extreme range 600 to 1000 yds

[varget204]

Fordevr,Awsome group . looks like a 1/3 moa to me. Why reload?,I have not seen a factory load i could not beat in 204.Shells about 1/4 th the cost.Your gtoups got me thinking,i have about 1/2 a box of Nosler 40 grainers left;i've never shot them out of my krieger or criterion barrels,i may have to load some.It's been 10 years since i shot any factory loads.what kind of velocity are you getting w/ the Federals?.I just might have to make room in my gun safe for a Tikka varget204

[Fordevr]

Tried to chrony the other day but buddies chrony was being tempermental. Box says 3650fps.
The crazy part about reloading is I have most of the stuff but just never get around to it. Once I start I will be addicted. I have a buddy that shoots professionally in FClass and I really need to take advantage of his knowledge. I’m a little discouraged today. After that amazing group the ballistics chart needed reloading and lost the load. Now I can’t get it to match up. I swear it said 14 moa at 663 yards but when I re-input the data it says closer to 13moa and I can’t get it back to 14 no matter what. I shot two more today and with it being cooler they were probably 11inches lower which makes sense but the ballistic calculator is saying otherwise...sooo frustrating.

[varget204]

When it gets cooler your drops will change.Back in june when it was 95 + degrees i was getting a lot less drop .The charts are only a starting guide,altitude ,temp,humidity all make a difference.Does you chart let you input altitude,temp,etc.The books say tail wind ,faster velocity,head wind slower; I have found with the little bullets I always get higher groups in a headwind & lower w/tailwind.You can keeo a record of different wind,temps.It will help you.I plotted every shot i've shot for the last 10 years.My scopes are Sightron 8-32x56 mil dot w/1/4 moa adjustments.My normal drop at 600 is 9.2 thats 38 clicks x1.5"@600=57".I've had days ihad to dial 10-10.2.The difference between 600 and 650 is around 15-16" add another 13yds add a couple more.You can always shoot 1 -2 rounds and determine what your drop and wind call will be before you shoot a group.Don't get discouraged,don't let Anybody tell you its impossible; you can do it;it just takes practice.Hope this helps.I almost forgot to mention keep track of how hot your barrel gets,If you leave a round in a hot chamber 10-15 second you will usually get 6-12" higher shot. The 7 second rule;when you chamber a round pull the shot in 7-8 seconds. varget204

[Jim White]

RIO,Jim White,you ask why i shoot 40 grain bullets at 1000 yards.Its really simple Because I CAN.

I don't recollect asking, I mentioned; "other than shooting paper I'm scratching my head" or words to that effect, merely pointing out the differences in shooting paper or other fixed targets versus shooting varmints. Some folks [like me] have competition experience as well as long range critter shooting. They're both challenging in different ways but both can keep your marksmanship skills sharpened. My only question to you would be; have you tried the Sierra 39SBK at those differences and if so, how did they compare?

For me, my forte was Service Rifle competition and at the time, the only allowable choices were the 03-A3 Springfield, M1 Garand, M14 or the AR-15 (A1 & A2 only) with USGI style open sights only; front & rear. Distances were 100 yards to 1000 yards and the targets were for the most part 10-point targets but on occasion we shot the 5V targets. Either way, the front sight takes up pretty much the whole which is probably target frame which is around 72" x 72", give or take. If you want a challenge, try using a glass bedded rack grade M1 Rifle (Garand) with a good USGI barrel in either 308 or 30.06 and give it a go, in prone with a sling only; no bi-pods or other support methods. It's fun, maybe even frustrating, but it beats pulling weeds in the yard.

Your groups with your 204 are-not all that surprising to me as I previously mentioned and as a caliber, I too am pleasantly surprised at how accurate this little round can be out there at that distance. Maybe even F-Class accurate; who knows.

[varget204]

Yes i have tried 39 blitz king .I got just under 1/2 moa groups A 600 was a horizon group 1 1/2 high.got about 1/2 moa at 700 .have not got hits at 800 and beyond.The B.C. is listed as .287,the 40 v-max as .275.I think Sierra over states B.C. They don't perform as well as the 40 v=max.I am loading the B King at 3800 fps so i don't think its a velocity issue.They shoot about 6" lower at 600 and about 8-10" lower than the v-max.If i can get lucky and get a calm day[ its almost always blowing 5-10 mph here].I shooting at 1100 feet altitude.I'm probably going to try them again at 700 and beyond.I posted a picture today of a group shot at 100 yard with the 39 bk. I've shot multiple groups at 100 under .2 moa.My 40 grain loads show approx 350 foot pounds at 600 ,more than enough to wack a coyote. about 120 foot pounds at 1000 yards.A prairie dog {SKIPPY] better be wearing an armored vest I think with either of my rifles 700 is about max on a coyote. IN a previous text you mentioned 220 swift.I looked up data for 52 HP M.K. at 6000 feet at 3800 fps bc of .225 at 3800 fps which is about max bullet vel was going sub sonic at about 825-850 yds. The 40 v-max at 1100 feet goes sub sonic at 1000+.Will post some 1000 yard groups tomorrow.I barley got today's pictures in b-4 the library closed. On a light wind day Varmints are in DEEP DO-DO up to 1000 yards. varget204

[Jim White]

I was just curious with the 39gr-SBK because many find them less temperamental than 40 gr-VMAX in factory barrels. Neither of my R700 w/factory tubes shoot the sufficient enough for me but my CZ-527 will. I do have a few Nosler 40 grain pills but haven't tried them. I find it odd of the flexibility of the 39-SBK over the 40-Hornady because IIRC the bearing surface on the 39 is longer than the 40 by a few thousands.

As far as the 220-Swift, It was a 800-point aggregate (80-shots) and he only lost 2-x's all day. Knowing this individual like I do, I imagine the loads were on the warm side because if it would seem if one gets much over 55 grains or so, the short comings of the 14 twist could come in to play in a negative way.

I can say this for sure; when looking through the spotting scope behind the shooter, the vapor trail to the target was like a laser; not much of an ARC at all.

[varget204]

Had 2 savage barrels,1 Hvy Varmint,1 lt varmint both 1 in 12" both shot 39's in the .1's and .2's,never shot extreme ranges w them. The best groups were w the 40 v-max .058,.062. Shot 1/4 moa w/ the lt varmint 24" at 300, 400,500 & 600; at that time never thought about going farther. My Krieger & Criterion are 1 in 11 -26'' Have shot multiple groups under.2 moa w/39's .At 100 yards 39's are fairly even w/ the v-max; not at distance so far. will redo 39's,last 4-5 times i shot them it was blowing 9-15.Ya never know on the 23rd i shot a couple groups 1/4 moa at 600 w/gusts to 14.4 mph w/ the v-max; don't know how,took forever trying to wait between gusts.There's a range called BIG PINEY in Houston,MO a couple of hours from here.They have cement benches,The range i shoot on has homemade wood benches .Sure would like to find out what i could do on a dead solid bench.All my groups are off Harris BRM bipods.

[Blockcaver]

I see comments on shooting coyotes at 600 yards with a .204 and prairie dogs at 1000 yards. Based on personal experience with the .204 shooting 39 gr SBK at about 3800 fps it is "out of power" at 550 yards. I shot one prairie dog at that range and the Sierra bullet pencilled thru, tipping the dog over but without expansion. (Similar to .17 HMR performance on a 265 yard shot I made once). Not what you really want even though it can work. There are much more effective bullet/cartridge combos for over 500 yard varmint shooting.

[Rick in Oregon]

There are much more effective bullet/cartridge combos for over 500 yard varmint shooting.

What he said. That mirrors my experience with the 204R in my four rifles.

[robert w.]

Im sticking with 350 yards max out of my 204r. More power is needed i get my 22-250.

[varget204]

Looked up data for 39 Blitz King at 1100 ft elevation,bullet energy is about 400 foot pounds at 550 yards.Someone shooting 20 VT,with 32 grain bullets at 3700 fps have around 400-408 ft pounds of energy at 300 yards,If they can wack a prairie dog at 300 yds,why would a bigger bullet not wack one w,400 ft pounds or more of energy.I have not advocated people shooting over 5-600 yards at varmints, be they p-dogs rats,crows etc.As far as Coyotes, the 39 B.King would not be my choice of bullet.Don Unmussig makes custom bullets in .20 cal up to 60 grains.Would i shoot at a prairie dog at 1000 yards? [YES} on a light wind day,if he was in the open and i knew what was behind him.I'm not recommending people shoot that far at animals; but I shoot thousands of 204 ruger rounds a year,for 2018 to be exact 4231 shells. What is Practical for me is not for most.Would i shoot a Coyote at 5-600 yards,IN a HEART BEAT,unless conditions warranted otherwise.If a person does not shot at 3,4,5,600 yards or farther on a regular basis,they Should Not be Shooting at paper or fur or feathers.If one gives paper targets Warning Shots,they diffinately should NOT If one has not Shot at 500 to 1000 yards at paper or steel targets w a 204 ruger ,they should not complain or whine about someone who does,because they do not know what they are talking about.On calm days the 204 ruger competes w/most guns up to 600 yards.ANY Moderator,ANY Member can contact Rolling HIlls Rifle and Pistol club in Macks Creek ,MO.The number is on their web site.The Owner has shot both my rifles,i gave him permission to answer any questions of my groups or questions about my rifles.I also have friends,some are some of the BEST Shooters in MISSOURI Tactical Steel Challange who have witnessed my groups.My offer is still on, When it warms up,Any member who lives around or is passing through Macks Creek,mo is welcome to be my Guest at the range.They can shoot whatever they want to 1100 yds,including my 204's to 1000 yards.If you think you are a Hot Shot and your NOT bring lots of cash,Remember what the Lone Ranger said,I LOAN SILVER AWAY varget204