Savage Mako .204

[Chief]

Well went to the range again today and lets say it was dumb to go but I went anyway.
It was about 33 degree's and raining.

I shot some more combo's the best today was .348 5 shots @100yds
35gr Bergers
26gr Benchmark
CCI 450 Mag primer
OAL: 2.25

My question will I see any difference if I got to a different primer like the BR-2's?

Chief

[jo191145]

Good thinking Chief

This would be the time I do a primer check.
Load up 26gns of BM with every small rifle primer you care to try and have at it.
Fire five foulers then begin shooting the primer test round robin style. 450's are one of my favorites but you never know which might work best.
26gns is light enough that you should have no problems switching primers without working back up. Just do not use any Rem 6.5's in a 204, ever.

Most folks try primers last. I see no reason to tweak a load then switch primers last. The new primer may want a slightly different tweak than the original.
After you find the best primer .1gn increments will make a difference.

BR 2's wont fit well tho

[Chief]

Yea I guess that I might have a bit of a hard time getting the BR-2's to fit hu. LOL

[Chief]

jo,
I had read on one of your other post that all you need is a savage action and you can pretty much build your own gun. I understand that the barrels just screw on but how do you get the head spacing?

Chief

[jo191145]

Most folks would use a headspace gauge.
I do it a little differently. Seeing as I'm never concerned with loading anything other than my own handloads I set my headspace to a crush fit on new brass. This really cuts down on the initial fireforming stretch increasing case life and decreasing stretch through subsequent firings.

On the McGowen barrel I just started with I initially set my headspace with a saami gauge to shoot some factory ammo. Then set it .010 deeper to fit some really short Winchester brass. Actually I could not back off the headspace as much as I would have desired or the bolt face would hit the barrel tenon.

If you were wondering? Savage factory and custom prefits come fully chambered not short chambered.

FACT FOR EVERYONE
Never Never set headspace more than saami specs. Less is no problem but more is dangerous.

[Chief]

Alright guys went to the range again today with my 204 and my 308.
So here is the load I was using
35gr Bergers
26gr benchmark
CCI450 Mag
OAL:2.387 (.020 from lands)
Winchester and Nosler brass

[Chief]

this one is with the nosler brass and br4 primers

[Chief]

[Chief]

This one was with my .308 @100yds

[kenbrofox]

Hi chief, i noticed you use cci 450 mag. primers. with me just starting out in reloading and a shortage of consumables on the shelves i bought the first primers i found...cci 400, have i made a mistake? I have since found some remington 7 1/2br which i have ordered, these are about 6 dollars per thousand more expensive than the cci.Thanks KB.

[Chief]

Ken,
I would not use the CCI 400's on the 204. They are a very thin primer and under a lot of pressure they will pierce.

I would stick with the CCI 450's, CCI BR4's, REM 71/2BR, or FED 205M's.
Chief

[kenbrofox]

Thanks for that Chief, Would you know if they would be ok for my 17 fireball? If not i will give them away.Cheers KB.

[Chief]

They should be fine for your 17

[Rick in Oregon]

kenbro: For what it's worth, I use Rem 7-1/2's in my 17 Mach IV and have for many years with excellent accuracy and 3860 fps using H322 and the Berger 25gr bullet. If wanted, you can go faster with the 20gr Berger or V-Max.

Many a ground squirrel has been launched with this combination over the years......

[kenbrofox]

Rick, i was asking if the cci 400 would be ok for the 17 fireball as they don't appear to suit the 204r. Chief said they would so now i don't need to give them away thanks to all,KB.