204 40gr BIBullet

[Breakshunter]

What powder are you guys liking the best with the 40gr bibullet s in 204?

 

[Terry]

Using 25gr. Benchmark with all 40's.

 

[17VLD]

Reloder 10X is certainly worth a try N-540 if you have some also might be worth a try too.
Matt

 

[jpx2rk]

IIRC I use Benchmark with 39's.

 

[nmkid]

25 grs. H-335

 

[Hotshot]

I have over a dozen years experience with dozens of 204's. Factory and custom barrels of all twists. My favorite load is 39 sbk over benchmark. That being said, I have seen many 39-40 grain loads with R10X, 4895, Tac and 8208 that performed extremely well in most rifles. Most of those rifles liked a max or close to max load. You need to do some experiments.

 

[Breakshunter]

Thank you for the input guys. I have been shooting the 204 since it came out and have had great results. Shooting 35 bergers with benchmark mostly but have been playing with the BI bullets and 8208 a bit now too, grouping under an inch at 200 and flattens coyotes well. Haven't checked my velocity yet, shooting 27.2 grains in a 22" custom Remington varmint contour. No exit sounds yet!

 

[RGRobinett]

Via the .204s, with 40 Gr. BT, my best results have been with either H-BenchMark, and IMR-8208XBR. Pretty settled on the 8208 now, as it delivers the best combination of precision and velocity from the two most recent barrels - both PacNors - chambered with my reamer. Here's a chuck shot from 547 Yd. last summer, in Wyoming - DRT.

 

[Schism]

I’m using Benchmark with 40 grain Berger’s in my 204 and 20 practical.

 

[GAnderson]

I use 8208 primarily

Via the .204s, with 40 Gr. BT, my best results have been with either H-BenchMark, and IMR-8208XBR. Pretty settled on the 8208 now, as it delivers the best combination of precision and velocity from the two most recent barrels - both PacNors - chambered with my reamer. Here's a chuck shot from 547 Yd. last summer, in Wyoming - DRT. View attachment 1076032

Have to agree on the 8208 powder...accurate and velocity to boot.

 

[RGRobinett]

Here's a pair the .204 whacked at 370 some Yd. - both DRT. This rig was put together for coyote calling/huntin' - it works quite well.

 

[GAnderson]

Here's a pair the .204 whacked at 370 some Yd. - both DRT. This rig was put together for coyote calling/huntin' - it works quite well.View attachment 1076087

What barrel brand and twist are you running Randy?

 

[RGRobinett]

Mostly PacNor SSSM, 3-groove. The [pictured] 204 is a 1:12" twist - all my others are faster, mostly 1:11, 20BR, 204, and VarTarg. I have one X-Caliber (1:11") chambered for the 20VT, which is coming around with the 40 GR BT - last [100 Yd.]range session, it averaged 0.211" for four 3-shot groups and a pair of 5-shot groups. That was with AA2200 - I did not chronograph, but when it quit shootin' (too much powder!), it went straight to hell - close to an inch! My 40Gr. BT (it's relatively short) is well suited to a 1:12 (Sg 1.4), but I'll not purchase another 20 Cal. BBL slower than 1:11". I have no interest in using lighter than 40 Gr. bullets. RG

 

[GAnderson]

Mostly PacNor SSSM, 3-groove. The [pictured] 204 is a 1:12" twist - all my others are faster, mostly 1:11, 20BR, 204, and VarTarg. I have one X-Caliber (1:11") chambered for the 20VT, which is coming around with the 40 GR BT - last range session, it averaged 0.211" for four 3-shot groups and a pair of 5-shot groups. That was with AA2200 - I did not chronograph, but when it quit shootin', it went straight to hell - close to an inch! My 40Gr. BT (it's relatively short) is well suited to a 1:12 (Sg 1.4), but I'll not purchase another 20 Cal. BBL slower than 1:11". I have not interest in using lighter than 40 Gr. bullets. RG

Yes, I have run your 40gr bullet in 1-10, 1-11 and 1-12 in various 20 wildcats and all have given great results. Very good bullet you have there. I have pretty much settled on 1-11's from here on out too...it's just a good all around compromise.
AA2200 really makes the 20VT shine too.

 

[AckleymanII]

Some bullets are worth building a rifle around, the 40g BIB is one of those bullets, 11T all the way!

 

[RGRobinett]

Yes, I have run your 40gr bullet in 1-10, 1-11 and 1-12 in various 20 wildcats and all have given great results. Very good bullet you have there. I have pretty much settled on 1-11's from here on out too...it's just a good all around compromise.
AA2200 really makes the 20VT shine too.

Very kind appraisal by AckleymanII - not trying/wanting to drum up business, just sharing info, ideas.
I'm doing the 20VTs strictly with BR competition in mind - yeah, as usual, I'm late to the table, but those barrels are (or, will be) fit & chambered to my Borden RimRock BR rigs. Until I listened to "Smokin' Joe" (Entrekin) and obtained some AA2000, the initial 1:11" X-Caliber didn't show much promise. Then, from the initial (AA2200) charge, up until the groups blew-up, it became interesting.

I did not have enough time (short, clod days now) to mess with either neck-tension, or, seating depth - I'm betting that a little more neck-tension will make the groups round, as opposed to oblong . . . and maybe a little less of my version of "jam-seat! Next session, I plan on taking either the Oehler, MagnetoSpeed, or, both. Usually for the competition rigs, I don't care about velocity, but at a measly 19.5 Gr. of powder, I've just gotta' know. I must say, that, on a prairie dog shoot, with 'Humble Henry' in 2017, his 20VarTarg was impressive indeed . . . and out to further than I thought - it made his beloved .222 (BUBBLE-GUM - Humble names 'em) appear anemic.

Regarding the VTs, most people, including "Smokin' Joe", point me toward velocity: I just want competitive groups, and probably around 3200-3300 FPS should work great - more is ok, so long as it AGGS. I plan on shooting more group tournaments to determine the potential. RG

 

[17VLD]

RG,I can not wait to try some of the 40BIBs that I got from Al Nyhus,I expect they’ll be the bees knees out of my BAT SV chambered in 20 Duster
(20/222-40*)As good as the 20VT is on pd’s out to 542 yards for me the Duster is even mo better
Perhaps Henry needs to build a 20 on the 222 case to extract the utmost from said bullets.It may just be the “infusion” his beloved 222 needs,pun intended.
Matt

 

[RGRobinett]

RG,I can not wait to try some of the 40BIBs that I got from Al Nyhus,I expect they’ll be the bees knees out of my BAT SV chambered in 20 Duster
(20/222-40*)As good as the 20VT is on pd’s out to 542 yards for me the Duster is even mo better
Perhaps Henry needs to build a 20 on the 222 case to extract the utmost from said bullets.It may just be the “infusion” his beloved 222 needs,pun intended.
Matt

Matt, 'Humble' has both a 20VT and a very great shootin' 20 Practical - a very practical concept I must say! In this neighborhood, many of the coyote hunters have been using everything [20 Cal.] imaginable - most land on either Prac., or, a 204.

Since I obtained a 204 reamer early on, for critters, I've seen no need to go smaller. I also went with a 20BR, which is a great low volume cartridge - in my view, best suited to chucks and coyotes. We don't have anything resembling high volume varmint shootin' here. However, during a BR tournament, or three, runnin' and gunnin', @ 38.0 Gr of powder, I have 'cooked' the 20BR tubes quite well!ON rockchucks, the BR has been top drawer.

I'd not argue against anything 20 Cal. from the fire-ball, on up. RG

 

[hogpatrol]

Has anyone tried VV133 in a .204? It's all I use in three .20 Practicals. Randy's bullets have always shot the best.

 

[Laurie]

Has anyone tried VV133 in a .204? It's all I use in three .20 Practicals. Randy's bullets have always shot the best.

I tried it with the 40gn Berger HPBT. Results were OK, but not the best I managed. Very much to my surprise, the outstanding powder for precision in my rifle (Savage LRPV) was N140 at a modest low pressure charge and low velocity. Nothing else I tried could match that.