SmallCaliberCentral

In addition to reloading, I bought some of the Hornady 32gr V-Max factory loads with the advertised 4225 fps. In my shorter 20" Tikka T3, I was able to get consistant readings just over 3800 fps. It is said that Hornady is using some secret proprietary powder but at those velocities, they have to be exceding maximum loads unless there's a new magical way of making higher velocity lower pressure loads now.

Just wondering how many reloaders are exceeding the reloading book's maximum for loads in .204? Thanks.

tpcollins............I would rather load for accuracy vs velocity. I have 2 Remington 700 blue printed wearing 26" Hart barrels. H4895/27.0/39 sierra will give me 3800....accurate and easy on brass! You will read on this site that there are some fast barrels and some slow barrels. I stay with book specs as far as loads. Reloader 10X, H4895, Benchmark are some of the best powders it start reloading. If your south of the advertised velocity don't get worried, long as it puts 5 rounds in a ragged 20 cal hole, your good to go!!
later
Ray P

tp: You will never, ever reach the advertised Hornady factory velocity by handloading.....never. The factory does indeed use a propriatory blended powder, and no one I know has ever been able to get 4,225 fps from factory ammo anyway, so why even try.

You are getting normal velocities for your barrel length, and most if not all of us here don't venture much over a few tenth now and then over book max, as we've all seen blown-up rifles and heard horror stories. The varmint will never know the difference of a load 200 or 300 fps slower than advertised, neither will you. The 204 is plenty fast enough when handloaded prudently, and all of mine shoot flatter than my Swift (they all get used alot more these days too....... ).

I recently aquired a chronograph (what a fun tool) and was able to chrono a few loads. Factory 32 V-max leave my barrel at an average of about 4100 fps, while my 32 V-max handloads pushed by a mild load of 27.5 grains Varget are going 3950 fps (winchester cases and remington 7 1/2 primers). Thats over 150 fps over hornady load data which was tested in a 26 inch barrel (mine is also 26 inches). I bet with a max load of 29.3 grains I could push it over 4100 fps, but groups open up as the load becomes compressed.

-Neil

I like that Neil

Hornady factory 32vmax runs right at 4,000 fps on my chrono in a Savage 16 WW with 22" barrel. I can get that and more with IMR 8208 XBR pretty easily. H335 will also shoot to over 4,000 with no problem. Reloader 10x gets about 3,950 fps as does Benchmark, W748, BLC(2), TAC, H4895, and A2230 without pushing any of them to max, but I can't get better than 3,700 fps with Varget and the 32 vmax. In my rifle at least it just seems to be a little to slow for the 32's, but shoots in the .3 pretty consistently. Strangely, the 40 vmax is almost as fast at about 3,650fps with 28g of varget, but best accuracy comes at 27.1g which gives me about 3,525 fps and will also shoot .3's.

IMO, too much hype is made on velocity. Using ballistic charts with a 204, a few hundred fps doesn't really gain you much down range. If one's rifle shoots their best @ MAX loads then by all means but if it doesn't why bother?

As far as actual velocity there are many variables; among them are environment (temp, humidity, elevation), light and of course the chronograph itself. If your numbers really seem out of whack, try another unit if available. In my experience, with the exception of 8208XBR, I don't reach the advertised velocity ratings.

HTH,

28-29 grains of TAC or N135 will get you well over 4100, its been awhile but both worked great for me with 32vmax.

With the type of powder, probably a pressure barrel, etc. you will never, safely, reach that velocity. I would suggest that you concentrate on accuracy, rather than speed. When you find one or two loads that are super accurate, in your rifle, I would just bet you will find your speed is going to be around 3800-3900 fps and that is a good velocity. Bill K

+ One for what Bill K. said. Spot-on IMO.

What kind of velocity can you expect out of the 39 SBK's?

I usually get about 3,750 fps on the 39 bk in a 22" Savage using H4895.

I get 3700 fps with my 39SBKs pushed by 27.8 of H4895 in a 24" barrel shot out of an AR.