SmallCaliberCentral

I'm hoping to take delivery of my Cz 527 Varmint in .204 next week, I need to know what loads you guys would recommend for it, I have some 35gn Berger bullets and some H335 powder at the moment,so what should I start at?
After that, what are the recommendations as to bullets and powder,please? I shall be shooting rabbits and foxes (don't forget,i'm in the UK,so species may be different).
All advice gratefully received,i've been reloading for .22 Hornet,.223Remington and .243 Remington,but, the .204 is a new one to me.


thanks fellas

Alan

I absolutely love the 35gr. Berger, so all of my experience is with that bullet. As for powder, one of the experienced members on here recommended H4895 to me and it was a marriage made in Heaven.
The Coyotes I've shot with that load were instant bang flops, with the exception of one that was taking a drink at the edge of a pond. That one leaped into the water, made a 180, ran about 10ft. when he hit shore and died.
So far I've not had any bullet exits. Your Fox seem to be about the size of our Coyotes, so I'd guess the 35gr. Berger Match bullet would be a good one for pelt saving.
As for other combination's, I'm sure some of the other members here will recommend some great ones.

K22

Here's some data listed on the home page
http://www.rugerhunting.com/204_data_hodgdon.php

Benchmark and RL-10X are my 2 top powders of choice in my remington VSF. A recent experiment with Varget was also very pleasing. RL-15 also proved to be consistant in my gun. The first 2 mentioned are a favorite in this forum. I personelly have never had any sucess with H4895 in several rifle in 204 (and several 22-250's as well). As far as bullets go, I use sirra blitzkings exclusively. They have the highest BC's of all the mainstream .204 caliber bullets and my gun happens to love them both weights. I have several loads with both bullets that keep 5 shots into less than 3/8" @ 100 yards with ruthless consitancy. Have tried bergers and they shoot well but thier lowish BC rules them out in my sitiaution. SHots to 500 yards and beyond in the winter rule out a bullet with an inferior BC. If your ranges are shorter (350 yards or less) any bullet will do but if you want to push it, think the 39 graisierra ot the 40 grain Vmax.

There is an example of sundays load work. Also had a rather hot benchmark load with the 39 grain sierra@ 26.3 grains. Not as accurate but I sure the velocity is up there.

how fast is your benchmark 25.7gr load shooting? Super nice group you have there. I'm still working on loads for my 204 for the upcoming coyote slaughter this winter. I've been using the 40gr vmax, but I'm trying out 39gr BK right now. I like super fast loads and thats why I bought a 204. I've been a little disappointed that I cant seem to get speed over 3750 that have much accuracy. I'm shooting an AR with a 24'' barrel. I figure I probably cant get as much speed as I could with a bolt action because I cant load the bullet into the lands. I was hoping to outdo my 22-250 in speed and trajectory inside 500 yards, but I'm still slower than a 50grain vmax in my 22-250. I dont want to drop to a 32 grain bullet for coyotes.

I would not go down to 32's for yotes either. I feel, with a good shot the 39's and 40's are very capable of dumping yotes' out to 500 yards because I have done it. Neglected to bring the chrony out on sunday so i have no idea how fast this load is running. The other one that showed real promise was the 26.3 grain load of benchmark with the same bullet, Under half an inch for 5 shots and I am VERY positive she is a fast one! Way over max according to hodgdon data but this appears to be the way my remington likes it. Starting charges are a waste of time for me. I have only assembled one load that showed pressure signs in this gun and it happened to be benchmark with the barnes VG. The load was SUPER accurate but HOT! 28.3 grains of benchmark put 5 into less than 3/8" but the bolt was a little sticky.......read......A LOT sticky. I have since gave up on that bullet as to my way of thinking it serves little purpose in my world, BC is way to low for anything beyond about 200 yards. We dumped almost 100 yotes' last winter, my first full winter hunting with a 204 and all I have to say is I am NOT sad I sold a pet savage 22-250 and replaced it with this remington in 204...VERY happy!

Your load of Benchmark 26.3 was with which bullet? I agree that I dont wast time with the starting loads. I like to start at least at the middle point and load up from there until I get pressure signs so I know where I'm at. Then I find the most accurate fast load I can find. Wow your hunting group put a whammy on yotes last year. I'm gearing up for a big season of yotes myself. My 243 with 75 gr Hornady HP pushed by 46.2 grains of H414 at 3542 fps is my favorite yote whacker as it slams them with authority and I can hear a loud wwhuuummmp!! when the bullet hits. However when I'm trying to save hides I turn to my 204 and so far it has done a superb job. Only occasionally do I need to put a 2nd round it the yote. I'm still working for a pet load in my 204. Think I'm getting close but I want to try Benchmark and R10x yet. So far I've used H4895 and W748 with a 40gr vmax.

39 grain BK all the way! It is my favorite bullet in this caliber. Not concerned about hide damage just knocking them down amd so far it is working for me!

I too only shoot Sierra 39 grain Blitzkings. I have good accuracy in both of my 204s with 26.0 grains of H4895.

For Savage 12 VLP.204 Ruger

Bullet: 32 gr Hornady VMax or Sierra Blitz King
Powder: 26.8 gr Benchmark
Brass: Federal
Brass trim: 1.837" +/- .001"
Primer: Federal 205M
COAL: apx 2.334"
Size: Lee collet neck sized
Seated: Wilson seating die, stem adjusted @ 1.7000"
TIR: (@ case side of bullet olgive) <0.002"

Best 3 shot yields so far:
VMax: 0.24" @100y, 1.0"@300y.

Blitz Kings (with untrimmed Nosler brass): 0.3" @100y (26.8, 27.6 gr Benchmark), 1.7" @ 400y (27.6 gr Benchmark)

Hi,

Well I think I have found something that works!

Cooper .204, 25.7 gr Benchmark, 7 1/2 primer, Sierra 39 gr BK, Remington brass, RCBS F/L die, Redding Competition seating die.

This is my test target to comfirm my load above.


Thanks for all you guys taught me.

Check load data charts start at the min load and work up in .5 grain increments. One load will out shoot them all! Every barrel and gun is a little different. You can try someone elses pet load and it may hit perfect., but it is doubtfull if it will be the best load for your barrel. This holds true with exact gun build with same barrel manufacture. When you find the best load in half load increments then load three to five rounds in tenth grain increments and test. This is the best way to find what Your gun likes. Sugestions can help such as pet powder and bullet weight, etc. Personally my best sugestion is to try 10 x alliant. I am having awsome results! Be carefull if going to shoot over 40 grain bullets. Pressure increases fast with this powder!

I don't know if you have access to the Ramshot line of powders over there, but I've found that 26.1gr of X-Terminator with the 35gr Berger works really well in my CZ .204...It burns clean and meters like water...