T/C Venture .204

[choper101st]

I went with the Thompson Center Venture .204. Just got it back from g/s with my new scope bore sighted. But I am a little concerned: I just read on another site that T/C made a misprint regarding the twist rate @1:10, that this is suppose to be incorrect but was not stated then what the twist rate is!! Does anyone know if 1:10 is correct or what the rate actually is???? I do not want to buy say Berger 50gr bullets if twist rate is say 1:12.
any one have this gun and what have you found it likes.
Thanks

[futuretrades]

From what I know about twist in factory 204's, most will be a 1in 12 twist rate, but I do stress MOST 204's. If your twist is 1in12, most lighter bullets,i,e 32 gr and the 39gr pills should stabilize better. Now if you want to go to say a 50gr pill, that's where the 1in 10 twist comes into play. Heavier bullets will normally need the faster twist. I believe your thinking about twist rate is incorrect. Maybe you can get onto the Thompson web site and find the answer you are looking for. If not, let us know and we can tell you how to definately find out what your twist is on any rifle.
As for finding what your rifle will shoot the best, that's up to you to find out. Each and every rifle is an animal of its own. Break in the barrel the right way, before trying to determine what your rifle likes. Also you did not mention if you are a re-loader or not.

[choper101st]

It appears from T/C and a number of blogs this rifle is in fact 1:10 twist. Yes I do reload, but, this will be my first attempt for rifle as all past and present reloading has been for pistol. I am going to start with factory Hornady 40gr V-Max through correct break in period and final adjustment with new scope. From everything I keep reading on this site and others the 40gr pill seems to do real well. I will be looking then into good advise as to powder etc. for reloading the 40gr. Hornady.
That rd from Hornady as ammo list velocity at 3900 fps, yet all my reload books come no where close to that #.

[futuretrades]

That rd from Hornady as ammo list velocity at 3900 fps, yet all my reload books come no where close to that #.

Don't pay any attention to what Hornady says, or your manuals list as far as velocity for your reloads. I don't believe you will get 3900 fps out of a 40gr bullet in the 204R. But that is my own thinking. With the 39gr. SBK's and a charge of RE10X, I can only get up to about 3700 fps. It will be interesting to see, if the lighter pills will shoot with the faster twist.

[Bill K]

Choper. Remember all the companies use pressure barrels, closed and usually 26 inch for testing of their ammo. Our firearms vary, from that set up of course, so normally none will get the same FPS. Just forget their hype, load for you rifle, following good handload date in loading manuals. Start with the start loads and work up, again or your rifle and chamber, watching for Pressure signs, etc. Load and play safe. Go for accuracy first and FPS second. Bill K