lets talk powder.....

[jo191145]

Just stopping by after a long hiatus. See how the old crew is doing.
Powder, one of my favorite topics. So important in the 204 to find consistent accuracy.
Ol W-748 was my go to for creating enough carbon to stop copper fouling. 35 Berger’s did well. I’d put over 500 rounds through that barrel in a season without cleaning. Consistent fouling, just enough, not too much.
Most accurate load I ever found was in one Sav barrel that liked Benchmark and 40g Berger’s. Going slow at 3550fps. That particular tube and slightly modified factory gun would agg under .25 moa @ 200 yards. Better than my PPC.
Have fun y’all.

[Bill K]

received_10213565895955929.jpeg (44.56 KiB) Viewed 16178 times

My 204R thrives on CFE 223 and the 32 grain lead free Nosler bullet, tipped. Bill K

[McGee68]

5 shots with my Savage yesterday. sunny, 45 degrees and 10-15 mph wind at 200 yards. 39 grain sierra w/25 grains of h322

[skipper]

Now that's some shooting. You should try the annual postal competition.

[McGee68]

Thanks Skipper! I was running a ladder test and this group just popped up. It was my last test for that powder for the day. More with this load to be tried

What is and were is this postal competition held? Always looking to enjoy meeting new friends and shooting

[skipper]

Do some lurking in the Competition Section of the forum. It's our Annual 5 Shot Postal Competition. BillK won last year with one of the best groups we have ever witnessed since the competition started over ten years ago.

[pbeaudet]

I am using 30.0 gr CFE223 behind a 32 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip (lead free) for 4200 fps in my Savage Model 110.

[dwinmeade]

FELLOWS,

I finally found my 204 Ruger load...25.0 gr of 10X, with a 35 gr Berger HPFB. (22" barrel, 5R, 10 twist) It's shooting .1444 on my good days and .2157 on the other days. It's dialed in at 1" high @ 100 yards.

Because I found the start of this load on a forum AND there is no load data beween 10x vs 204 Ruger, I have no idea of the velocity to plugin a ballistics program for down range drop. The 10x website shows no 204 Ruger usage...what do they know, right?

Can anyone help me pin point the velocity, maybe the starting energy foot/lbs too on 25.0 gr of 10X, with a 35 gr Berger HPFB?

FYI...my second best load that I found is...24.6 gr of 10x, with a 39 gr Sierra BK.

FYI...my third best load is...26.5 gr of H4895, with 35 gr Berger HPFB.

Thanks,

Don

[varmit_master]

My tc venture 204 predator model likes

H4895
RL10
Tac. Thats the only powder i have used. I have enough of the 3. I wont have to worry about running out. I also have benchmark and varget .

[bronad]

I can't help w the 10x question, but my 204 shoots CFE223 and the charge I came up with SOLO for the 32gr Nosler NL's is within 1/10 gr of Bill K's load that took 1st & 2nd place in last comp. Benchmark is every bit as good with same freedom pills, just didnt have much and now after shooting GS's and RC's all spring I'm about out of the CFE.

[Bill K]

CFE223 works great in the 204R. Start around 28.5 and work up into the area of 29.3. You should find a very fine load. 32 grain bullet, by the way.

[Guy M]

A fellow just gave me a pound of H322. According to Hodgdon, it looks like a good match for the 204 Ruger and a variety of bullet weights.

Anyone here with experience loading H322 in the 204 Ruger?

Thanks, Guy

[Rick in Oregon]

A fellow just gave me a pound of H322. According to Hodgdon, it looks like a good match for the 204 Ruger and a variety of bullet weights.

Anyone here with experience loading H322 in the 204 Ruger?

Thanks, Guy

It'll work Guy, but it's a bit on the fast side for the 204 case. It works great in the 221FB, 17M4 and other small cases. There's loads for the 204, but it's just not an optimal powder for this application. H335 is much better, and my standard for all my 223's.

[Guy M]

Thanks!

Another fellow told me that he loves H322 in, of all things, his 45-70 Marlin! I hadn't thought of that application at all. According to Hodgdon there are several suitable loads with H322 for the 45-70... Perhaps this pound of powder will go for making Big Holes in the target, instead of little ones!

Regards, Guy

[jwsmith1959]

I've tried a couple of loads with BLC-2, H335, H and IMR 4895, Varget, RL15. I finally got my hands on some CFE 223 and it has by far out performed every other powder I tried. I had groups from 0.70 to 1.4 inches with most of those powders and my first try with the CFE 223 produced great groups out of the following bullets. 32 gr. Varmaggedon, V-max, 39 gr. Blitzking, and 40 gr. V-max. My best was the 32 gr. V-Max.

Here is one of my practice targets for the 5 on a dime challenge. I am shooting a Stock Ruger M77 MK II, heavy stainless. I'm not sure how cleanliness played a part as I had given it a good copper scrub about 50 rounds before this group was shot. It did take a few shots before it tightened up, but I only got to this when I switched to the CFE powder and the 32 gr. bullet.

I wish you luck.