Powder query

[adam]

As you may remember I left a post a couple of weeks ago about using H4895, but I was struggling to get my velocities up.
This is what was using and the velocities I had:
Ruger M77 MK2 22" barrel
H4895
32gr Hornady v-max
Hornady factory cases
CCI 61/2 primers
COAL 2.260

First batch:
27.0gr H4895 3487 fps
3464 fps
3435 fps
Second batch:
27.5gr H4895 3470 fps
3488 fps
3461 fps
Third batch:
28.0gr H4895 (max in hornady manual) 3585 fps
3631 fps
3544 fps
3577 fps
3643 fps
3595 fps
Today I tried using H322 and followed the load guide in the Nosler manual as the hornady manual doesn't list it.
I also used some new primers
CCI Br-4

First batch:
26.0 gr H322 3623 fps
3625 fps
3695 fps
Second batch:
26.5gr H322 3758 fps
3738 fps
3706 fps
Third batch:
27.0gr H322 (OVER MAX IN NOSLER) 3805 fps
3761 fps
3839 fps
Fourth batch:
27.5gr H322 (OVER MAX IN NOSLER) 3846 fps
3898 fps
Didn't get third as crono had a pull!!!

According to the Nosler manual the 26.5gr load has a 93% load density.

26.5gr is max in the Nosler manual but at 27.5gr I have no signs of over pressure at all. Primers look fine and extraction is easy.
There are no sparks out the end of the barrel with this powder as there was with the H4895 and the velocity has shot up with less powder volume.

Am I safe shooting this load above max even though I am not getting any over pressure signs???

Will it be safe to push to 28.0 grains???

Thanks in advance
Adam

[acloco]

Adam,
I know the model number might be different in your country, but a 6 1/2 primer in the U.S. is made by Remington. "CCI 61/2 primers"

I use CCI 450 magnum small rifle primers with all of the different powder that I have tried in the 204. They seem to provide the best consistency and speed of the bullet.

One other question....how many feet above sea level are you?

[adam]

Acloco
I'm not sure how high above sea level I am but I will try and find out and post it up here. Also the consistency between shots doesn't seem to be very good. Are these variations normal? My mate re loads a .22PPC and his velocity spread is much closer than mine.
We share the same scales RCBS 10/10
Any ideas?

[crazy2medic]

my first suggestion would be to change primers, doesn't seem lie your getting a full ignition! I use either remington 7 1/2 primers or the cci 450 primers, you could also look at the cci br4 primers, I don't use them because they're very expensive here, my suggestion is cut you powder load, change primers and walk it back up! after you check the whole sea level thing

[jo191145]

Adam
Congrats on the BR4's. You now have an appropriate primer cup thickness for the 204. I just priced them tonight at the local gun shop. $50.00 for a thousand I wonder how much you paid?

Hodgen lists 27.5gns as max for H-322 with a 32gn pill. They claim 4030fps with a 24" barrel. Your not too far off considering the shorter barrel.
Don't be dismayed by the extreme spread variations between the 204 and a 22 ppc. Two totally different cartridges.

Did you find any accuracy?
I've still got a partial pound of H-322 sitting in storage from years ago. It was the second powder I tried and I never did find any acceptable accuracy with it. Hope you have better luck than I. One must take into account I was a complete idiot back then. Probably still am.

I won't tell you its OK to go over max. Definately not considered wise for a guy just starting out.
But if you do please don't make .5 gn jumps. You could easily go from hot to burst case heads with increments that large.
.2gn increments should be as daring as you get.
And remember those BR4's are designed to handle more pressure than your supposed to be developing. They might not give you any warning of serious pressure problems. Sticky bolt means you've gone to far and need to back off.

[the_right_reverend]

BR4's run $47.00 per 5000 in coastal NC $37.00 @ PVI looks like we may have to eat the hazmat to save money

[adam]

Adam
Congrats on the BR4's. You now have an appropriate primer cup thickness for the 204. I just priced them tonight at the local gun shop. $50.00 for a thousand I wonder how much you paid?

Hodgen lists 27.5gns as max for H-322 with a 32gn pill. They claim 4030fps with a 24" barrel. Your not too far off considering the shorter barrel.
Don't be dismayed by the extreme spread variations between the 204 and a 22 ppc. Two totally different cartridges.

Did you find any accuracy?
I've still got a partial pound of H-322 sitting in storage from years ago. It was the second powder I tried and I never did find any acceptable accuracy with it. Hope you have better luck than I. One must take into account I was a complete idiot back then. Probably still am.

I won't tell you its OK to go over max. Definately not considered wise for a guy just starting out.
But if you do please don't make .5 gn jumps. You could easily go from hot to burst case heads with increments that large.
.2gn increments should be as daring as you get.
And remember those BR4's are designed to handle more pressure than your supposed to be developing. They might not give you any warning of serious pressure problems. Sticky bolt means you've gone to far and need to back off.

Cheers for the reply and advice. I have actually settled on a load of 26.5gr H322 with the 32gr V-MAX and it will shoot a 3 shot group just over quarter inch. Look out those crows in summer!!!!!

[jo191145]

Excellent! Velocity without accuracy just means you miss faster

Eventually you might want to retry the 6.5's by working up to 26.5gns of H-322. To see if they handle it (most likely will, only one way to find out) and if so maybe the accuracy will be good too. Then they won't have to go to waste.

Maybe even better try them now and save the BR4's for your next load development test with a different powder. You just might find a node higher that requires the thicker primer more than your H-322 load. Happy shootin.