SmallCaliberCentral

Im trying different loads in my Savage 12FV in 204 Ruger, she doesnt seem to like the 40 gr Vmax bullets so Im going to try the 32 grn Vmax. I measured the length of the bullet which is .640, and the length of the case which is 1.840, together they are 2.480. I then measured my over all chamber length with the Hornaday tool that measurment is 2.041 if I subtract 0.040 from the chamber length measurment its 2.001 which would put the bullet at 0.040 off the lands, all these measurments are at the bullet ojive, at that measurement the bullet would be seated 0.479 inches in the case, is that deep enough? I know there are alot of numbers, and it can be confusing, but I appriciate any help here,
Thanks much,
Paul

http://www.sinclairintl.com/GunTech/Loa ... ?lid=16220

This may help

Even better. http://www.nosler.com/blog/news-and-art ... -own-loads

Thanks alot, I read the blog, lots of good info there,
Thanks Much,
Paul

Wish I could give you some better info but I am just getting started myself. Reading whatever I can get ahold of in the mean time.

I've been reloading a long time mostly .308, .223, .45acp and 9mm. But Im new to reloading the 204 Ruger. On my .308 I load 0.020 off the lands and still have alot of the bullet in the case, but the chamber in my 204 Ruger is pretty long, and the 32 grn Vmax is pretty short, if I loaded the 32 grn Vmax 0.020 off the lands there would only be 0.459" of the bullet in the case, and I may be wrong here but it does'nt seem like enough to me. Even with 0.040 off the lands there is only 0.479" of bullet in the case, and Im not sure thats enough either. Maybe it's just that Im not used to working with such short bullets and all my concerns are unfounded. Anyway I appriciate your help and wish you the best in your reloading endavers.
Paul

If you are dealing with a SAAMI chamber, you will not be able to reach the lands.That being said, I have read somewhere that the excepted standard, when trying to get to the lands, you normally want, at least the diameter of the bullet, in this case, .204, you would not go less than .200 of the bullet in the case. In the case of my 204 in my Howa, I cannot get anywhere close to the lands,i.e, SAAMI chamber, I just deal with the long bullet "jump". But the 204 was originally designed to shoot with the longer bullet jump. With the 32grn Vmax, I am looking at a bullet jump of around .125, and after load workup I am getting consistent grouping of less than .500 @100 yards. But with the 39 gr SBK's its a different story. I pushed the bullet closer to the lands while working with my best shooting load, looking for the best accuracy I would be able to squeeze out of my load. I ended up with about .165 of the bullet in the case, and a bullet jump of around.065, to get regular groups of 3/8 in and better, @ 100 yards. The point of what I am trying to say is, that the these numbers listed in reloading manuals are there as suggestions, but are not written in stone. Just be carefull, learn how to use your tools, and understand what you are trying to do. Keep in mind, as you get closer to the lands, the pressure builds up. Keep checking for pressure signs as you work up your loads

There is a few problems with your figures, .640 is the length of the projectile from tip to base not ogive to base.
If you did seat your bullet .479 deep (nearly half an inch) only the tip would be poking out.
A 32 V-MAX has approximately .264 bearing length so by your Hornady tools measurement you have 63 thou to play with. ie 63 + jump = seating depth.
Hope that helps.

Since the throats in my 204's are deeper than the Mariana Trench and is no where near the lands anyway, I just set mine to te MAX COAL and be done with it and go from there. I use the 39 SBK in my 204's.

HTH