SmallCaliberCentral

I am read many article on reloading the 204, just cant decide which powder to try first, here is my setup, 24" Sabre Defence upper with a 1-12 twist, How in the world do you decide on what powder to start out with? And for primers i read good things about Federal Gold 205M any others I should consider? I will be reloading Sierra 39gr SBK.

Popular powders include RL-10x and Benchmark. I am sure you will get lots of opinions, but these are two proven ones for sure. Rud

I have a 24" DMPS and use benchmark. Pretty happy with it. 27.5 grn of BM 4020fps chronied w/ a 33 grn james calhoon.

PLATAPUS wrote:I have a 24" DMPS and use benchmark. Pretty happy with it. 27.5 grn of BM 4020fps chronied w/ a 33 grn james calhoon.

What length are you trimming your cases down to? And what is your COAL?

I have had very good luck with H4895 powder and 39gr Sierra BKs in my 2 204s.

I started with varget, but have since read that most people have had better luck with different powders. Going to try Reloader 10x next.

Benchmark is working for me, and Winchester primers are shooting right in line with Fed match (in my guns).

Benchmark and 10X are my 2 top picks. Gun is not brass sensitive and 205M's all the way! AOL at 2.350" with any bullet +/- a bit.

I'm trying H335 as that is what Cooper uses to test their rifles. I'll be going out in a few weeks so we'll see of it works. Gary

My Cooper .204 was factory tested on September 3rd, 2009 using Benchmark. Reloader 10x is what I'm going with.

hondacr21 wrote:

PLATAPUS wrote:I have a 24" DMPS and use benchmark. Pretty happy with it. 27.5 grn of BM 4020fps chronied w/ a 33 grn james calhoon.

What length are you trimming your cases down to? And what is your COAL?

Sorry it took so long to see this and get back to you. I work out of town but will be home Sunday so I'll check on the OAL but I'm pretty sure its 2.260 because of the magazine. I haven't trimmed any yet so I can't help you there but when I do it will be to spec. I'll get back to you with the OAL.

I just fired my new 204 sps varmint fluted stainless using h335 only, and got 1/2" 5 shot groups with both the 39 SBK's and 34 grain dogtowns.

Not sure if anyone else's gun likes H335, but I have 5# and won't try other powders until this batch is gone.
I ended up loading this batch w/ old WW primers, seemed to be ok.
Hope this helps

Allen

Mine DID NOT like H335 at all. Was a waste of time for me.

H4895 has worked best for me in my Savage 12VLP in .204 Ruger. I use 32 gr. V-Max, 35 gr. FBHP Bergers, 39 gr. Sierras, and 40 gr. Nosler BTs and H4895 is THE powder for me.

I did get pretty good accuracy and velocity with H322 as well, but H4895 works best in my Savage.