Two close and one away

Share information about reloading the 204 Ruger.
Banshee
New Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 8:21 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage 12 FV

Two close and one away

Post by Banshee »

Sorry for the newbie type question but my searching wasn't finding what I am looking for.

My new Savage 12 FV has a long throat. I can't get very close to the lands with the SBK 39. Accuracy has been consistenly under an 1.25" but of 18 groups fired thus far, 12 have two touching with the third hole 0.5 -.75" away. I haven't kept good records, but it seems to be random which shot is the off shot. It could certainly be shooter error!

All rounds have been loaded to the same overall length.

Which variable should I be working with to lessen this tendency?
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Hedge
Senior Member
Posts: 248
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:52 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage model 12 FLV
Location: S. Central ND

Re: Two close and one away

Post by Hedge »

I have a Savage mod 12 as well. Instead of moving towards the lands, start moving back. That's what it took to bring my groups down to .375". Some fine tweaking and I believe I can get even tighter. I don't measure OAL. I measure from the ogive. Seems to be less variation that way.
Also, just neck size the cases, bumping back the shoulder just enough to chamber easily if necessary.
Oh, just a comment about powder. I started with H335 as that was what the Lyman manual said had the greatest potential for accuracy.
Well, it was pretty accurate but even with a moderate load, I was getting overpressure signs on a warm day. Switched to 8208 XBR and haven't had that problem and the accuracy is just as good.
Savage 12 FCV .204 Ruger
Viper PST FFP 4-16x50

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"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" Sigmund Freud.
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GaCop
Senior Member
Posts: 117
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:53 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: AR-15, 24" stainless varmint barrel
Location: Warner Robins, Ga

Re: Two close and one away

Post by GaCop »

Also check to see that your barrel and tang is floated. If not already glass bedded, I would recommend doing it, it could very well eliminate your flyer. I bed all my Savage builds and never have problems with flyers (as long as the handloads are put together with care). Measure your bullets from base to ogive, you'll be surprised at the wide variance in the lengths. With a Hornady L-N-L OAL gauge, you can measure from base of case to ogive AND know exactly how for from the rifling you are. With the Hornady gauge, book OALs are useless when you know the distance to the lands in YOUR barrel.
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