New to 204 R

[hunter24605]

Hey, folks..New guy here..I recently acquired a NIB (truthfully its second hand, but never fired & still in the box) CZ 527 Varmint 204 R (24"bbl, 1:12). I've been reloading for several years but not any experience with this critter...I've read and read until I think I have information overload, so I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered..I have a large supply of powder that I use in my .223's and I've narrowed that list down to some I think are appropriate for the 204 Ruger. And a big supply of Rem 7 1/2 BR primers. I also have 500 39 gr SBK's that were included with the rifle, so I guess I'll start with those. The powders I have are:

CFE 223
Benchmark
Varget
RL 10X
IMR 4895
H335
H4895
8208 XBR
H332
BL-C(2) (Best in my DMR .223)

Given the rifle's 1:12 twist and the 39 SBK, Is there any particular one that I should look at first, or one I should remove from the list? Or one I'm overlooking? I'm not looking to poach anyone's pet loads or anything, I rather enjoy doing the load work-up.
Thanks!

[jimf]

rem 7 1/2, sierra 39gr bk, 27 gr imr4895, hornady brass, oal 2.315. Shoots under .4" out of my t/c venture. I believe it is a 1:10.

[robert w.]

27.5 cfe 223, 26.4 imr 8208 xbr.start little lighter than this n work up slowly. I like cfe 223 and imr 8208 xbr, but that guy there likes other powder. Im glad we are seeing more and better choices for 204r.
At the start it was they wont last. Well, choices are growing.
Enjoy your new rifle. I got a 527 american n love it

[hunter24605]

I use a lot of cfe in my AR's and like it in those that see a bunch of rounds go down the tube, it really does do good keeping copper fouling down, and its pretty speedy and accurate enough for those..In my 20" benchrest AR, BL-C(2) and 77 SMK are 1/4 MOA, so I have a bunch of those two powders on hand.. I'll probably shoot a flat spot test with 8208 this weekend in the 204R and see what it looks like,

[hogan]

I am loading mine with 27.2 gr. of IMR4895, and having excellent results.
Have also heard good results with the 8208 which I have not tried yet.

[slickshot223]

Have shot several powders but RL 15 does very well, but will not flow through my Dillon easly so have gone to a ball powder, not sure which H335 or 844, maybe BLC-2 would need to check my notes! In testing loads in my 1st 204 I shot 2230, 4895, RL-15, 844, BLC-2, H335 worse group was 3/4 inch!
Have the gas gun shooting ragged hole 100 yrds, H335 powder!!
You love the caliber, won't believe how flat it shoots!!

[truckerwalt]

i think that you are on the right track here but don't discount the 40 grain bullets a lot of folks seem to have bad luck with them in a 1 in 12 twist but i have shot some pretty good groups using fiocchi ammo loaded with 40 grain v-max. the best load ever for me was with neck sized fiocchi brass using 39 BK bullets rem 7.5 primers and 25 grains of h-322. have fun and good shooting.

[hunter24605]

Thanks. Im sure ill get around to them. Havent had a chance to get out to test anything with all the rain.

[slickshot223]

hunter--have 2- 204's, Kimber bolt and AR upper both barrels are 1-12 twist, both shoot bugeye groups at 100 yrds with the 39 gr Sierra BT!! These loads have been with the RL15 powder! I have since switched to H335 due to RL15 bridging in the Dillon powder die assy. These new loads shoot just as well as the previous!! I have tried the 10X and Varget, both shoot well, but I have had such success with H335 have not gone further with them!!

[hunter24605]

I really like H335 in the 223 Rem with 69 grain tipped MatchKing,.It does seem to be a logical choice for the 204. So far about all I've had time to do is break the barrel in. After turkey season I plan on getting serious about working with the 204.

[truckerwalt]

i have had really good groups using H-322, 7 1/2 rem primers, 39 grain sierra bullets. my savage model 12 and nikon monarch in 5.5 x 16.5x 44 shoots better than i could ever believe.