204Ruger

kenbrofox wrote:Silverfox,
Thats some load! 30+ at a guess? Nice groups. I think i'll stay around 28ish. Do you no longer use that combo?
Cheers IKE.
FireBallGuy, looks like your gun lost interest in 35s and 4895.
Ethan, looks like you got the job right with those groups.
Al, please post your results when you get them.
It's looking like the best loads are going to be somewhere around Hodgdons top end figures at 28ish, which will suit me fine.
Thanks again to everyone. Ken.
PS. Gube, if you read this.What's your go to powder for 35 bergers?

I use 26.8 gr of benchmark for the 35 bergers. A very accurate load in all three of my 204's

Thanks Gube. I will borrow a scoop full off someone to try. Ken.

Was at the the range yesterday to try some new powders. I had high hopes for this combo of 35gr. Berger's and H4895. So far it has not been good. The best 3 shot group was .711, the rest were .717 to .729. Next I will try it with some 39gr. Sierras. On a brighter note I also bought a pound of BL-C 2 to try . This looks like the powder I have been looking for. All groups were well under a 1/2 in. The best was .346 to the outside, = .142 center to center for a 3 shots at 100 yards. The next best were .224 28.9grs and .235 28.7grs. The best load was 29.5 gr. of BL-C 2, Rem BR. primers, 35 gr. Berger's, with an AOL of 2.283. Should get around 3830fps? This out of my CZ varmint 204. This is by far the most accurate rifle and bullet combo I have ever had. Up till now, if I could get 3/4 of an inch out of my 223 and 22-250, I was very happy. Now I will get some five shot groups and really see if they will hold up. I have never been a good rifle shooter. After finding this site, I saw the potential of the 204 and had to give it a try. Best move I've ever made in shooting. The very worst groups with this gun with any combination has been less than .750 and I am sure it was me not doing everything just right. I hope this my help someone out there.

Al

Boo Hoo, I was hoping you were going to come back with some good news, (you did) but not for me. Nice to know you're getting there anyway,and thanks for your reply. Ken.

Boy are we a spoiled bunch to not be happy with a 7/10 inch group....

I'd be extremely happy if i could do half moa under hunting conditions. ken

kenbrofox--in answer to your guess on the powder charge weight and additional question:

Thats some load! 30+ at a guess? Nice groups. I think i'll stay around 28ish. Do you no longer use that combo?
Cheers IKE.

As for your guess on the powder charge, the load was under 30.0 gr. by .4, however, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE EVEN ATTEMPT TO SHOOT A 35 gr. BERGER WITH THAT MUCH POWDER IN THE CASING!!! Stay safe and keep it under the maximum load listed by the powder manufacturers. A load of 28.0 gr. of H4895 will work very nicely. Your bullets don't have to be going at light speed to get the job done. Accuracy is far more important to me than raw speed.

As an aside, I don't think you can get 30.0 gr. of H4895 in a Hornady .204 Ruger casing unless you do some mighty hard compressing of the powder. My load of 29.6 gr. of H4895 is up into the neck of the casing, but the bullet does not quite touch it. This much powder had to be poured into a funnel with a fairly long drop tube sitting in my Satern aluminum funnel that was placed on top of the casing neck and looks like this:



I don't use the 35 gr. FBHP Bergers for coyotes any longer. I have gone to using the 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKings for prairie dogs and coyotes. Once in awhile, I'll used some 40 gr. Nosler BTs on prairie dogs though. I get lots of hang time out of prairie dogs with those 40 gr. Noslers and the 39 gr. Sierras aren't bad in that department either.

Silverfox,
Thanks for reining me in abit. I've loaded a few rounds starting at 27.5, going up by1/10s to 28.4. I'll try them in the next few days,and look for signs as i go. I will settle on 28 or less but would like to see what 28.4 produces if possible.
I've just got some of Calhoon's 39g dbl hp to try. I suppose it will be hard to tell the difference between those and 39BKs.Must have too much spare time. Cheers,Ken.

Won't have to worry about H4895 not working in my gun anymore......sold the last of it yesterday!

FireBallGuy,
Which powder are you going with? thanks,Ken.

RL-10X and Benchmark....top 2....RL-15 as backup.

Thanking you.Ken.

SilverFox,

What is your load for the 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKings?
Are you using H-4895?
I'm using 28 grains of H-4895 with the 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKings,
in my Cooper and getting 1/2" groups at 100 yds.

25.1 grains of 10X, 25.5 grains Benchmark, 27.5 grains RL-15.....have more if you like?

Bitman wrote:SilverFox,

What is your load for the 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKings?
Are you using H-4895?
I'm using 28 grains of H-4895 with the 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKings,
in my Cooper and getting 1/2" groups at 100 yds.

Bitman, That sounds v hot, is it not? Regards,Ken.