SmallCaliberCentral

I could not get any decent groups using 39 gr Sierra Blitzkings and IMR 8208XBR so I decided to try using Reloder 10X. I tried loads of 23.1 gr, 23.6 gr, 24.1 gr and 24.6gr. The 24.1 was the most accurate. Five shot group at 100yds.

Good work. Looks like the five shot groups will measure under an inch. What velocity are you getting?

Tom

I don't have a chrono, but for me velocity is not all that important. I'm just looking for accuracy.

Reviewed some notes from last year for 39 BK and 10X in my Cooper .204. A load of 24.0 grs of 10x produced a group of .087 at 100 yds and vel of 3570 fps. My normal load of Benchmark (25 grs) produced a group of .328 and vel of 3618 fps. I need to look further into 10x, but I'm unsure about temp sensitivity for pd shooting out west. Keep us posted on your groups and loads.

like so many,on this site, I have also been having great success with RL10x. Still playing with 8208xbr. Thought of trying 4895, as some do, but 10x is working so well. Wonder why? Bill K

Getting very similar groups with the 39gr SBK and RL10x with 24.8gr in my R700. I only tested as low as 24.6 though so maybe I go a little lower. I too am looking for accuracy and not velocity unless that helps accuracy. I also get great results with H4985, IMR 3031, Benchmark, and Aliant 2015 all under 5/8". All at different velocities. I did not have nearly the same luck with the 32gr Noslers lead free though.

Most accurate loads I found with the 39SBKs were RL10x@24.8, H4895@27.3, 3031@24.4

Goose, I'll give 24.8 a try.

24.7 works for me mate with 39 bks with 10x

spongejo wrote:24.7 works for me mate with 39 bks with 10x

Goose says 24.8 grains. I guess I'll have compromise and try 24.75 grains.

Bill K wrote:like so many,on this site, I have also been having great success with RL10x. Still playing with 8208xbr. Thought of trying 4895, as some do, but 10x is working so well. Wonder why? Bill K

BillK
did you try Benchmark with this bullet? What were your results?
T I A

I'm sorry to hear some of you aren't able to get IMR 8208 XBR, H4895 and/or Reloder 10X powder to shoot decent in your .204 Rugers. All three of those powders have been GREAT in one or more of my three .204 Rugers.

I bought a Savage 12VLP in .204 Ruger the first week of June 2004, but the 39 gr. Sierras weren't available until the next spring. I tested Rel 10X with the 39 gr. Sierras back in the spring of 2005 and settled on a load of 24.8 gr. with that bullet using the Remington 7½ primers and WW casings. This load gave me a muzzle velocity right around 3,850 fps and was super accurate. A new lot of Rel 10X did not give me the same velocities or accuracy and I switched to H4895 and have stayed with that load ever since. Here's a target shot with the old lot of Reloder 10X powder:



A target shot with the replacement load for the Reloder 10X powder and that was 28.0 gr. of H4895 and the 39 gr. Sierra:



I bought a used Savage 12VLP in .204 Ruger that had a custom barrel with 1 in 11" twist and a load of 27.4 gr. of IMR 8208 XBR in WW casings and fired up with Remington 7½ primers gave me itty bitty groups and muzzle velocities in the 3,850 fps range. I also tried H4895 with that bullet in this rifle, but the 8208 gave me the best accuracy. Here's one group shot with 27.4 gr. of IMR 8208 XBR with the 39 gr. Sierra:



I also built a Savage target action .204 Ruger and used a Lilja 1 in 12 twist #6 contour barrel on this one. The only powder/bullet I have used in that rifle is IMR 8208 XBR with the 39 gr. Sierra BKs. The brass I use in this rifle is Nosler brass and I still use the Remington 7½ primers to fire up the powder. I was using 27.3 gr. of 8208 with the 39 gr. Sierras seated .004" off the lands and getting 3,887 fps for muzzle velocity and groups in the .3s and .4s. I ran out of that lot of 8208 and bought 8 pounds of a new lot of powder. The load that works best with this new powder is 27.2 gr. seated .004" off the lands and all other components are the same.

Here's the last target I shot with this load combination on Thursday, July 28, 2011:



This load combination is giving me an average muzzle velocity of 3,894 fps and the group size is acceptable to me. I hope you fellows have good luck working up your loads and can spend more time out shooting varmints than you spend shooting paper in working up your loads.

btlbrn wrote:

Bill K wrote:like so many,on this site, I have also been having great success with RL10x. Still playing with 8208xbr. Thought of trying 4895, as some do, but 10x is working so well. Wonder why? Bill K

BillK
did you try Benchmark with this bullet? What were your results?
T I A

I did do some work with Benchmark and it did not seem to work as well for me. I may play with it more, later this winter, but for now will stick with 10x, 8208xbr and AA 2520. Bill K

Pleased to see that 8208 XBR worked so well. I use 8208 XBR in my .22-.250 with 53 gr VMax bullets and hope to continue it with the .204 Ruger.

I like 8208 XBR it is easy to throw uniform charges and if the claims for temperature uniformity are right it should be the choice for coyotes in frosty mornings and chucks on warm mid morning days.

Bill what is your load for the 2520? I have some but don't find the min/max loads do you have that info as well?

Matt, The 8th Edition of Hornady's new book shows start 26.7 to max 30.5 w/32 v-max Start 24.9 to max 29.6 with 40 v-max. I am shooting 1 inch and less with 27.3 and the 34 Dogtown and 32 Sierra BK. Hope this gives you some place to start. Bill K