SmallCaliberCentral

Tried the 35gr. Berger last week with decent results. One sub MOA group with 27.8gr. 27.5 and 28.0 looked decent as well. All using H4895 and Remington 7 1/2 BR primers

Going to try to load up some 39SBK's tomorrow night. I have some Reloader 10x as well.

I'm thinking of making three test loads, all with the 10x:
24.6
24.9
25.1

See where that gets me, and refine as I see necessary. Most agree with Reloader 10x and the 39SBK's from what I have read.

COAL of 2.250 right?

I use neither 10X or 39bks.

I will suggest trying some different primers though.
CCI-450 or Fed 205M
The feds are in short supply right now.

I've been finding my best accuracy with those two primers. Rem 7.5's have never given me consistent groups.
I just bought 10,000 Russian primers and will be running some comparisons. By most accounts they get high ratings and are cheap to boot.

Alright Gang-
Poor, poor results with the 39gr. on my last outing.

Tried 24.6, 24.9 and 25.1

Best group was 1.5-2" from the 25.1


I had loaded up some more rounds of the 35gr Bergers and H4895 from last time. Again, decent results with these. Another 1" group with 27.5 and one 5/8" with 28.2gr. I'm going to try a powder charge in between my recent charges and hope for consistent results.


Now, on to the 32gr. SBK's. Hoping since my gun dislikes the 39, and shoots the 35 fairly well, it will like the 32gr.

Any suggestion on where to go from here?

jo191145 wrote:I've been finding my best accuracy with those two primers. Rem 7.5's have never given me consistent groups.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'd love to try it out, but unfortunately I can't find anybody supplying primers right now.

What gives?!

I've heard the Feds go to the military.
I've heard CCI engineers shut down they're BR-4 assembly line until they can correct a glitch.

Beyond that its mostly well founded paranoia of Obama. Stockpiling began when prices soared and never stopped when Obama came to the forefront.

MDHogHunter wrote: Any suggestion on where to go from here?

5/8" aint bad with Rem 7.5's IMO.

Whats the primary use of this rifle, paper or fur? What rifle are we speaking of? Amount of freebore?
35 Bergs offer excellent short range accuracy potential and nothing drops yotes better.
Small vermin would be better with a more explosive bullet.

A suggestion or two for accuracy first.
I heard an opinion once that Hodgen data is usually close to the best accuracy at the max load.
Remember your not loading for a 30-06. .1gn variations will make a difference in accuracy.

I personally develope loads using the Audette system. I always go over max loads to bracket them.
Using your style of development I would load up 28.0, 28.1, 28.2, 28.3 and 28.4gns of H-4895 with the 35 Bergs seated at 2.265 COL and have at it.

IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE LOADING BEYOND BOOK DATA THEN BY ALL MEANS DON"T.

Hodgens data shows they are under saami pressure specs at 28.2 with the Bergs seated short at 2.240. As long as you do not have a short freebore chamber you'll actually be reducing pressure by seating longer. To a point of course.

Your 7.5's are a good primer for handling pressure. If you ever switch primers you need to drop down and start over.

Thanks for the response!

I have plans of trying 28.3gr with the 35Berger next time. 28.2 was the printed max load, but showed no signs of damages or pressure signs.

My COL goal was anywhere from 2.240 to 2.250. The brass has some fluctuation. Most are from 2.247-2.250. Should I be thinking more toward 2.240?

The rifle is a Rem. Model 7, and mainly serves as a varmint shooter. Last year yielded over 50 groundhogs, and some other varmints. In the winter, I enjoy fox hunting.

For these purposes, 1" MOA accuracy is fine. However, I am sure there is more to this gun than 1" groups. Since Day 1 of my 204 ownership I have been working toward improving accuracy. The Model 7 showed plenty of room for improvement. Factory trigger was just under 6lbs! Yuck! A trigger job really improved my groups, and a recent barrel floating was also done. It's very apparent in this gun that some loads work well, and others it absolutely hates. 40gr. Vmax factory rounds were producing 1.5" groups.

I'd like to get something together for the 32gr. SBK. What COL should I aim for with this bullet? I have H4895, but maybe I should try H322 for this round?

Again, thanks for the help.

Bump

Looking for some suggestions.

Trying 27.9 and 28.1 with the 35Berger and H4895 this week.

What should I be looking for with the 32BK? I have Win748, H2895, and RE10x.

What COL?

Bump right back at ya

I've done very little work with the 32's.
On the COL heres where I would START. .030 over book data. No idea why just a hunch.

Most of my work with H-4895 was with WS2 coated pills so its irrelevant. Add to that the fact I do not save load data very long and its history.
10X I found too dirty.
An odd fact on Win 748 I found. Both 35 Bergs and 39bk's preferred 29.2gns.
Caveat: I would place 29.1gns as book max for 748 and 35 Bergs. That should put the 39bk load a tad over a smidge over book max

Hornady lists 29.6 as max for the 32 V-max. Me being me I would start at 28.0 and work up.

reloader 10x is cacking powder for the .204 ..if i was you have a look at your primers and keep checking for the pressure signs as you add more powder ,if no signs of pressure, add a little more powder .3 of a grain once you look like your hitting the max load ..your groups will tighten up .them little pills liked to be pushed hard ..dont forget once you have found your max back it off some..as seen below .H4895 i think for this much powerd its running very slow

32. Gr. Hornady V-Max
H4895
2.250"
27.0
3669fps

reloader 10x 27.grn will be giveing approx 4150fps out of a 22" barrel useing the same bullet

Again, thanks for the help here guys as I continue development.

It hasn't been easy with this rifle, but I am headed in the right direction.

What I know, is that this little Model 7 doesn't like 39gr. SBK's

I had good luck with the 32gr SBK on our last outing.

The three loads tested were: All Federal Cases, Rem 7.5 BR's and RE10x:
32 BK's w/RE10x at 24.4, 25.3, and 26.0

With 26.3 being max, I still have some more load development to go. I'll keep everyone informed, but I think I might be on to something with this bullet/powder combo

Little update, to keep everyone informed and this forum active.

Loaded up more tonight.

32SBK w/ RE10x
@ 26.1, 26.3, and 26.5
Last outing 26.0 provided a 1/2" group at 100yards. With 26.3 being published max load, hoping to tighten it up once more. Looking good though!

35 Berger w/ H4895
@ 28.0, 28.2
This is my third batch of these, and they are showing MOA. I'm hoping for a little better, and man that 35Berger is a beautiful bullet!

35 Berger w/ Win 748
@ 27.4 and 27.7
Still new with this powder/bullet combo, so just a broad test run.

All loads were done with the RCBS Competition Die (just wonderful) and the COAL was 2.250" Using Remington Cases and Remington 7.5BR Primers.

Also added another gun to the collection this week:
My first Savage!
Model 10fp in .223
Heavy Bull Barrel
Jewel Trigger
Tasco 6x24 Mil-Dot Scope
It looks like a shooter, feels good. A lot heavier than my .204 in Model 7! The previous owner worked up loads, and found the 69Sierra's are the best. I have some ready to go, waiting to shoot.

The Nosler 69 gr HPBT's and Sierra's work very well in my Savage rifles as well. (please work up to this) 25.0 gr of H4895 is a rather accurate load.

Range Results are in:

32SBK's are the ticket in my little Model 7 .204
26.1gr of RE10x was the winner for the day, measuring just under 1/2"

Similar results last week with 26.0gr

35 Beger's are still inconsistant, but hover around an inch.


The Savage shot well, but didn't chamber well at all. Bullets were jamming, couldn't load any more than one at a time. Unsure what's going on there, but I will look at the previous owners COL's on the reloads he gave me to try out. I ordered new brass, and am planning on just starting fresh. Any ideas what would cause the gun not to chamber, especially with more than one bullet in the magazine?

MD

What model Savage? Is it the newer inline mag or the older staggered feed?

The old staggered feed mags are notorious for improper feeding. A little tuning on the mag lips is usually in order.
Supposedly Sav switched to the inline mag to fix that bit of history.
Simply watch the round chamber. Detect where its binding and adjust the mag lip to counteract the problem.

I shoot all my rifles single feed and the mags have been blanked out by followers for many years.