SmallCaliberCentral

I am going to use some Benchmark and 34 grain varmint nightmares to load for my NEF ultra varmint in 204 tomorrow. I am using once fired Hornady cases, Remington 7 1/2 BR primers. Hodgdon lists 26.6 grains of Benchmark as maxium for a 35 grain bullet and 28.0 grains for a 32 grain bullet. I noticed some are shooting a good bit above these figures with Benchmark and Sierra list a maxium that is much higher than Hodgdons. I will probably not shoot maxium loads unless they are the most accurate but would like to have a good idea where maxium is. Thanks for any help, Don

http://www.rugerhunting.com/204_data_hodgdon.php

If I were loading for the 34 grain varmint nightmares I would not go past 26.0 grains of benchmark. I reload for the 32 vmax and sbk staying at the low end. You want to find maximum by working up slowly for what is for your rifle.

Well, I just got finished loading about 40 with 25.4 grains of Benchmark and 40 with 26.4 grains of Benchmark. I will shoot the 25.4 grain tomorrow and if all is well, I'll try the 26.4 grain and check the first one real well. Don

My gun likes 25.5 grains of benchmark with a 39 grain blitzking....ALOT!!

Target on left ar-15 1:10 twist
Target on right Remington 700 1:12 twist
Bullet 34 grain Hex Boron Nitride coated varmint nightmare.
25.7 gr r10
Have gone to 26 grains without signs of overload, but 25.7 seems to be the sweet spot for both guns.

Great information here for me as I'm going to be reloading for my 204 real soon.