RL-15 in the 204 Ruger

[FireBallGuy]

Just for laughs I tried this powder in my VSF on sunday. Have had little to no luck with it in any gun before, really just wanted to get rid of it so I loaded up a batch with 39 grain BK's to see what would happen, and much to my surprise.....SUCCESS!! Used alliant's data with 27.5 grains as MAX and that is right where the gun would put 5 into a nice 1/2" clusters!! I think this stuff might be a little slow to get max velocities but out of my 26" tube this might work in my favor. Anyone given this stuff a try? After the repairs to my gun it seems to shoot like you would not believe spent 7 hours at the range on sunday and came home with entirelly TOO MUCH good load data. Even tried the ever popular over max charges of 10X and the gun liked that a lot as well. Only went 1/2 grain past max and have no intentions of going any farther. The gun puts 5 39 grain BK's into 3/8" with 25.1 grains of the stuff so why mess with it? 26.0 grains of 10X with the 32 grain BK will go a 1/2". Think it is time to stop testing and started the hunting thing. One thing that impresses me about this new remington is how LITTLE copper the barrel is picking up. Put close to 400 rounds through it on sunday, cleaned it very lightly twice while at the range and set it to soak over night with patch out. Very little copper, barrel puts the first bullet where it should go, I am very pleased. Get back to me on the RL-15 powder, curious how anyone else is making out with it.

[Silverfox]

FireBallGuy--It sounds like you need to send that rifle to me for further testing.

It is time to quit shooting paper and get out there and shoot live targets. I think you have a winner there. I hope it keeps shooting straight and true for you.

[FireBallGuy]

Iam trying silverfox!!!! I work 2 jobs 6 days a week, does not leave me much play time. Yes, I am now pleased the gun is shooting better, and you are right.....LOAD DEVELOPEMENT TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY!!! I have plenty of good stuff here to spend the winter popping dogs with. Back to the question have you tried RL-15 in this caliber and how well is it working?

[Jim White]

There's nothing wrong with RE-15 (Reloader 15). It shoots just fine in both of my 204's. It's a little more temperature sensitive than some but I haven't found a problem with it. This past summer I went out on one of those 100 deg days and I purposely left the ammo in a plastic box inside a military ammo can out in the sun and let it warm up (it was a max charge (28.0 grains IIRC) and tried it out, no issues and no pressure signs. It didn't group as well as when its cooler (but that wasn't the purpose of the test either.

If you're inclined to try that you must 1st work up your loads and monitor for pressure signs accordangly. FWIW, I just recently picked up some Benchmark & Reloader 10x to play with.

Good luck,

Jim

[FireBallGuy]

Benchmark and RL-10X ARE the go to powders for this gun. As long as I am using sierra blitzkings.....it's all good!! Have tried noslers.....the 32's have some use and the 40's...better off throwing them!?! Have a box of 35 grain bergers but to me thier lowish BC defeats the purpose for this gun to me. The begers shot very well also. The reason for the rash of shooting was to see in fact what the gun was going to like with what is available for components right now. If my 10X and benchmark get low I will switch to RL-15 as we usually have this stuff in stock at the store.

[Silverfox]

FireBallGuy--Sorry that I didn't mention whether I used Rel-15 or not. The only Reloder powder I tried in my .204 was Rel-10X. The first pound worked absolutley GREAT, but the second pound I bought was a different lot than the first and it was a dud! I switched to H-4895 and haven't looked back.

I shouldn't give you a hard time about shooting too many shots at paper. From June of 2004 to October 24, 2008, I had put 2,324 shots through the barrel of my Savage 12VLP. Of that number 1,095 were at paper and 1,229 were at live targets. During the last 12 months I have shot 66 shots at paper and 234 at live targets. I have a custom-built .17 Remington and a custom built .17 Tactical that have been occupying a lot of my shooting time in the past 12 months, so the .204 Ruger has been getting a well-deserved rest. It will be with me as my main rifle when I head out coyote calling. I'm also going to use the .17 Tactical and my 30 gr. Kindler Gold loads on coyotes a few times as well.

I hope you can catch a break from your heavy work schedule and do some hunting. You should put a big dent in the predator populations with that fine shooting rifle.

[acloco]

Wait 'til you try Benchmark.

[FireBallGuy]

My number 2 dog gun is a slightly worked remington SPS in 17 fireball. Trigger has been done and the barrel has been lapped. Will put 5 into 3/8" with benchmark and the 25 grain hornady hollowpoint but after a recent outing with this bullet it;s performance to me is slightly substandard. The HP just does not have the "splat factor" of the 25 grain Vmax. The gun is not terribly fond of the Vmax but I have a few decent loads using that bullet one with 10X which is the one I have settled on for the winter. Leaving the barrel at 3850fps with 3/4" 5 shot accuracy.....GOOD ENOUGH!! The 17 I have used to great effect beyond 400 yards (just barely) but not for yotes'. When the shots get long thats where the 204 takes over. Waiting on several job prospects that will result in more cash in pocket and less hours worked in any given week so I can have more time to do the more important things in life......like.....KILLING CRITTERS!!! Thanks for your thoughts guys.

[Inrut24/7]

I had good luck with RL 15 with the 39 sbk and the 40 vmax from my howa, 10x just does a little better in my gun.

[FireBallGuy]

What sort of velocity have you guys been getting with RL-15?

[Jim White]

FireBallGuy,

I get approx 3550 fps out of my CZ American and 3725 fpd out my Remington 700 VLTHSS, both are 204's. The temp was 80 degrees, the elevation is 440'. My CZ barrel appears to be slow IMO, but darn, it shoots tight groups. 39 SBK, RP-case, Rem 7 1/2 primer OAL 2.260.

Taking a look at the JBM Ballistics page, there isn't a whole lot of difference between these two down range other than the CZ's round goes subsonic about 100 yards sooner than the Remington. Out to that point the drop is pretty close.

HTH

[FireBallGuy]

At what charge weight? I got sun 1/2" at 27.5 grains of RL-15.

[Jim White]

28.0 grains, no pressure signs either, even in the low 100's. I'm using Remington cases and Remington 7 1/2, 39 SMK, OAL 2.260.


Jim

[FireBallGuy]

I am going to try upping the charge a bit and see what happens.

[stevecrea]

Jim,
Is the CZ a 527 American with the 21.9 inch barrel? Is that why the velocity is lower? I am interested in one of those in lefthand, so I was curious about your experience with it, especially with regard to accuracy. Have you had any work done to it, such as bedding, etc?