SmallCaliberCentral

I have had my 204 ruger H&R ULTRA break over for about 8 mths. I have tried H4895, H4198, IMR 82O8 XBR,
and IMR 4198 poweds along with 26 gn, 32 gn Hornady, 39 gn BK with no better than 3/4" groups.
The scope is tight and I am and experienced reloader and shooter. Ha
Have many of you had this much trouble getting a tight group (1/4 moa) with the 204.
My 22-250 would put bullets in the same hole at 100 yards with very little trial reloads.
Maybe the rifle is the problem? Is the 204 a very accurate round?

Could be all you can get out of the gun.Do you have other guns like that one, in different calibers?.I have no information on that H&R.

No this is the first one that I have owned and maybe the last. Ha!
I thought that the single shot break over would be and accurate type of rifle but, not this one.
Hope it wasn't the scope which was a BSA PLatinum 8x32. I keep the scope.
I sold it today and will be looking for a new rifle soon. Any sugestions?

The .204 is inheritoly very accurate. With my .204 throughout load development the worst group I got measured 0.502 for a 5 shot group and that was with un fire formed brass! It shoots in the .2 -.3's all day if I do my bit!

I'd expect more from my rifle then your getting mate.

When did you last clean the barrel, how any rounds has it shot?


Steve.

If you like break action, single shots, as I do. I would go with a TC Encore. They are accurate and work very well, when set up. I have the older TC contenders and they are working very well for me, but the encore is a much heavier built frame and has many more choices of calibers, now. I should add that my contenders are worked over with M. Bellm's goodies and bullberry barrels, so they shoot a little, sometime more so, better than the factory issue. I see more and more of the TC Encore's showing up with the 204 Ruger and a barrel made for the 20VT would be a real winner. Bill K

I've got a Savage heavy bbl Predator Max 1 and have been trying different loads for months in an attempt to get 3/4 inch or better. I've learned that this inherently accurate rifle likes ONLY one powder BLC-2 and ONLY bullets in the 32-35 gr. weight. I'm finally getting close to 1/2" with 35gr Bergers; 29.5 grs BLC-2 and neck-sizing (I also trim the outside of the case necks after fire forming and neck sizing the first time. It shouldn't be this difficult, but often is when you are trying to get tiny goups. p.s. I've tried at least 4 different powders in this baby.....nothing else works.

Found with mine it was more to do with seating depths than load, found various loads with R10x that would do 1/2 to 3/4" at 100 yards then started to play around with depths best for mine was 26.1gr at 2.305 pushing 39gr blitz

247sniper wrote:The .204 is inheritoly very accurate. With my .204 throughout load development the worst group I got measured 0.502 for a 5 shot group and that was with un fire formed brass! It shoots in the .2 -.3's all day if I do my bit!

I'd expect more from my rifle then your getting mate.

When did you last clean the barrel, how any rounds has it shot?


Steve.

Steve, if you don't mind my asking, what rifle are you shooting because thats the kind or accuracy that I'm looking for?

Like Camo, I found my rifle (Rem 700) likes a certain COAL, 2.306". My groups went from just under .5" to sub .25" for 5 shot groups at 100yds when I got the COAL dialed in.

I agree with Bill K,on the Contender.The new G2 frame is just the right size for the varmint cartridges,but the encore will work as well.Actions have been on Gunbroker from time to time for around $250-275.Add a custom barrel,,scopebase,and stocks,for a nice break open varmint rifle.I have a custom 20 Ackley Bee 25" barrel on my
G2 Contender frame.Shoots tighter groups than I thought it would.

Joe O wrote:I agree with Bill K,on the Contender.The new G2 frame is just the right size for the varmint cartridges,but the encore will work as well.Actions have been on Gunbroker from time to time for around $250-275.Add a custom barrel,,scopebase,and stocks,for a nice break open varmint rifle.I have a custom 20 Ackley Bee 25" barrel on my
G2 Contender frame.Shoots tighter groups than I thought it would.

Joe as much as I like my contender's. I have numerous calibers. from .17 to 375 and have owned two frames since they were first out, if I were buying another today, I would move up to the Encore as it is much heavier, has many more calibers available and in more choices than ever. Either factory, Bullberry and Begara to name a few. In fact I am contemplating another 204 Ruger and just may buy a Encore in that to start with. Just a thought. Bill K

mmw1015 wrote:

247sniper wrote:The .204 is inheritoly very accurate. With my .204 throughout load development the worst group I got measured 0.502 for a 5 shot group and that was with un fire formed brass! It shoots in the .2 -.3's all day if I do my bit!

I'd expect more from my rifle then your getting mate.

When did you last clean the barrel, how any rounds has it shot?


Steve.

Steve, if you don't mind my asking, what rifle are you shooting because thats the kind or accuracy that I'm looking for?

Hiya,

My rifle is a custom. It's a Remington 700 action with a PAC-NOR 1/11 twist flooted barrel, dual trigger, and fully bedded.

Whilst my set up helps, it still like all rifles enjoys its own recapie.

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i37 ... 2f4cd6.jpg

To the OP,
Sounds like that could of been the limit of the rifle. The 204 is a very accurate round! I bought my 204 a couple yrs ago but only recently started loading for it. I got lucky I guess. Grabbed some 39gr Sierras and had some 4895 on the shelf mixed it all togather and my first group ever was around 5/8"-3/4". With some tweaking they are now running right at .500 sometimes less. This was probably the easiest rifle to find a load for that I have ever had. Hope you find a rifle and get back in the 204R world. The Savages and CZ are hard to beat.

Tokimini wrote:Like Camo, I found my rifle (Rem 700) likes a certain COAL, 2.306". My groups went from just under .5" to sub .25" for 5 shot groups at 100yds when I got the COAL dialed in.

Not only did I try many powders and bullets but, I also worked with the coal but the best I could get was .75 five shot group

mmw1015 wrote:

Tokimini wrote:Like Camo, I found my rifle (Rem 700) likes a certain COAL, 2.306". My groups went from just under .5" to sub .25" for 5 shot groups at 100yds when I got the COAL dialed in.

Not only did I try many powders and bullets but, I also worked with the coal but the best I could get was .75 five shot group

Can you please explain in detail how you have gone about your load development. What steps did you carry out?

Bullets
powders
primers
cases
what steps did you follow?


Steve.