SmallCaliberCentral

I am looking at a 204 in a mod.11 and I have one in 12fv. Do the same loads work in both? Also, are the mags. in the repeater long enough to get bullets out to the lands? Basically, what are the chances I can use the same loads?

VA: I'm not a Savage fan, never have been, but I'm sure you remember the old saying:

"Every rifle is a rule unto itself" 'Nuff said? Maybe you'll get lucky in this regard, but don't get your hopes up. Even rifles one serial number apart will almost always prefer different loads to some degree.

(And by the way, I'm not aware of any rifle chambered for the 204 that allows seating to the lands, nada.)

I have an 11, a12FV, and a LPV. I have been lucky enough to be able to use the exact same loads in all three with good results. My friend bought an FV and we used my ammo to brake his in-shot so well he uses it exclusively. My son-in-law bought a LRPV and it was shooting around .8 to an inch while breaking in. We sat down with my ammo one day and shot .3 inch groups. Point is that 5 rifles shoot well with same load, but the next one might hate it. So you pay your money and take your chances. Good luck!

PS, I had a grudge against Savages for 40 years during which time I spent a lot of money on 700's, 40X's, Kimbers, Sakos, Winchesters and a bunch of custom gunsmithing. Now I enjoy as good performance for less money and I do all my own gunsmithing. I can buy better scopes and shoot more now becauseof the economyof owning Savage rifles. I've seen the light!

I was born in the light

If I discount a mini-14 which bored me to death with its accuracy my first "real" rifle was a Savage 12 VLP in 204.
Never considered buying any other brand of factory rifle.

Heres a thought. Because the lands are so far away in most factory 204's its easier to find a load that shoots well in two different guns. maybe. We tend to rely more on powder,primers and neck tension to tweak the loads.

29.2gns of Win 748 and a 35 Berger has shot well in every barrel I've tried it in.

Years ago I used WS2 coated 35 Bergs and Benchmark. My charge weight was higher but that combo is definately a winner and many folks have had luck with it. Hawkeye uses pretty similar loads in his two Savages. I've used it in three barrels both with WS2 and naked.
Some combos just work.

Heres a nice consideration. With two Savages, a little work and a barrel wrench you can set the headspace of the two barrels to be almost identical. Saves the hassle of having two FL dies,shims or custom ground shell holder.
I was able to get my two 6BR's within .001 on the first try. Close enough for me I left them as is.