SmallCaliberCentral

I have just started reloading for my 204 Howa s/s Sporter and I am finding that I am governed to a maximum 2.30” OAL by the length of the magazine.

I have measured the distance to the lands and the nearest I can get is 150 thou. Although accuracy is not affected by this long jump and I know other Howa owners that have to do the same, I just wondered if this is just an oddity of the Howa or is it common to other makes.

r a j,
I can't help, but, if you go to search and type in Howa coal there's some info there. Regs;Ken.

My howa shoots best with a cartridge overall length of 2.265, yours may be different though.

It's actually common with all makes and models of .204 factory rifles, which don't seem to mind the "jump" to the rifling as much as some other cartridges. I can't think of any factory magazine rifle that allows you to reach the lands with the bullet seated to magazine length.

I won't complain about it, since I've been known to miss a shot now and then , and the extra shot gives me a "chance" to fix my error. If I could just get the groundhog to sit still and honor that chance, I'd be even happier.

glenn asher wrote:It's actually common with all makes and models of .204 factory rifles, which don't seem to mind the "jump" to the rifling as much as some other cartridges. I can't think of any factory magazine rifle that allows you to reach the lands with the bullet seated to magazine length.

glenn is right on.

For my 204 Howa, I am seating a 39gr. SBK at 2.347 OAL. I don't particularly care that they won't feed into the magazine, as this rifle is a bench gun for the rat fields shooting off of a bench. And feeding 1 round at a time is more desireable for me, as it slows down my shooting a bit so things will cool down just a tad in between shots. Also with a bull barrel, the rifle weighs in way too much to be packing around out in the field.
This may or may not be the case for you, as you did not mention in your post. If you need that second or third shot, quickly, keep things the way you have them now. Most 204's that are production rifles shoot very well with a Long Jump to the lands.

I agree with the rest of you guys. all of my .204's seem to like the jump as well.

Never measured mine. I just load 32 and 40 V-Max to 2.25" to 2.26" and they both shot 1/2" groups every day with RL 15 powder.