Favorite Loads

Share information about reloading the .204 Ruger.
randyman
Senior Member
Posts: 228
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2016 1:04 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: .204 on AR platform, .20 Vartarg built from Rem. 700 SA
Location: Butte and Lassen counties in Northern Calif.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by randyman »

Hey there neighbor-I was born and raised in the "ville" but now live in Durham. Graduated LP in '72 and my brother was the advertising mgr. at RCBS for many years. I have a good selection of their equipment and am just getting back into reloading. Bought a Tikka T3 Hunter in .204 with a Vortex Viper 6.5-20-50mm scope. I got it tuned up with factory 32 gr. on Sunday and shot a couple ground squirrels shortly after. Randy
User avatar
brooksb
Senior Member
Posts: 181
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:34 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M12 FV
Location: up date, we sold in Ca, we are house hunting.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by brooksb »

Whoa, small world neighbor I also have an almost 100% RCBS setup. I grew up north of Redding and then lived/worked in Idaho then Trinity, Siskiyou counties before coming to Butte. I have a 22lr, 17hmr and 22-250 I shoot squeakers with but without a spotter it's hard to consistently see your shots hence the .204 that i'm waiting for. You'll have to stop by I'm on the corner of Wilbur rd/162.
randyman
Senior Member
Posts: 228
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2016 1:04 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: .204 on AR platform, .20 Vartarg built from Rem. 700 SA
Location: Butte and Lassen counties in Northern Calif.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by randyman »

I drive by a few times a year to use the boat ramp there. It's hard sometimes to see your hits without a spotter with the .204. I shot a couple last weekend out towards Pasquenta-one I didn't even know I hit it till my partner said so, the other I saw flopping on the ground and knew it was a head shot. I also have a .17 HMR but it's boxed up and headed back to Henry for repairs again. I probably won't shoot it till next spring when the squirrels come out up by Eagle Lake. My .204, I plan to try working up a load I can use effectively out to around 200-250 where my .17 can't reach.
User avatar
brooksb
Senior Member
Posts: 181
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:34 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M12 FV
Location: up date, we sold in Ca, we are house hunting.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by brooksb »

I talked to an avid shooter who has accurate loads, according to him, that are near the bottom of the load range and he states he can see his hits? My 17 is a CZ 455 Combo 22lr and .17 the 17 is very good out to about 120 or more with Vortex crossfire 4-12 I use the moa hash marks after that, but low percentage for sure after 150. I heard several references to shooting near Eagle Lake off HWY139, a big group of us hits opening at Eagle each year, i shoot either up at McDol, but mostly Bieber and sometimes Alturas and Cedarville.
User avatar
SShooterZ
Junior Member
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:23 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ 527 Varmint - Savage 12 w/ Custom PacNor 1:11

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by SShooterZ »

Hi brooksb, I used BL-C(2) with 32gr SBKs with great success in my Savage 12V when it still had the original barrel.
User avatar
brooksb
Senior Member
Posts: 181
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:34 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M12 FV
Location: up date, we sold in Ca, we are house hunting.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by brooksb »

OK thanks, SShooterZ I'll keep that as I have several pounds of that powder.
randyman
Senior Member
Posts: 228
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2016 1:04 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: .204 on AR platform, .20 Vartarg built from Rem. 700 SA
Location: Butte and Lassen counties in Northern Calif.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by randyman »

I haven't reloaded any of my 204's yet but bought some Varget powder and have the Hornadey 32 grain bullets to use with the Remington 7-1/2 primers. Can't wait to see how they shoot.
randyman
Senior Member
Posts: 228
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2016 1:04 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: .204 on AR platform, .20 Vartarg built from Rem. 700 SA
Location: Butte and Lassen counties in Northern Calif.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by randyman »

There's an error in my previous post-I don't have Hornadey bullets they're Nosler's 32 gr. Varmageddon and 32 gr. Ballistic tip.
McGee68
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2015 1:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage 12 Varminter Low Profile Single Shot .204

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by McGee68 »

Been running the Sierra 39 gn BK. with 27 grains of H335, CCI #450 primer .010" off the lands. 100 yard target :)

Image
dan97526
Senior Member
Posts: 109
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:21 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper M21, Cooper 38 20VT, CZ 17H
Location: Grants Pass, State of Jefferson (formerly Oregon)

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by dan97526 »

Welcome aboard, McGee68.

Nice groups there.

May I ask, what is the software you're using?

Best wishes,
Dan
MZ5
Senior Member
Posts: 106
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:57 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M77 Hawkeye Predator
Location: Arizona, USA

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by MZ5 »

It's called OnTarget
(I'm not McGee68, but I know the software... :) )
McGee68
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2015 1:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage 12 Varminter Low Profile Single Shot .204

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by McGee68 »

You are correct.. OnTarget :D
jimf
New Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 4:44 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: t/c venture

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by jimf »

Hornady brass, sierra 39 gr. bk, 27.0 imr 4895, rem 7 1/2 primer, oal 2.315. .316 group
User avatar
brooksb
Senior Member
Posts: 181
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:34 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M12 FV
Location: up date, we sold in Ca, we are house hunting.

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by brooksb »

I settled on 28.3 grs of BL-C (2) W/32gr Vmax, 71/2 primers, a mix of brass and an OAL, of 2.305" This is a real low charge but I get 3750fps still and I used it all last summer probably 500 to 600 shots at squeaks.
I'm still working on this but 26.8 grs of H4895 behind the 39gr SBK, same primers, mostly mixed brass and an OAL of 2.300 again, haven't Chrony'd it yet.
Iceland..
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 8:38 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage 12fcv

Re: Favorite Loads

Post by Iceland.. »

Savage fcv... best of it jet
Fed case Fed 205m Vmax 4o N-140 27.3 3/4”
Norma case 205m blz 39 N-140 27.6 3/4”
Norma case 205m blz 39 N-135 24.4 3/4”
Norma case 205m blz 39 N-135 25.5 3/4”
and one 3 shoot .095

safe and no pressure sign in my gun
Post Reply