204 Brass

[bobcat1506]

Lapua doesn't make 204 brass... what do you recommend? It will be a varmint rig, my venerable Rem 700 in 223 is going to be rebarreled after many years of service. I'd prefer a no turn neck but am open to suggestions.

 

[JORTZ]

I use nosler which they use norma brass . Nosler also weight sorts them and brass comes ready to load

 

[JohnHenry]

I shoot a 22-204. With not hot loads, I find that the primer pockets on lots of Norma and Nosler 204 brass that I have experience with to loosen prematurely(5-7) reloads. Currently trying some Winchester brass and it appears more durable. Unless one is committed to a 204, one might also consider a 20 cal having a 222 or 223 parent. I admit I am spoiled by the 20-25 reloads I routinely get with Lapua 222 and 223 brass. Ballistically, a 20 Tactical for example is close to a 204 Ruger. A host of other options also exists depending on how "wild" one wants to get. http://tripledeuce.net/Cartridge_Comparisons_0SJN.php

 

[CatShooter]

After going through two 204 rifles, and finding all of the brass to be poor, I went to the 20 Tac.

About 1 grain of powder less, but I get to use Lapua brass, and that makes the difference.

 

[JORTZ]

Johnherny is right I'm getting around 6 loads out of nosler brass but for me its better than the rest. Personally I won't not use hornaday I have had no luck with them. Also going with a 20vt is a good caliber and is able to shoot all day without burning up the barrel.

 

[bobcat1506]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm open to other calibers, but don't want to mess with fire forming and I have buckets of 223 brass. Does the 20 Practical come as close to the 204 as they say it does? What to most people do for 20 Practical load data, start with published 223 loads for the same bullet weight?

 

[oneshotkyle]

I got some new 204 nosler brass if your looking for some.

 

[pdhntr]

.......... Does the 20 Practical come as close to the 204 as they say it does?

It all depends on who the "they" is, so to speak. There are all kinds of wild figures for the 204 that have been posted. My Practical 20 is on an AR-15 platform with a Krieger 26" barrel and I am doing just shy of 3800 with the 40 gr. Berger. As a comparison, I have shot thousands of rounds of 40 gr hollow points through my various .223 rifles and prefer the Practical 20. I am seriously considering rebarreling one of my bolt .223 to the Practical 20.

What to most people do for 20 Practical load data, start with published 223 loads for the same bullet weight?

I believe there is a very good tutorial on this site about the Practical 20 that has some good information.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek061.html

Jim

 

[bobcat1506]

For the guys running Winchester/Remington 204 brass, do you neck turn to even out the thickness? How does that work with a no turn neck?

Although I'd like to, I don't think I can justify the cost of Norma brass. I don't have the opportunity to shoot prairie poodles but once a year, so when I go I need to take lots of ammo. ;D

 

[pacificman]

My Son bought a 204 and does not wish to reload yet. He has given me all of his 204 Hornady brass and I finally bought a 204. I neck turn just enough to take off the heavy side but have found this brass to be very uniform in the neck area so I don't feel a need to turn the necks. I have not gone to the trouble of weighing every case. All my brass is Hornady and I have my Savage model 12 shooting in the 5's at 100yds. I have not tried any other brass as I now have about 500 rounds of the Hornady which of course was given to me. Hope some of this info might be useful.