SmallCaliberCentral

Rick - Thanks! That's the answer I was hoping for. Like you, I'm not interested in getting light speed out of the .204. Just achieving the trajectory and accuracy potential of this great cartridge. Your velocities are running about the same as mine (3728 fps) with 40 grainers and I've been hitting ...

Rick - Thanks for the info. I'm seriously considering going your route when it comes time to change barrels. A question comes to mind. You shortened the leade on your chamber. If I understand correctly, the long leade in factory chambers was designed to get higher velocities without pressure proble...

Rick -

Did you have new dies ground for sizing or will Redding .204 dies get your cases into the chamber?

Mike -

Don't chuck the Hornady brass. I've got a bunch that I use to experiment with. It's good test brass to practice annealing with, practicing primer pocket reaming, die set ups, etc.

You're welcome, GaCop

I like the RCBS tool because it has the potential to make it easier to measure when the bullet won't stay in the neck.

I think I'm going to turn my own spud and see how that works.

Great pic. Nice looking rifle and coyote. That pelt would be nice to have.

I didn't see what type brass you're using. Wouldn't be Federal, would it?

Just thought you guys would be interested in something I've discovered. We all know that the Savage .204 throats are long. I have 2 tools that I've used to find the the distance to the lands. Using the RCBS tool, I was getting pretty consistent results. But when I used the Hornady tool, I was gettin...

Wouldn't it be cheaper to get higher rings?

Yup, I agree. Rick is being modest.

Earmuffs would be a good idea. :D He's good with the .22. Just backs off a few yards and lies down to watch. Bigger guns and he backs way off. Got Sparks when he was a year old. But, he had some good basics. First time in the field, he took off after a coyote that was drawing him off. Wouldn't come ...

Good story, Dennis.

Been trying to get my Heeler mix used to gun fire. He's getting there but still wants to back off aways when I chamber a round in the .204. At least I can call him off a dead run on a coyote.

Would love to have him hunt with me like you do Max.

Don't know if this will help: Hodgdon lists the range for 40 gr Vmax with Benchmark as : 24.0 3419 45,200 PSI 25.7 3646 55,400 PSI 50 gr Berger with Benchmark as: 22.5 3110 47,800 PSI 24.0 3256 54,300 PSI Must be somewhere in between. Update: Found my 49th ed. of Lyman's book; Benchmark with 45 gr. ...

Welcome to the forum!

Both are good scopes, so it depends on what type of shooting you plan to do.

I put a 4-16x50 Viper PST FFP on my Savage. Good for varmints and target. But then, I also used a 4-16x40 Leupold on prairie dogs. That served well out to 500 yds.

Walleyemann -

what's the twist rate on your barrel?