204Ruger

I just picked up a CZ 527 Varmint in .204. The gun really intrigued me. I reload for most of my guns but am starting with factory ammo in this rifle to get a brass stash and a somewhat baseline of what to start with I have 32 and 40 grain nosler ballistic tips, and 32 and 40 grain hornady superformance vmax. My question is does anyone have experience with this gun as how many fouling shots do I need between groups, also does anyone have any good handload info for the CZ.

Iv got the same gun. Mine likes reloder 10x, h4895, and accurate 2230. Pet load is with sierra 39gr blitz king. 24.8gr of reloder 10x, cci br4 primer, and oal of 2.300" which just fits in the magazine, chrono around 3825-3850. 32gr blitz kings, over i believe off top my head 26.0gr 10x is a shooter too around 4100fps through chrono. 35gr bergers shoot well with accurate 2230 but cant remember load without looking.

Hornady brass with the 32 blitz king load, norma for the others

I usually just use one fouling round before a group with my CZ. Gun loves hornady 32 grain factory loads!!!!

Fouling shots are usually only necessary after cleaning your barrel. The first few shots on a clean bore may not hit the same POI as later shots once the barrel becomes sooted. You should take as many as necessary for your groups to tighten up, with no fliers. JMO, YMMV.

Pertaining to same fun same caliber. I picked up the same thing a while back. One of the guys in the shop knew the history on the rifle. Had been shot very little. All factory ammo. Yet, I was told the throat was long in it. Anyone else have this? I don't know what year it was made but is marked 1-12" if that helps.

I have not shot this yet but have a few ladder loads worked up for it an another 204 as well.
I went with suggested OAL on bullets. Figured if I could find the node I would tweak OAL later.

I pretty much gave up on narrowing down powders to two or three. About the same on bullets. The 32's sure seem to have a love hate relationship.
Powders I have lined up to try, Varget,10X,4895,CFE223, 8208 and bench mark.
Bullets, Nosler 35hp and 32 and 40 Vmax.
I read some guys having terrible luck with the HP of any kind, then read some more and some will say they are fine.

How critical is c.o.a.l. with the 204?

Once you find a recipe that your rifle likes you should try different seating depths (COAL). It's that critical. Some rifles like different seating depths. Just don't exceed the MINIMUM seating length. Seating a bullet too deep may raise internal pressures past safe limits.