Favorite Loads

[Sth Oz Dan]

Just worked up my first 205 Ruger load

sounds like an accurate load. I wonder how it goes in the "204"Ruger
Sorry - couldn't resist. Someone had to have a dig

[eloodo]

I really like the 39sbk in front of 25.2gr of Benchmark fed205m primers. 3524 avg FPS. I hit a .264" 3 shot group with this load

The 32sbk also shoot extremely well with 29.2gr BLC-2 fed205m primers. 3969 avg FPS. I hit a .243" 3 shot group with this load

The 35gr Bergers in front of 29.5gr of BLC-2 fed205m primers Ogive Length of 1.935". 3944 FPS average. My brother in law shot the .225" group below. I shot the 300yd and 400yd groupings. The red dot in the center of the 300 and 400 yd targets is 1/4" and the first ring is 1 inch.





The Sierra Blitzkings tend to splash on larger varmints. Ive shot badgers at 50yds with the 39gr blitzkings and had entrance holes 2 inches. I had two coyotes get away with direct hits using the SBK's so I now only use them for rock chucks and whistle pigs. Still a great bullet but in my opinion not for coyotes.
The 35gr Bergers are amazing on coyotes. I hit one at 430yds, another at 100, and yet another at 170. All three dropped with one hit.

[Immortal]

So far my favorite load for my Sabre Defence 204 upper has to be 27.4gr. of Benchmark pushing a 32gr. Sierra B/K. Using Remington 7 1/2's.

Tried Reloader 10x but could not get better than a 1" group at 100 yards.

All 5 shot groups.The pic of 27.4gr. has one shot low left.That was my cold bore shot. The other 4 shots were less than 1/2".

[tinytree]

i am still working up new loads, too, but am having the same problems with winchester primers. i really wish the current craziness would settle down a little, and stuff would start to show back up in the real world. i haven't seen a rem 7 1/2 anywhere since i bought the gun! i am still using the wins, but they really look "mashed" well before even published maxes.

[tbates]

My Ruger #1 likes 28 gr of Benchmark with 32 gr Sierra BKs with Rem 7.5 BR primers, which are great loads for p-dogs. I am interested in the experience of another poster who likes Bergers better for coyotes. My experience is mixed with my loads. Shot 2 yotes at close range that dropped where they stood. Another I hit in the left hip running away at about 150 yards. It left a nasty rip in his leg/hip but kept going with great difficulty. My second shot hit him in the neck and he went down hard. Makes me wonder what a different bullet would have done with the same hit. Had I hit him with my .243, the 60 gr Sierra HP that I shoot would have turned him inside out. I have been eager to experiment with some different .204 bullets and am enjoying this thread.

[sharps45-120]

Just worked up my first 205 Ruger load

sounds like an accurate load. I wonder how it goes in the "204"Ruger
Sorry - couldn't resist. Someone had to have a dig

No Problem, 67 year old FAT Fingers, Good for a laugh. I had one of my GrandChildren post a "PML" after something she wrote on line, She stated it is the "UPDATED VERSION" of LOL. LOL is Laughing Out Loud. She said PML is PEED MYSELF LAUGHING. I like that one, sometimes it is a good pick me up.

[sharps45-120]

I really like the 39sbk in front of 25.2gr of Benchmark fed205m primers. 3524 avg FPS. I hit a .264" 3 shot group with this load

The 32sbk also shoot extremely well with 29.2gr BLC-2 fed205m primers. 3969 avg FPS. I hit a .243" 3 shot group with this load

The 35gr Bergers in front of 29.5gr of BLC-2 fed205m primers Ogive Length of 1.935". 3944 FPS average. My brother in law shot the .225" group below. I shot the 300yd and 400yd groupings. The red dot in the center of the 300 and 400 yd targets is 1/4" and the first ring is 1 inch.





The Sierra Blitzkings tend to splash on larger varmints. Ive shot badgers at 50yds with the 39gr blitzkings and had entrance holes 2 inches. I had two coyotes get away with direct hits using the SBK's so I now only use them for rock chucks and whistle pigs. Still a great bullet but in my opinion not for coyotes.
The 35gr Bergers are amazing on coyotes. I hit one at 430yds, another at 100, and yet another at 170. All three dropped with one hit.

I like the Berger 35grHP's as well. My load with IMR8208XBR - 27.6gr, RP 7 1/2 primers and Nosler New Brass - .236" at 100 yards. Made many head shots on Rock Chucks - opens them right up.

[sharps45-120]

Well I was able to get to the range today. I brought my reloads of 39gn Sierra, with 25.5gns of IMR 4064 also used my 24gns of IMR 4064 with 34 gn dogtown's. Look at the photos for how well the did or did not do. I you have any good info that could help I would love to hear it. I also used 2 factory loads.

Thanks
Daris

Don't forget to measure your loads outside to outside and then deduct the bullet diameter to get the true center to center accuracy group measurements. It looks like some of your loads are smaller than you think from what I glimpsed. .

[harry]

Power pro varmint 27.1 gr, 39bk , rem 7 1/2 br primers , nosler brass, length to oge 1.932 100 yds .222 5 shot group . 400 yds 1.212 5 shot group ( both groups where shot off of a plastic picnic table) I am sure they will tighten up some on a solid bench.

[bazz]

I really like the 39sbk in front of 25.2gr of Benchmark fed205m primers. 3524 avg FPS. I hit a .264" 3 shot group with this load

The 32sbk also shoot extremely well with 29.2gr BLC-2 fed205m primers. 3969 avg FPS. I hit a .243" 3 shot group with this load

The 35gr Bergers in front of 29.5gr of BLC-2 fed205m primers Ogive Length of 1.935". 3944 FPS average. My brother in law shot the .225" group below. I shot the 300yd and 400yd groupings. The red dot in the center of the 300 and 400 yd targets is 1/4" and the first ring is 1 inch.



The Sierra Blitzkings tend to splash on larger varmints. Ive shot badgers at 50yds with the 39gr blitzkings and had entrance holes 2 inches. I had two coyotes get away with direct hits using the SBK's so I now only use them for rock chucks and whistle pigs. Still a great bullet but in my opinion not for coyotes.
The 35gr Bergers are amazing on coyotes. I hit one at 430yds, another at 100, and yet another at 170. All three dropped with one hit.

i have to totally disagree i run the 39 a tad faster and have shot alot bigger animals than coyotes and some that have armour there one of the toughest 204 bullets around just look in the hunting with the 204 section cheers bazz

[RAMOS]

I had good luck with the 39 SBK's for a few years and then had a few splash about a year and a half ago. Maybe coincidence but, I did hear a rumor that Sierra had changed their jackets. Anyway, I switched over to the 35gr Berger HP and have had zero issues with them on coyotes and/or badgers. YMMV

[bazz]

I had good luck with the 39 SBK's for a few years and then had a few splash about a year and a half ago. Maybe coincidence but, I did hear a rumor that Sierra had changed their jackets. Anyway, I switched over to the 35gr Berger HP and have had zero issues with them on coyotes and/or badgers. YMMV

if thats the case eloodo i owe you an apology sorry mate, ill be devastated if they change them

[Steltzer]

finally got a sweet load made up, 39gr SBK's, 27.4 grn 8208, nosler (rebranded norma) brass, rem7.5 primers in tikka t3 super varmint, heavy barrel, 1 in 12 twist. got a group of 0.23 MOA. Quite happy. I want to try ADI 2206H (4895) and see if that is any better, just a matter of doing it, and getting the time.

[MTMT]

39 gr SBK's 26.0 reloader 10x (over suggested max, may not work with your rifle, work up to load carefully), cci 400 primer, cz527 1/12 twist 3755fps, 1 hole groups @ 100 yds.

[toasty]

My 2 best loads for factory savage 16 204 ruger sporter barrel

Rem Brass
Rem 7 1/2 BR
26.8g of XBR 8208
39g SBK - HBN Coated
2.260" OAL
4 Shot - .35" group @ 100 yards w/ dirty barrel

Win Brass
Win SR
28.5 H4895
30g Berger - HBN Coated
10 shot .6 moa group at 100 yards