure come close, with proper reloads. But still safety first, then accuracy, then FPS should be the order of the day. At least my thought/opinion. Bill K

[hemiallen]

Got a 700 sps, 24" snout, shoots great with the hornady 32's. The hornady 40's shoot about 4".. Anyhow chrono'd the 32's, advertised 4225 fps, mine averaged 3650!! This common with factory fodder in the 204? Later

Yep, some 204's won't do well with the 40 grain bullets.

I would be suspicious of your chronograph or setup. Shoot a 22lr through it before re- chronographing the 204-32 ammo. If the 22 lr is close to the package suggests for velocity, it well could be the 204 ammo is slower than advertised. I haven't shot a factory 204 round of ammunition, but something doesn't sound right, and chronograph's can be picky for lighting, and inaccurate.

Allen