New 204

[Sagebrush Burns]

Picked up my new 204 Ruger varmint rifle this evening. It is a Savage Model 12 Long Range Precision Varminter - single shot action, left side loading port, untapered 26" barrel. The trigger is a huge surprise. Savage calls it their precision target trigger. Out of the box it breaks at 9 ounces! That's right, a half pound trigger on a factory rifle. I can't wait to get to the range. Gonna have to be patient though, don't have any brass, bullets or dies yet. Waiting on the scope, too: Leupold 6.5 - 20 with the varmint hunter reticle. Looks like my winter project will be getting this rig ready for rock chucks and prairie dogs next spring and summer.

[Hotshot]

That'll be a dandy varmint and target outfit SB. Pretty close to the same equipment old Hawkeye Joe used to wax our behinds in the Postal Shoot. You chose well.

[acloco]

VERY NICE! XMas arrived early at your house.

I am on the western side of Nebraska....

[dannybracy]

Congrats on an AWESOME GUN!!! Have the same thing and LOVE it. You'll love t hat Varmint hunters reticle too! Put my scope in Burris Sig Zee rings on Warne maxima bases. Work GREAT! Let us know what kinda of load you work up for them. My LRPV loves 40gr. VMAX's behind a medium load of H335. Good luck! -Dan

[Ryan S Albright]

Good Job! First class choices. You won't be disappointed.

[huntsman22]

SB, Congrats on a nice rig, from an ex-nw co. boony guy. Don

[Jim Higgs]

you are going to have a lot of fun working up a load.here is a load you might try.AA2015 25.4 grains, CCI BR primer,Nosler case,39 gr Sierra just got back from the range and my Cooper loves it .69 was the last 7 shot group.I was going for a 10 shot but chickened out that I might ruin the group with a mistake.have fun

[Hawkeye Joe]

Nice choice!! Don't hesitate to try some Hodgdon Benchmark with the 35gr Berger's . You may find out as I did that a quality 35+ power scope will aid in accuracy and precise shot placement.


Hotshot, You make it sound so dirty .. And I'm only in my early forties

[Lee C.]

Good luck on your new toy sb, let us know how she shoots when you get to that point ok.

[KVW]

Sounds like it's going to be a great rig. As said b-4 let us know how she shoots when you get it all together. I know that I love mine. Try some 39 gr bk too. Mine shoots them well.

[Sagebrush Burns]

The UPS man brought my brass and dies so I can get started on case prep. Got RCBS standard dies and 500 Winchester brass. First thing I will run all the brass through the dies so the mouths are round. Next I'll trim everything to uniform length - probably 1.83" (quick check shows variation from 1.832" to 1.839"). After the mouths are chamfered and de-burred I will true the primer pockets and de-burr the flash holes. Last step will be to weigh the cases and lot by weight. After that I can start on load development. I have Hornady V-Max bullets in 32 and 40 grain weights and Burger 35s. Will start out with H335 and CCI-450 magnum primers since I have both on hand (use them for 223). With any luck the scope (Leupold 6.5 - 20 x 40 with varmint hunter reticle) will come tomorrow.

[Hawkeye Joe]

I wouldn't trim till after fire forming.Just length sort. You may find that the lengths even out towards the high end after that. Then trim .

[Silverfox]

+1 on Hawkeye Joe's suggestion--Don't trim until after the first firing.

[Hotshot]

Whenever you do decide to trim, why stop at 1.83? I hate trimming so I'd go to 1.75 as long as I was doin' it.

[rayfromtx]

Whenever you do decide to trim, why stop at 1.83? I hate trimming so I'd go to 1.75 as long as I was doin' it.

I followed your advice and just finished trimming 1000 pcs of brass to 1.75 but now they are too short to hold a bullet. What did I do wrong?