55gr 204 load data

[Sidewinderwa]

My brother just had a 204 made to shoot the 50 and 55 grain bullets for long range prairie dogs shooting. I am having difficulty finding any load data for it. Can you share your reloading information please and what kind of accuracy are you getting? It is a bummer having a brand new rifle made and nothing to shoot through it!!

[Tokimini]

Email Berger Bullets at bergerltd@aol.com with the cartridge, bullet weight and powder that you will be using and they should be able to send you back some load data.

[Sidewinderwa]

I did that but have not received the information back yet. I was hoping to maybe get some additional powders to consider.

[CV32]

I shoot the 50 gr Berger in a 1 in 10 twist Pac-Nor Super Match barrel on a Remington 700 VLS. My best loads are 25.0 gr H4895 and 24.4 gr IMR 8208 XBR. Your own mileage may vary.

[Sidewinderwa]

CV32, thank you for the info on the 50 grain 204. Here is the information on the 55gr from Berger for those interested:


Load data was generated using Quick Load a 26 inch barrel a COAL (cartridge over all length) of 2.260 inches and your COAL and velocity could be a little different.
AS WITH ALL RELOADING APPROACH THE MAXIMUM LOADS WITH CAUTION AS ALL RIFLES AND RELOADING TECHNIQUES WILL BE DIFFERENT. If YOU CHANGE ANY OF YOUR COMPONENTS; THIS INCLUDES DIFFERENT POWDER LOT NUMBERS; YOU MUST REFIGURE YOUR LOADS BY STARTING WITH THE MINIMUM LOAD.
If we can be of any additional help feel free to contact us.
Thanks for your interest and have a great day.

Walt Berger
Berger Bullets
Technical Advisor

204 Ruger

Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
55 Grain H4895 21.0 2858 23.7 3179 99.8%
55 Grain VIHT N133 19.5 2852 21.6 3085 96.2%
55 Grain IMR 3031 20.0 2936 22.4 3228 97.6%
55 Grain NORMA 201 20.5 2867 22.9 3167 91.3%
55 Grain WW 748 21.0 2885 23.7 3218 89.7%
55 Grain H414 23.5 2901 25.9 3209 99.0%
55 Grain AA 2495 20.0 2867 22.6 3188 97.3%
55 Grain VIHT N135 20.5 2859 23.0 3147 103.3%
55 Grain Benchmark 20.0 2878 22.0 3116 91.0%
55 Grain RE-15 21.5 2908 23.9 3211 97.4%
55 Grain AA XMR 2015 19.0 2854 21.2 3108 89.3%
55 Grain VARGET 21.5 2900 23.8 3183 100.2%
55 Grain VIHT N140 21.5 2818 24.2 3139 102.6%

[Sidewinderwa]

This is the information for the 50 grain bullet from Berger for those interested:

204 Ruger 50 grain bullet


Load data was generated using Quick Load a 26 inch barrel a COAL (cartridge over all length) of 2.260 inches and your COAL and velocity could be a little different.
AS WITH ALL RELOADING APPROACH THE MAXIMUM LOADS WITH CAUTION AS ALL RIFLES AND RELOADING TECHNIQUES WILL BE DIFFERENT. If YOU CHANGE ANY OF YOUR COMPONENTS; THIS INCLUDES DIFFERENT POWDER LOT NUMBERS; YOU MUST REFIGURE YOUR LOADS BY STARTING WITH THE MINIMUM LOAD.
If we can be of any additional help feel free to contact us.
Thanks for your interest and have a great day.

Walt Berger
Berger Bullets
Technical Advisor

204 Ruger
Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
50 Grain H4895 21.0 2934 23.5 3237 94.7%
50 Grain VIHT N133 20.0 2953 22.4 3229 93.3%
50 Grain IMR 3031 21.0 3093 23.3 3381 97.1%
50 Grain NORMA 201 21.0 2952 23.7 3300 96.1%
50 Grain WW 748 22.0 3032 24.6 3360 91.1%
50 Grain H414 24.0 2919 26.7 3265 98.9%
50 Grain AA 2495 21.0 3019 23.5 3338 97.9%
50 Grain VIHT N135 21.5 3010 23.9 3295 99.6%
50 Grain Benchmark 20.5 2981 22.8 3261 91.9%
50 Grain RE-15 22.5 3052 24.8 3350 98.9%
50 Grain AA XMR 2015 20.0 3016 22.1 3265 94.2%
50 Grain VARGET 21.5 2968 24.1 3295 95.6%
50 Grain VIHT N140 21.5 2967 24.2 3289 98.4%

[CV32]

This is the information for the 50 grain bullet from Berger for those interested:
...
204 Ruger
Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
50 Grain H4895 21.0 2934 23.5 3237 94.7%

Interesting. I chronied my 50 gr Berger loads today.

25.0 gr H4895 (well over max without any pressure signs or issues) produces 3,342 fps.
24.4 gr IMR 8208 XBR produces 3,334 fps.
24.9 gr IMR 8208 XBR produces 3,389 fps.

Again, this is in a 26 inch 1 in 10 twist Pac-Nor Super Match.

[Tbarencino]

Im working up a load for 55 gr berger 204 ruger. 24" wilson barrel. Im trying the new IMR 4166 (real close to 4064 burn rate). I found #s for the 50 gr for this powder. Max for 50 is 24.9 grs. Right now Im at 25.5 grs w/ 0 preassure signs and good accuracy. .25"moa 4 shots. Ive loaded some more 25.5 and 25.7 to see what it does. not shot yet.
jason

[Tbarencino]

and got 3257 fps. If i could figure out how to post pics I'd post the shot grouping