SmallCaliberCentral

Looking for some actual numbers and load data, besdies some of the standard charts i have come across I've done a lot of searching but can't seem to come up with much. So I wouldn't mind hearing what you have used and what results you got, the good and the bad. Loads, speed, and groups.

Also could some please give me a measurement of the 39 gr BK from tip to base?

If you are looking for a good starting point for loads i would highly recommend the Lyman #49 manual. They offer loads with many of the popular bullets and powders available today. You will find a big difference from rifle to rifle as far as what bullets and loads work well. I have had good luck with Xterminator powder and the 39 SBK's in my LRPV. If you have any IMR 8208 you might give it a try, seems to be very well suited to the 204 and very temperature insensitive.

Look in the Favorite Loads thread, there is a spreadsheet of user-submitted favorites. In my rifle, the 39 SBK does well over 24.6 grains of Reloader 10X with a Rem 7 1/2 primer. Not super fast but super accurate. Second best load is 27.4 grains ofr IMR8208XBR. Your mileage *will* vary. The 204 seems to be a very individualistic rifle - no two seem to like the same load.

Out of my Cooper, I have settled on 25.5 gr of Benchmark w/CCI 450s or BR4s, which give a velocity of ~3750fps. During testing, 24.4 gr of RE 10x also shot pretty well.

I get average 0.35" to 0.45" groups if I do my part. Just shot a 0.28" the other day, even after about 3,200 rounds down the tube. Barrel is holding up very well.

HeadLever wrote:During testing, 24.4 gr of RE 10x also shot pretty well.

My rifle also does well with 24.4 gr of R 10x behind 39gr BKs.

Thanks for letting me know about the Favorite Loads spreadsheet that's fantastic to refer to.

How much luck do you guys when changing powders to help close up your groups? Can it be significant or hardly worth it?

Boisblancboy wrote: Can it be significant or hardly worth it?

You are absolutely correct! It can be either one, usually don't know until you try it. My final load with that bullet is 24.7gr RL10X using the Federal 205M primer in a Cooper Model 21, FWIW.

Boisblancboy wrote:How much luck do you guys when changing powders to help close up your groups? Can it be significant or hardly worth it?

In my experience the difference is slight, but I really enjoy working up loads for a new powder. Metering out the same weight of powder for the same bullet over and over and over again is boring. Accurate but boring.

My CZ 527 loves 25.5gr Benchmark and Rem 7 1/2 primers with the 39 BK. Did 1/2" today which is the norm for my rifle and my 66 yr old eyes. H4895 has also worked well for me but not so much with RL10X. I was looking in a reloader manual today...think it was Noslers or Norman.....can't remember which but they tested all the powders in the .204 and found that H322 was the most accurate. I have not tried it in mine. Think I'll stick with Benchmark.

Well guys I have some 39gr BK'S coming. Can't wait to test them out. Does anyone know the min and max loads using H4895 and IMR 8208 XBR?