SmallCaliberCentral

I've not been very happy with the accuracy I'm getting from my reloads in the 204 and thought I should probably sort my brass. How much difference can this make? How big of a range of weights is ok to lot together? is 96.0gr +/- .3gr close enough? This is winchester brass which has always been good to me in other calibers, but in the 204 I'm less than impressed. All of this brass has been fired twice so it ought to be good and fire formed. I've tried 32 and 40 gr ballistic tips and 35 gr Bergers with marginal results. I've got some 39gr blitzkings to try next. If I can't get this Remington to shoot better with this next set of test loads...I'm trading it in for a Ruger 77VT!!!!

Can you give us some idea of what powders you've tried...primers?

I've tried Re10X with the 32 and 40 noslers and the bergers. I've tried benchmark with the 40 noslers also. I'm planning on loading this next batch with several berger and benchmark loads and the 39 BK over both 10x and benchmark. All have been loaded with the CCI BR-4 primer. Seating the bullets out to 2.350 which about .020 or more off my lands depending on the bullet. The rifle is a M700 SPS Varmint with Nikon 6-20X scope. My best 5 shot group was 0.5 with one of my berger loads. Most have been in the 0.75 to 1.0". A few have been over one inch! I have relaoded for years and have other rifles, that once figured out, will drive the infamous tack, but this is my first short action cartridge so maybe I'm missing something. thanks for the help.

Hmmm...try 27.4 of H4895 and a CCI Magnum primer.

Also....actually...FIRST...try seating your bullets 0.050" off the lands. My 204 likes a run at the lands. Groups definitely opened up the closer I got.

Benchmark and H-322 seem better suited to the lighter weight bullets, in my opinion.

With the heavier bullets, H4895 has been stellar, along with 10x, and Varget has been pretty fair, too. You might give some of those a try.

I do know I'm getting fonder of Benchmark every time I fool with it in the .204s, it's working pretty well even with the Dogtown 34s, let alone the more premium 32s, but I think it's a little fast for the heavier 39s and 40s.

Greetings horsedr ,You may would like to try seating the bullets back to 2.250 until you find out what seating depth each bullet likes in your rifle after you have found which grains of charge shoots the tightest groupings.For example the rifle I have 40 V-Max's like set to 2.260 and 39 Sierra BK's like 2.300. At first I only messed with seating after I found the most accurate charge.Now that I know the depth only have to experiment with charge

I agree re Benchmark...I started out with RL10 and have been happy with it, but have had even better success with Benchmark. At the range yesterday I had outstanding groups with 25.5gr of Benchmark behind Sierra 39gr using CCIBR4.....Good luck.

well Back to your question .I think sorting brass will
help ..but not by the margin you seem to need. Consistency is always the key to reloading So yea get rid of all the variables .Sort your brass and bullets. Try using one bullet weight with a few powders. Try different bullets
with one powder.Try a kimber (LOL)
Keep the variables down as much as possible.
One inch groups are unacceptable in this cartridge.

I think your seating your bullets out to far in a cartridge that likes to jump.
Yes Some people find accuracy by getting close to the lands. Most do not.
I would suggest 2.265 (my lucky 35#) with the 35 Bergs and Benchmark.
Find your best powder charge and then do a seating depth test.
You might be amazed at what a .005 difference in seating depth can make even that far off the lands.
Sorting brass and bullets will not turn 1 moa into .25 moa

If all else fails Savage makes rifles

Please remember this...with just the few responses that you have received thus far, do you realize how many THOUSANDS of 204 rounds of experience are on this thread already?

Start at 0.050" off the lands...

Try a different powder for lighter and heavier bullets.

Weight sort if you want to, but look elsewhere first. (spend your time getting a jump on the big curve, instead of the knuckleball)

Here are the best shooters out of my two Savages

27.7 H4895, 40gr Vmax,Rem 7 1/2, COL 2.260
27.7 H4895, 39gr Sierra BK,Rem 7 1/2,COL 2.260
28.2 H4895, 35gr Berger,Rem 7 1/2, COL 2.260
25.3 Reloader 10x, 39gr Sierra BK, CCI BR4,COL 2.260
26.6 Benchmark, 35gr Berger,CCI BR4, COL 2.260
One thing I must add is that ALL ladder loads of Benchmark shot under .500 with 5 shot groups. As far as getting closer to the lands goes,My experience has been the same as jo191145

could just as likely be 'gun issues' as ammo issues.

horsedr wrote:If I can't get this Remington to shoot better with this next set of test loads...

Which rifle is it? Is it factory stock? Has the barreled action been out of the stock?

Some Reminton and other brand rifles need a tune up to get them to shoot small groups. Some things that can be don to get them be more accurate are free floating the barrel, glass bedding the action, adjusting the trigger down to about 3 Lbs, lapping the bolt locking lugs and re crowning the barrel muzzle.