which powder

Share information about reloading the .204 Ruger.
User avatar
247sniper
Senior Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:26 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Custom .204 Ruger !

which powder

Post by 247sniper »

Hi guys, im going to reload for my new .204 when i arrives. Question is....cause I live on a Island its hard to get reloading stuff over here, so

If you had to choose one type of powder and basicly stick to it, what sums up best when accuracy, concistencey are basicly what I would be looking for?

I will most likely be using 39 SBK's or 40 grain V-Max's ( 1/11 twist barrel)

Any advise would be great guys

Cheers

Steve.
User avatar
wirelessguy2005
Senior Member
Posts: 663
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:59 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Custom 20 SCC, Savage LRPV 20 Nitro , Howa 1500 204 Ruger
Location: Indiana

Re: which powder

Post by wirelessguy2005 »

with the 39 and 40 grain bullets you will get the best results from H4895, Reloader 10x, or IMR 8208 xbr. Good luck and let us know what you decide on.
User avatar
futuretrades
Senior Member
Posts: 835
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:16 am
.204 Ruger Guns: HOWA 1500 .204 Ruger Varmint, Bull Bbl, Lupy 6-18x40 custom

Re: which powder

Post by futuretrades »

wirelessguy2005 wrote:with the 39 and 40 grain bullets you will get the best results from H4895, Reloader 10x, or IMR 8208 xbr.
As for the above powders, I do have a bit of experience with H4895 and RE10x. My pet loads are 39gr SBK's and RE10x, and for the 40gr bullets I have found a load with 40gr Vmax and H4895. My rifle is a 1-12 twist though, and I personally don't have any experience with IMR8208xbr. There are some shooters here using it and getting great results. I would not hesitate to listen to wirelessguy. He is a valuable member here, and I don't think he would steer you wrong.
Just my .02 cents.
NRA Benefactor Life member
HOWA 1500 Varmint 204 Ruger, Bull Barrel, Hogue Overmold Stock, Leupold VXII 6-18x40mm AO LRV Custom Reticle Timney Trigger
Cooper Mdl 21 20VarTargW/Leupold VXIII, 6-20x40AO Varmint Hunter reticle.
CV32
Junior Member
Posts: 82
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:17 am
Location: The Rock, Canada

Re: which powder

Post by CV32 »

H4895 has always been my "go to" powder for the 204. That said, I have also had success with Reloader 10X, W748, IMR 4895, and probably a couple of others I am forgetting. My latest experiments have been with XBR 8208, and they look very promising.
The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving. - Ulysses S. Grant (1822-85)
User avatar
Hedge
Senior Member
Posts: 248
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:52 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage model 12 FLV
Location: S. Central ND

Re: which powder

Post by Hedge »

I've been using H4895, H335 (very accurate but too temp. sensitive), 8208 XBR and just started some tests with Varget.

The 8208 is a sweet powder, giving me excellent results from 26gr. Barnes, 32 gr. Vmax and 40 gr. Vmax. Meters well and doesn't know a hot day from a cold one.

But, always one to experiment, I'm working on some Varget/40 gr Vmax loads. So far, even with a load range from 26.3 gr. to 26.9 gr. my groups run from .3 to .5 and back to .3 . A little tweaking on seating depth is the next step to finding that bug hole shooting load.
Savage 12 FCV .204 Ruger
Viper PST FFP 4-16x50

ImageImage
======
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" Sigmund Freud.
User avatar
Valar
Senior Member
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 4:07 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: AR-15

Re: which powder

Post by Valar »

10x for me and imr 4895 wich is so so similar to h4895 as Hogdon bought out IMR
User avatar
bow shot
Senior Member
Posts: 778
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:04 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Rock River Arms AR-15 Varminter
Location: Central NY: infested with liberal wack-jobs and their damage

Re: which powder

Post by bow shot »

It seems I'm the only one that likes Benchmark...

Its easy for me to get 0.5" with just about any bullet (40 Berger, 32 and 40 VMax, and 32 and 39 SBK) in my Savage w/ 1:12 26" barrel. I can print 0.3s with the Benchmark if I'm shooting well.

My AR (1:12, 24" barrel) was just as easy to get 0.5's out of also.
User avatar
kyyotestalker
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:02 am
.204 Ruger Guns: remington 700 sps varmint
Location: kentucky

Re: which powder

Post by kyyotestalker »

benchmark powder would be my powder of choice if i could only have one for 204 and even 223!
Where did that hit? I dont know aim alittle higher!
btlbrn
Junior Member
Posts: 94
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:43 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington XR-100
Location: S W desert USA

Re: which powder

Post by btlbrn »

bow shot wrote:It seems I'm the only one that likes Benchmark...

Its easy for me to get 0.5" with just about any bullet (40 Berger, 32 and 40 VMax, and 32 and 39 SBK) in my Savage w/ 1:12 26" barrel. I can print 0.3s with the Benchmark if I'm shooting well.

My AR (1:12, 24" barrel) was just as easy to get 0.5's out of also.
+1 for Benchmark.......Simply awesome for my xr-100 and 32 sbk's 0.3s if I do my part! :D
shooting fishing camping did I mention shooting??
Steve
User avatar
Joe O
Senior Member
Posts: 449
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 6:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage LRPV,Ruger K1V,G2 Contender
Location: Upstate SC

Re: which powder

Post by Joe O »

What Island? I would go to IMR 8208 XBR and not look back.No temperature problems (pressure),at all.Pours great,and burns clean.
User avatar
247sniper
Senior Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:26 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Custom .204 Ruger !

Re: which powder

Post by 247sniper »

Thanks for all your helps and advise guys. Yes I live in the Isle Of Man, getting reloading stuff over here is a complete pain in the ......

Will have to sum up all your advise, have a think and make a dessicion. :wall:

Thanks again fellas


Steve.
User avatar
Arizona Hunter
Senior Member
Posts: 137
Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 9:03 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: which powder

Post by Arizona Hunter »

Lots of fine powders, but for the 40 V-Max I get real fine groups with 26.8 gr of RL 15.
User avatar
futuretrades
Senior Member
Posts: 835
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:16 am
.204 Ruger Guns: HOWA 1500 .204 Ruger Varmint, Bull Bbl, Lupy 6-18x40 custom

Re: which powder

Post by futuretrades »

bow shot wrote:It seems I'm the only one that likes Benchmark...
In my previous post, I did forget that my pet load for the 32gr, Vmax is Benchmark.
NRA Benefactor Life member
HOWA 1500 Varmint 204 Ruger, Bull Barrel, Hogue Overmold Stock, Leupold VXII 6-18x40mm AO LRV Custom Reticle Timney Trigger
Cooper Mdl 21 20VarTargW/Leupold VXIII, 6-20x40AO Varmint Hunter reticle.
User avatar
boomer68
New Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 11:22 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington 700 VSSF
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: which powder

Post by boomer68 »

What would be a good powder to try with the lighter bullets? (26gr-32gr)
User avatar
Hedge
Senior Member
Posts: 248
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:52 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage model 12 FLV
Location: S. Central ND

Re: which powder

Post by Hedge »

Boomer68,

I use IMR 8208 XBR, Win cases and Rem 7 1/2 BR with 26 gr. Barnes.

Groups run in the .200". Best one was .183 CTC with an avg to center of .088"
Savage 12 FCV .204 Ruger
Viper PST FFP 4-16x50

ImageImage
======
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" Sigmund Freud.
Post Reply