SmallCaliberCentral

I had a couple questions for you all. I just started loading for my cz 204. I am loading up 40 gr Berger HP and had both varget and h4895 already on hand. So far I've got the varget to group 3 shots at. 325@100 yards, but can't get the h4895 to get below an inch. I'm using rem 7 1/2 primers but after just a few shots with the varget I'm getting a pretty nasty bore. Because of the limited powder selection locally I was looking to switch to reloader 10 because I can get whole of it. Does anybody have any experience using reloader 10 and shooting the 40 grain Berger?

In my rifle I use, with very good results, 22.8 grains of RL10X and the 40 Grain V-Max. I would think the Berger would be fine in that same area. I would start around 22 grains in yours and work up. Max is around 23.4 by my records. Bill K

I've had very good results using 24.4 gr of RL10X with both 40gr Vmax and 39gr Blitzkings. According to Sierra data from the "204 Load Data" link from this website the max for RL10X with the 39gr BK is 25.1gr. The 40gr Bergers never worked well for me.

I just found an email I got last August from Berger stating that the max load of RL10X for their 40gr bullet is 22.9gr. I think Bill is right, start at 22 and work up watching for over pressurization signs.

thanks for the replies. The more I've read on here and other sites it sure looks like the h4895 ought to come in better than it has. I'm wondering if I should spend a little more time on it rather than jumping to the reloader 10. So far I've tried 26, 26.5, and 27 trying to get an idea whether it would come in before I went to jumping a tenth of a grain at a time, but all of them have stayed right at 1 inch. Looks like a lot of people are having better luck right around max load, so I may try one more set at 27.5 and see if I see a difference.

As far as H4895 goes, my rifle shoots 26.2 grains with the 40 grain v-max into 1/2 in all day. I shoot way more 32 and 34 grain z-max, v-max and Noslers than any other bullet, these I use either the 27.8 load of H4895 or 25.7 grains of RL10X . But again these loads are worked up in my rifles. If you play in that area, started below and work up. Safety first, slow and easy. If I do my part, I can usually cover groups with a dime. Bill K

The 204 has been described as a "tenth of a grain rifle". I found 1/2 grain increments too coarse when working up loads. Even .3 can be too coarse. Just my $.02... My own rifle likes 24.6 gr of RL10 and 39gr SBK's.

Use .1 grain increments and when testing different powders, make sure any residue from the previous powder has beem purged out. All of my 204's shoot the 39 SBK quite well with H4895 quiet well.

Jim

inKYfromSD wrote:The 204 has been described as a "tenth of a grain rifle". I found 1/2 grain increments too coarse when working up loads. Even .3 can be too coarse. Just my $.02... My own rifle likes 24.6 gr of RL10 and 39gr SBK's.

Any thing under a 243 can be a 1 tenth gr cartridge, there is working up in 3 tenths, then fine tuning after that. Dr P