Any advice for a newbie please

Share information about reloading the 204 Ruger.
blackfox
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 7:25 am
.204 Ruger Guns: remmy 700 sps varmint

Any advice for a newbie please

Post by blackfox »

Hello all! im a new member from the UK, ive just had my custom .204 for a couple of weeks now and am having some trouble loading for it.

the spec is as follows

rem 700 blue-printed action
1/10 twist 26" heavy contour barrel
AICS Stock
Tuned x-mark pro trigger
IOR 8-25x50 glass


Now im having some trouble loading for her, ive been trying to get the 39grn sierras to work but with not much joy, ive tried quite a few powders H322, H335, BL-C(2) and some more. Using new winchester brass & Fed gold match primers. Now is that bullet too light for the twist rate?

anyone on here with the same twist?? any help will be gratefully received!!

Ive got some 45grn SP's on order to try....


anyways here is a pic of the rifle

Image
mshelton
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Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:41 am
.204 Ruger Guns: none

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by mshelton »

I'm by no means an expert or even as close to being as knowledgeable as some here but with that high of a twist rate I would think the 45s and heavier would perform well.
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jo191145
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Posts: 1064
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 7:23 pm
Location: Central CT.

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by jo191145 »

The 39's should work in that twist. Your not jamming into the lands are you?

The 39bk is a very thin skinned fragile projectile. Perhaps the 10 twist is imparting to much rotational force.
The 50gn Berger is perfect for that twist but expensive.
The 40 V-Max should be another great choice. They're quite a bit tougher than the 39 and should handle it well.
The 45 sp you mentioned is shorter than the 39 or 40's therefor requires less twist.
If those 45's are an improvement over the 39's you'll know its a problem with the 39's. The 45's have never been known to be the most accurate.

Very nice gun and Welcome to the forum.
Image

Image
Savage VLP + NF 12x42 + 35 Bergers = .
noneck180
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Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 3:36 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Tikka Super Varmint..

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by noneck180 »

Try some Benchmark..
blackfox
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 7:25 am
.204 Ruger Guns: remmy 700 sps varmint

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by blackfox »

Thanks for the replies and thanks for the welcome!


Well, my lands start at the o-give point at 1.965.

My initial loads started at 40tho back, so the o-give on the bullet was 1.925 with no joy so i tried 30tho & 35tho back.


Should i try going back even further?


Thanks Sam
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Joe O
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Posts: 449
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 6:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage LRPV,Ruger K1V,G2 Contender
Location: Upstate SC

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by Joe O »

I DON'T HAVE MY DATA IN FRONT OF ME.WHAT IS THE OAL OF YOUR CLOSEST LOAD WITH THE SIE 39GR BLITZ?HORNADY LOADS THEIR FACTORY LOADS 2.250 +/- FOR THE 40GR,AND HAVE A SEVERE CRIMP, IMO.I LOAD THE 39 SIE @ 2.350-2.355,WITH .002-.003 NECK TENSION.VARGET,BLC(2),AND IMR 8208 XBR HAVE GIVEN BEST RESULTS.SEEMS THE THE 204 SHOOTS WELL WITH MORE BULLET JUMP THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT,BUT I DON'T SEAT MY BULLETS DEAPER THAN THE NECK/SHOULDER JUNCTION,WHICH ,IN THE 204, IS ONE CALIBER WIDTH.
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bow shot
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Posts: 778
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:04 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Rock River Arms AR-15 Varminter
Location: Central NY: infested with liberal wack-jobs and their damage

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by bow shot »

Welcome blackfox!

By "newbie", do you mean new to shooting new to handloading, or new to the forum?

BTW, you've come to the right place!!
FireBallGuy
Senior Member
Posts: 417
Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 7:30 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington Model 700 VSF 204 Ruger
Location: Manitoba Canada

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by FireBallGuy »

I would also suggest you try RL-10X as well. The 39 grain BK should have no issue in the 10 twist barrel. This powder has been MAGIC in my remington VSF! Benchmark also in my top 3 for this caliber. See my post elsewhere in this forum with a recent target of some benchmark load work.
Remington Model 700 SPS 17 Remington Fireball Nikon Buckmaster 6-18X40SF, Remington Model 700 VSF 204 Ruger Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24X40AO, Savage Model 12 FVSS .22-250 Remington Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24X40AO
Wrangler John
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Posts: 306
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:05 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage Precision Target/Shilen Custom

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by Wrangler John »

Yes, Rl-10x is my first choice of powder, it works well in twists from 1:12" to 1:8.5", with bullets from 26 grains to 40 grains. Otherwise, Benchmark and Varget do well with heavier 50 grain bullets. What I have discovered is that bullets usually do well when seated at the recommended factory depth of 2.260" to 2.300". I have yet to find one that shoots better seated close to the lands.
FireBallGuy
Senior Member
Posts: 417
Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 7:30 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington Model 700 VSF 204 Ruger
Location: Manitoba Canada

Re: Any advice for a newbie please

Post by FireBallGuy »

FYI, I seat out to 2.330" with polymer bullets and even longer with HP's of any sort.
Remington Model 700 SPS 17 Remington Fireball Nikon Buckmaster 6-18X40SF, Remington Model 700 VSF 204 Ruger Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24X40AO, Savage Model 12 FVSS .22-250 Remington Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24X40AO
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