SmallCaliberCentral

I have a remington 700vls in 204 I have been shooting the 32gr bullets both hornady and sierra. I recently purchased some of the 35gr bergers and got the info from them and I am wondering where to start with the loads. In the 32gr bullets mine seems to favor benchmark powder as I have not tried the re-10 I will be buying some of it soon and maybe the best primers to use thanks for any help

You might want to try H4895 with those bullets. They shot really good out of my REM 700 VLS!

When I first started reloading I contacted Berger Bullets for load data, here it is- A copy of the Email reply from them for 35 grain bullets.
Hi David,
Some load data for the 35 and 40 grain bullets in your 0.204 Ruger. Load was generated using Quick Load and a 26 inch barrel and a COAL of 2.220 inches and your COAL and velocity could be a little different.
AS WITH ALL RELOADING APPROACH THE MAXIMUM LOADS WITH CAUTION AS ALL RIFLES AND RELOADING TECHNIQUES WILL BE DIFFERENT. IF YOU CHANGE ANY OF YOUR COMPONENTS; THIS INCLUDES DIFFERENT POWDER LOT NUMBERS; YOU MUST REFIGURE YOUR LOADS BY STARTING WITH THE MINIMUM LOAD.

If we can be of any additional help feel free to contact us.

Thanks for your interest and have a great day.

Walt Berger
Berger Bullets
Technical Adviser

204 Ruger
Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
35 Grain BENCHMARK 21.5 3218 25.5 3754 96.5%
35 Grain VIHT N133 21.5 3276 25.1 3743 98.2%
35 Grain IMR 3031 22.0 3306 26.2 3908 102.5%
35 Grain NORMA 201 22.5 3215 26.6 3795 101.2%
35 Grain WIN 748 23.5 3285 27.7 3872 96.3%
35 Grain BL-C(2) 24.0 3255 28.1 3821 96.8%
35 Grain AA 2495 22.5 3273 26.5 3862 103.7%
35 Grain TAC 23.0 3253 27.1 3811 96.7%
35 Grain RE-12 22.0 3226 26.2 3778 96.2%
35 Grain AA XMR 2015 22.5 3478 24.8 3785 99.3%
35 Grain VARGET 24.5 3442 27.0 3783 100.5%
35 Grain VIHT N140 24.5 3444 27.0 3775 103.1%
35 Grain RE-10X 21.5 3512 23.8 3821 89.1%
35 Grain H4895 23.5 3357 26.2 3711 99.1%
35 Grain H335 24.5 3401 27.1 3754 93.3%
35 Grain H322 22.5 3485 25.0 3833 94.0%
35 Grain IMR 4895 24.5 3494 27.0 3852 103.8%
35 Grain IMR 4064 24.5 3437 26.9 3772 103.4%

*Note from message dated 8/10/2007 from Berger Bullets!

I have just picked up some 35gr Bergers as well and was starting to look for loading data...

Thanks for posting the reply..

Clover_Shooter wrote: 204 Ruger
Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
35 Grain BENCHMARK 21.5 3218 25.5 3754 96.5%
35 Grain VIHT N133 21.5 3276 25.1 3743 98.2%
35 Grain IMR 3031 22.0 3306 26.2 3908 102.5%
35 Grain NORMA 201 22.5 3215 26.6 3795 101.2%
35 Grain WIN 748 23.5 3285 27.7 3872 96.3%
35 Grain BL-C(2) 24.0 3255 28.1 3821 96.8%
35 Grain AA 2495 22.5 3273 26.5 3862 103.7%
35 Grain TAC 23.0 3253 27.1 3811 96.7%
35 Grain RE-12 22.0 3226 26.2 3778 96.2%
35 Grain AA XMR 2015 22.5 3478 24.8 3785 99.3%
35 Grain VARGET 24.5 3442 27.0 3783 100.5%
35 Grain VIHT N140 24.5 3444 27.0 3775 103.1%
35 Grain RE-10X 21.5 3512 23.8 3821 89.1%
35 Grain H4895 23.5 3357 26.2 3711 99.1%
35 Grain H335 24.5 3401 27.1 3754 93.3%
35 Grain H322 22.5 3485 25.0 3833 94.0%
35 Grain IMR 4895 24.5 3494 27.0 3852 103.8%
35 Grain IMR 4064 24.5 3437 26.9 3772 103.4%

*Note from message dated 8/10/2007 from Berger Bullets!

I will be loading this up real soon and this post has me a little concerned. Hodgdon's data says

Cartridge: 204 Ruger
Load Type: Rifle

35 GR. BER HP Hodgdon H4895 .204" 2.240" 26.0 3576 42,200 PSI 28.2C 3910 55,700 PSI

I had planed on starting at 26.0 and working up from there. I am going to use CCI 450 primers. Should I be starting lower?

I must say the same in that I thought all the loads where listed a little on the low side, but a good starting point. I use the loads listed from Hodgdon @ 28 grains of H4895. Shots fair!

Monk Welcome to the forum

Walt Berger makes the FINEST .204 bullets available unless you want a hand swaged custom.
Unfortunately his quickload data has always been quite conservative.
Check the (204 load data) link at the top right of the page on this forum. Go with Hodgens data for BM.

I suggest 2.265 COL for 35 Bergs.

I have a Rem SPS sporter barrel I use for predator hunting and use a book max load of 28.2 gr of H-4895, Horn case, Fed205m, and 2.31col. Book shows 3900fps in a 24" barrel, and it shoots 3 rounds at 100yrds into the .30" range if I do my part! Shot two coyotes and one coon from 30-250yrds with all pass thru's and bout a 25 cent size exits. Kills well.