SmallCaliberCentral

I just came across this picture which was lost for a while. When I first started loading for my 204's, I was convinced the 32 Sierra was the greatest. Look at the accuracy I was getting and at over 4100 fps with both these loads in both my rifles why try anything else?




While shooting prairie dogs one day, I squeezed off a shot at a 300 yard rodent and the dust flew 20 yards low and left. My spotter said "What the he// was that?" and I had no answer. I loaded and fired again sending the varmint to the big pasture in the sky. On a three day shoot I had this happen 6 or 8 times, always from the same rifle. At the range when I had returned home, I shot this target with the other rifle.

I had read on this forum how Silverfox and others were tumbling the 32 Sierra's at high velocity and this will document my experience.

I now have three 204's and they all like the 39 SBK just fine.

I run 'em just under 4000fps and they work fine IN MY RIFLE. I use the Hornadys or Noslers for going OVER 4K. Dunno why, but that's what I settled on (oh yeah, that's where they seem to shoot best, I remember now!)
My little CZ loves 'em, the Savage will take to them pretty well, as long as I run them at those speeds.

Hotshot: Both of my 204 barrels, a Sako 12 twist, and a Pac-Nor 11 twist both happily send the 32gr SBK downrange at over 4,100 fps with no ill effects whatever, always clustering them into dinky tight little groups.

Could this possibly be an individual barrel problem with this particular bullet you were having?

I know you are an experienced shooter, so am only looking for possible causes just for future reference.

I had the same problem with both of my Savage heavy barrels, and last year Silverfox and others commented on this problem. V-max bullets don't tumble and the Bking's don't if I slow them down a little, but I didn't get a 204 to load down for less performance. The 39's captured my attention and I never looked back.