SmallCaliberCentral

Hey folks I have emailed aliant,so far no answer. Does anyone know of starting and max load for 204 with 50 grain BHBT and aliant 10x? Aliants chart online shows data for 222 but nothing for 204? 222 data would be a bit light as 204 is 222mag case? Thanks ahead of time. I have been searchingonline for over a hour and no luck.

Valar wrote:Hey folks I have emailed aliant,so far no answer. Does anyone know of starting and max load for 204 with 50 grain BHBT and aliant 10x? Aliants chart online shows data for 222 but nothing for 204? 222 data would be a bit light as 204 is 222mag case? Thanks ahead of time. I have been searchingonline for over a hour and no luck.

Can't help you with the 10X and the 50 gr Bergers, because I haven't tried that particular combination. I can say, though, that the 50's work very well for me with 25.0 gr H4895 and 24.4 gr XBR 8208. I am shooting these in a Pac-Nor 1 in 10 twist barrel.

Thanks cv do you happen to know the starting and max 8208 xbr load data? Xbr is very close burn wise to RL 10x Might be a help?

Valar wrote:Thanks cv do you happen to know the starting and max 8208 xbr load data? Xbr is very close burn wise to RL 10x Might be a help?

Yep. Here ya go:

50 GR. BER HPBT
IMR 8208 XBR
COL 2.300"
Starting load 23.0 gr / Velocity 3129 fps / Pressure 47,800 PSI
Max load 24.9 gr / Velocity 3327 fps / Pressure 56,100 PSI

Thank you i am still waiting for a reply from Aliant. I am also going to check with my local shop, as he got me started on 10x in the 204 round. Keepin it safe as grain structure of powder varies as well. Thanks for your reply it may well be a factor in my desicion. Pressure with 10x is known to rise very fast so I am factoring all info received.

Valar wrote:Thank you i am still waiting for a reply from Aliant. I am also going to check with my local shop, as he got me started on 10x in the 204 round. Keepin it safe as grain structure of powder varies as well. Thanks for your reply it may well be a factor in my desicion. Pressure with 10x is known to rise very fast so I am factoring all info received.

Always a good idea to work your way up. The information comes from Hodgdon, and I would recommend that you check it out yourself, as well as seek out the Aliant info, before going anywhere near max loads.

Edit: Updated for chronograph results:

25.0 gr H4895 (well over max without any pressure signs or issues) produces 3,342 fps.
24.4 gr IMR 8208 XBR produces 3,334 fps.
24.9 gr IMR 8208 XBR produces 3,389 fps.

Again, this is in my 26 inch 1 in 10 twist Pac-Nor Super Match.

Reply came from Aliant. They have no load data for 50 grain berger.Recomend reloader 15. I find it weird that they have data for 22- 250 with 10x and 50 grain heads, but not in 204. Pressure comes up fast with 10 x however the 22- 250 is a known hot round similar to 220 swift. I have to beleive the cooller shooting 204 would be fine with a 50 grain head and 10x? I understand 22-250 is a larger dia head but also a much larger case! I am going to check with a local shop that turned me onto 10x in 204 and see what he has to say? I will post again later if any other interest.