204Ruger

Hi everyone,

I recently took up hand loading as I purchased a new Howa 1500 in .204R. I have been trying different loads and can not get groups under 1 inch. In fact my group sizes don't seem to vary much at all. I am a confident and experienced shooter, so I don't believe it is my ability holding it back. My local gun shop pro has had two of these in 204 and can't figure out what is wrong either. We have checked all stock and scope screws, checked the barrel with a bore scope and I have tried different hand loads without luck. So can you guys please give me some ideas on what else I can do to figure this out please? It's frustrating me to no end!

My next plan is to try with my Night Force scope to eliminate the scope as the problem. I have also loaded some ammo with a OAL of 2.375 to make sure it isn't the cartridge length.

I will list the rifle specs and my load specs to give you some info to work from. All items are new and the barrel has fired 150-200 rounds (40 Hornady factory rounds and the rest my hand loads).

Howa 1500 Sporter (from memory) in 204
Boyds pro varmint stock, it has pillar bedding and the barrel is floating.
Vortex Viper HS-T 6-24x50

Norma brass
Remington primers
approx. 27 grains of ADI 2206H powder
39gr SBK
OAL 2.275

Thank you

Sounds like the bullets are the biggest problem. Most 204's won't shoot the 40 grain pills worth a darn. I am not familiar with ADI powders. I would try some 39gr. Sierra Blitz Kings. Also try varying your seating depth. My Howa loves the 39's. I did have to seat the bullets as close to the lands as possible, and still have approximately .165 bullet in the case. My rifle is a Varminter 1500. My loads consist of 24.7grs of RE10x powder, with Rem 7 1/2 primers, bullet seated at 1.980. OAL, with comparator. Looking at your OAL, you are not using a comparator. To get an idea of your optimum seating depth you will need a comparator. Other powders that the 204 seems to like, include, Benchmark, H4895, and some others that you will find in the favorite loads section on this forum. You will have to work out what your rifle likes. Keep us informed on your progress.

He is shooting 39gr sbk's......look further down.

Think I would try another powder and/or also play with the bullet seating, closer or just touching the lands, see what that does to the grouping. Most all the 204's will shoot the 39 SBK's, as you are using just fine. Also have you tried and compared their 32 gr SBK ? Bill K

Try 8208XBR i get awesome groups w/40 gn Vmax

Thanks everyone.

I am using the 39 grain SBKs.

I have loaded some that will be much closer to the loads. I purchased a comparator, but haven't had a chance to measure yet. Hopefully tonight. I haven't compared against the 32 grains, but I'll try the v-max that i already have first if this doesn't work.

Unfortunately ADI powder is the only easily obtainable powder here in Australia, but is has a good reputation. I'll leave that until last to change.

Thanks!

I don't hear too often that there is a poor shooting Howa so I'm a bit surprised.

Have you ladder tested and if so, do the groups open and close up at all or all pretty much look the same?

Hogden blc2 is very good and gives good velocity but I've personally found rl10x to the most accurate in my Howa! To be honest I loaded it as per loading manual for oal and it just worked! 25grains 3550fps job done!

ADI A2206h = Hogdon H4895

39 gr Sierra BK and Varget= .672 MOA at 375 yds.

32 gr Nosler Varmageddon and Accurate 2015+ .665 MOA at 375.

Both near 3700 fps. Don't remember grains at the moment. My previous .204 wouldn't shoot 39 Amax or 45 grain worth a darn. Love my Howa.

Thanks everyone. I had a gun smith take a look and it was a combination of the B&C stock needing bedding and the bolt handle touching the stock when down. I also addressed some parallax issues and am shooting clover leaves. Very happy it wasn't the action/barrels fault at all.

Cheers

Glad to hear you figured it out. I've not heard too many bad things about Howa and their shooting accuracy.