Best powder for the .204 Ruger???

mailmanmark · Post by **mailmanmark** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 2:15 am

What would you consider to be the best all-around powder for the .204 Ruger?

RAMOS · Post by **RAMOS** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:17 am

Plenty of possibilities. My rifle is perfectly happy with RL10X.

futuretrades · Post by **futuretrades** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 9:29 am

My go to powders for the 204, are the ones that give me the best results, for my personal expectations. I do have 2 "best" powders for my 204, which include, Benchmark for the 32gr. pills and RKL10x for the 39gr. SBK's. But to get the 40 gr. Vmax to shoot, I have to load H4895! There are a few others out there that I have not tried, and have NO intentions to do so.
I am a firm believer in the old proverb, if it ain't broke, don't try fixing it!

Bill K · Post by **Bill K** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 9:35 am

mailmanmark wrote:What would you consider to be the best all-around powder for the .204 Ruger?

Every rifle is a story into itself. But Reloader 10 is a good standard that seems to work in most every 204 R. Good one to start and try in yours. Bill K

Jim White · Post by **Jim White** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:12 pm

I like Reloder-15 for mine but others that have worked very well are;

-H4895
-Reloder 10x
-Benchmark
-Varget
-N135
-N540

Others that have been reported with good results;

H335
W748
IMR8208xbr

The only one I've tried extensively that didn't pan out was IR8208xbr. It was so-so, but it sure went fast.

HTH,

mailmanmark · Post by **mailmanmark** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:13 pm

i have 2# of CFE 223 and am wondering how this is going to work with 32g v max and 35g Bergers?

Jim White · Post by **Jim White** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 6:00 pm

mailmanmark wrote:i have 2# of CFE 223 and am wondering how this is going to work with 32g v max and 35g Bergers?

Dunno' just have to try it. Because of the climate [lack of powder] it gets really tough to find the one your gun likes in short order. If your selection works out, try and get as much as you need, preferably the same LOT. For me, thats an 8lb keg, depending on caliber and anticipated usage.

Good luck and HTH,

Jim

Silverfox · Post by **Silverfox** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:10 pm

Another powder besides H4895, Rel 10X, H322, and Benchmark that have worked well in my .204 Rugers is IMR 8208 XBR. I use IMR 8208 XBR in the two .204 Rugers that I shoot the 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKing in and the third .204 Ruger that I use the 40 gr. V-Max in I'm using H4895.

Jim White · Post by **Jim White** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:13 pm

Silverfox wrote:Another powder besides H4895, Rel 10X, H322, and Benchmark that have worked well in my .204 Rugers is IMR 8208 XBR. I use IMR 8208 XBR in the two .204 Rugers that I shoot the 39 gr. Sierra BlitzKing in and the third .204 Ruger that I use the 40 gr. V-Max in I'm using H4895.

I have a couple more experiments I'm going to try with IMR8208xbr; hopefully it will work. If not; I'll try it in 223 and 308. If still unsatisfactory; dunno' use it to grow grass I guess. To bad too because it sure meters well.

benopland · Post by **benopland** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:25 am

imr 8208 and benchmark both shoot great in both my rifles with 35 gr. bergers

_RJ_ · Post by **_RJ_** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 9:12 am

RL-10x if I had to have one powder. I use 8208XBR with great results though with 35gr. Bergers.

truckerwalt · Post by **truckerwalt** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:49 am

mailmanmark wrote:i have 2# of CFE 223 and am wondering how this is going to work with 32g v max and 35g Bergers?

I have used cfe-223 with 35 grain bergers with excellent results I use 30.9 grains of powder , rem 7.5 primers for 3990 fps. I shoot that load in a mod 12 savage with a 26" bbl. if I do my part I can get groups at .25" and less. I seat the bullets to 2.250 or longer. with the long freebore I can't seat the bullets out close to the lands as the powder keeps falling out of the end of the case.

truckerwalt · Post by **truckerwalt** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:58 am

yesterday at the range it was 40 degrees and raining off and on. I shot a 3 round group with 27.9 grains (over max) of H-322 and 32 grain v-max hornady bullets into a group that measured .108. this was with a mod 12 savage with a 26" bbl. and a 4-16X50 vortex viper. a little luck and a lot of help from God!

tbates · Post by **tbates** » Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:22 pm

I use Benchmark. It is consistent and my reloads are accurate. It meters well and is easy to load with.

bwganbrain · Post by **bwganbrain** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 7:28 am

28.3gr H335 with 32gr VMax, 2.26"COL = Clover leaf in my Howa 1500

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