"slightly down loading" the 204?

[chickenhawk]

I'm wanting to shoot 32 grain bullets around 3700 fps. Most of the load data I see for this weight range is 4000 fps or so. My thinking is that the lighter bullets would perform better on coyotes at slightly lowered velocities. How about the 40's at 3500-3600 fps?

I don't own a .204 (yet) and would like to know if this can be done and still maintain accuracy or if there is a better suited 20 caliber for my needs.

Thanks guys, nice forum you have here!

[wirelessguy2005]

There are multiple answers to your question and I am sure you will get different opinions from other members here. To start i would say that there are better bullets to use on Coyote's than the Vmax bullets due to their explosive nature. That being said i would recommend a bullet with better penetration characteristics. Many seem to like the 35 grain berger bullets for what you are planning. I will be offering 35 grain bullets for sale on my website very soon as well.
On the other hand the 20 VarTarg would be a great alternative to the 204 if you are looking for a bit less speed.

Brad

I'm wanting to shoot 32 grain bullets around 3700 fps. Most of the load data I see for this weight range is 4000 fps or so. My thinking is that the lighter bullets would perform better on coyotes at slightly lowered velocities. How about the 40's at 3500-3600 fps?

I don't own a .204 (yet) and would like to know if this can be done and still maintain accuracy or if there is a better suited 20 caliber for my needs.

Thanks guys, nice forum you have here!

[chickenhawk]

I was planning on trying the 32s in the Nosler Ballistic Tips. Most gossip on the "net" is that they are alittle more solidly constructed than the V-Max, but I have no first hand experience with either in the 20 caliber.

I'd really rather have a bullet with a higher BC than the 35 grain Berger. Its windy more days than not here.

Brad, what is the BC of your 35 grain bullets - I would be very interested in trying some when I get things put together. You could have a real winner with a tougher 35 grainer!

[ryutzy]

Chickenhawk--
As Brad mentioned there are many opinions and possibilities. I shoot quite a few coyotes with the 204 and here's my opinion. For a coyote I would not recommend using a bullet lighter than 35 grains. I have shot a number of coyotes with the 40 grain vmax and have not had any issues to speak of. (some say they have) A lot of folks love the 35 and 40 grain Bergers because they are less frangible. Now with that being said here is what I am currently using and love. I shoot the 39 grain Sierra Blitzking. It currently has the highest BC of any bullet for the 204 that I know of. I have not checked on the 50 grainers, but most of us dont want to shoot those heavies. I've shot quite a few coyotes with the 39 SBK and if I recall correctly, I never had to shoot one twice with this bullet and most times this bullet will not exit. My choice is this bullet because of its BC and my barrel does not shoot the 40s quite as well. I shoot this bullet at 3700 FPS out of an AR-15 pushed by 27.8 grains of H4895.
I'm also waiting for more information from Brad on his new line of bullets.

[wirelessguy2005]

I don't have any BC numbers yet, however i will say that they should be a little bit higher BC than the Berger's due to the fact that they have a very small hollowpoint. I hope to have the bullets available in the next two weeks.

I was planning on trying the 32s in the Nosler Ballistic Tips. Most gossip on the "net" is that they are alittle more solidly constructed than the V-Max, but I have no first hand experience with either in the 20 caliber.

I'd really rather have a bullet with a higher BC than the 35 grain Berger. Its windy more days than not here.

Brad, what is the BC of your 35 grain bullets - I would be very interested in trying some when I get things put together. You could have a real winner with a tougher 35 grainer!

[DoubleUp]

With my Savage 22"barrel, I get between 3,600-3,700 fps with Varget in the 27-27.5g range with the 32 v-max. It gives a pretty good case load and shoots tight groups. It should do what you want in velocity with excellent accuracy.

There is some anecdotal evidence from hunters that v-max bullets give much better penetration and are less explosive when dropped in velocity a few hundred fps.

I have killed a few (half-dozen) coyotes with 32 v-max. I've not had a problem anchoring them on the spot, but I haven't made any shoulder shots either. I usually load them between 3,900 and 3,950 fps. I don't load 40's over 3,700 fps.

[204cat]

sort of off topic

some loads that were done at 3500 fps with the 32g vmax were worked down very slowly and approaching the 60% rule were .6 moa in no wind. since these were done benchrest on paper targets i have no info on how that would do on yotes. great fun on paper and plastic. the only other note is that i get split necks with the lower charges for some reason. or atleast it seems that way.

cheers

[Jim White]

Not sure what you mean by "slightly down loading" but id it means loads under the recommended minimum charge, I would discourage that, could be a safety issue.

HTH,

[chickenhawk]

Not sure what you mean by "slightly down loading" but id it means loads under the recommended minimum charge, I would discourage that, could be a safety issue.

HTH,

I did not mean going below minimum charges. I should have titled this thread " accuracy with starting loads"....

It looks like Varget will do what I'm looking for. Thanks for the help!