SmallCaliberCentral

I am averaging in the .4s with 39sbks and 25.1 gr of re10x at 2.285 with my Woodchuck stocked 12fv. I tried going to 25.2 pressure was ok but the groups blew out. I just threw h4895 and 40gr Bergers into the mix but the powder and the Bergers do not like 2.285 so I will have to play a bit.

I had trouble with the 40gr Bergers too until I started using Re10X.

rf,

.4 with a factory rifle is awesome performance if you didn't know. I load 24.8 gr R10X behind the 39's at 2.305 OAL and it shoots well in all my Savages and at least three of my shootin' buddies have shot that load well. You are on the right track. All the Savages I've been around shoot better after a couple hundred rounds have been fired.

A couple days ago I watched my Son-in-law shoot a group in the .2's with his new LRPV while load testing with Berger 35 and 40 grains. Not even 150 rounds down that barrel yet. Maybe he'll jump on here and tell you his load. He might have something planned for old Top Dog with that rifle.

Hotshot

I am playing with re10x and the 40 Bergers as well as 4895 with the Bergers. I am also playing with the 4895 and the 39 blitz kings. I have not given up all hope on the 40 V-maxes but they are not looking good.

Try working up to 25.1 gr. RE-10X with the 40 gr. Bergers or the 39 gr. Sierras.

skipper wrote:Try working up to 25.1 gr. RE-10X with the 40 gr. Bergers or the 39 gr. Sierras.

Thanks skipper. The 25.1 RE-10x with 39sbks is what I am currently shooting. I am working on the Berger loads.

I got into the mid .2's with my LRPV and 40gr V-maxs. My Savage 12FV got a .380 also with 40gr V-maxs. Love them both!

dannybracy wrote:I got into the mid .2's with my LRPV and 40gr V-maxs. My Savage 12FV got a .380 also with 40gr V-maxs. Love them both!

What load are you using for the vmaxes? Powder? Charge? OAL?

LRPV:
40gr VMAX
Win. Brass
Case Length- 1.840
OAL-2.370
26gr. H335
CCI BR-4 Benchrest Primer

32gr VMAX
Win. Brass
Case Length-1.840
OAL-2.370
27.5gr H335
CCI BR-4 Benchrest Primer

Savage 12FV:
40gr VMAX
Rem. Brass
Case Trim-1.840
OAL-2.360
26gr. H335
CCI BR-4 Benchrest Primer

All my loads are about in the middle of the recommended for the H335, but you should start out lower for your own gun an work up from there. I started at the min charge and worked my way up and figured out what mine liked. -Dan

What powder increments do you guys use when tweeking a load for accuracy? I guess I was lucky on my Encore (sold it), as I had several loads shooting in the 3's & 4's working in 1/2 gr. increments. Got an AR now with a 24" (1:9 twist) barrel and so far only have two loads shooting at 1/2". Used 1/2 gr. increments to get there. Should I start using 0.1 gr. increments now to try and refine? Do you really see much change with 0.1 gr. increment?

Many guys do it different ways. Some start at the min. published load and work up in .5gr incriments to the published max to get a general idea. I like to do .2gr incriments and find a sweet spot, but that is because I enjoy reloading and trying to find the best possible load. Because then I mess with OAL and find out the best depth to seat the bullet. There are so many ways of doing it. I go up in .1gr incriments when I am getting near the max published load to be safe.

If you are getting a 1/2" group with one of your loads in your AR, I would see what your max OAL you can get with your bullet choice into your magizines. Then start at the factory OAL and go to the max OAL that you can still get into your mags to find the best group you can get on that. Have fun! -Dan

Thanks Dan. Although I've loaded thousands of rounds over the last (50) years, my experience with the .204 is limited to 3-400 rounds. And, as I said, I hit very accurate loads quickly in my Encore. I can see the necessity to use 0.1 gr. increments in the .204 with its small case capacity; just wondered if anyone had seen significant accuracy change with one or two-tenths grain change. As far as OAL goes, I'm pretty limited with the AR mags; about 2.245" is max to assure good feeding. I don't think thats too far off from factory stuff, so most of my tweeking is going to involve powder and bullets!!! Also, first 1:9 twist (in 204) I've worked with. Will be trying the 50 gr. Berger in the next week.

Thanks Danny. You have them loaded long. I don't think they would fit my mag. I might try them anyway to shoot paper or maybe prairie dogs.

rfurman24, yes they are long. I don't load them in a mag, but they do fit down into the blind mag on the 12FV.....though I don't use that I just use it as a single shot like my LRPV.

I just loaded some vmaxs at 2.305 to see if they will shoot any better than they did at 2.295. If groups shrink I will go even longer.