204 for accuracy

[450BM]

I have the 204 in an Encore barrel that shoots much better than I thought it could. Sierra 32gr and 29gr of BL-C2 shoots around 1/2 MOA. I just got some 39gr Sierras but haven’t tried them yet.

 

[searcher]

I have the 204 in an Encore barrel that shoots much better than I thought it could. Sierra 32gr and 29gr of BL-C2 shoots around 1/2 MOA. I just got some 39gr Sierras but haven’t tried them yet.

Those 39 Sierras are great bullets. If your rifle likes them, it will also likely shoot the 40 V-Max with similar results.

 

[Matt_3479]

Here’s 39gr blitzkings with 8208xbr. Its a 20 tac but they are pretty similar to the 204

.276 moa 5 shot group at 100 yards

 

[Hal]

Matt

Wow that's a shooting machine.
Tell us more about your rifle ,ammo set up.
I really need to find some 8208.

Hal

 

[Matt_3479]

Matt

Wow that's a shooting machine.
Tell us more about your rifle ,ammo set up.
I really need to find some 8208.

Hal

It’s a KS arms sa3r action with a 24” #5 ks arms barrel, manners LRH, Hawkins dbm, tt diamond, Dakota/Lapua brass, imr 8208xbr, 39gr Sierra blitzkings at 4050fps

 

[Larry Koch]

204/50?

 

[SmokinJoe]

Had a 204 briefly a few years ago and got some super groups with Sierra 39 and a stout load of VV N-530.

 

[1raggedhole]

204 Ruger is my primary pdog volume round. Currently shooting a Criterion 26” 11 twist on Savage LRPV action. Had great success with H322 in the past, but as others mentioned, it is now a unicorn. I switched to H335 with 39 blitzkings and REM 7-1/2 primers. Shoots reliably under 1/2 moa at about 3850 fps.
By luck, same powder and primer also works well in my 20VT with 32 vmax.

 

[ricco1949]

Don’t know what to tell ya-
Here’s my little 20-221AI pushing 32gr Noslers @ 4027fps.. little 5 shots @ 100yds..
barrel= 1-11” @ 22” long..
View attachment 1603178

I’d hope you’d be able to do better with larger case capacity & 39gr BK..maybe 10X powder ??..

Wow that li'l 221 AI case is honkin' that 32g at 138 MPH per grain of powder...wouldn't have crossed my mind to try to achieve 4000+ FPS.

And super group as well....nice shootin.....

 

[enrique]

I was able to produce same speeds, great accuracy with 204r 32gr nosler and cfe223 (I even saw up to 4200 but backed it down due to temperature sensitivity and no need to push that fast). No ejector marks and magnum primers look good - coyote and ground squirrel load. 40gr @ 3850. I think I was using nosler brass - maybe a fast 1:11 pacnor barrel but I like it

 

[Gabe22BR]

Wow that li'l 221 AI case is honkin' that 32g at 138 MPH per grain of powder...wouldn't have crossed my mind to try to achieve 4000+ FPS.

And super group as well....nice shootin.....

Oh…. It’s a little fireblaster… real efficient!!!
have a resize reamer on the way- ( I’ll have the complete reamer set then, w/ most all the 20 bushings)

Kinda funny how different barrel manufacturers are all different-…. Lija, & Benchmark, only 2 I haven’t tired yet…
My favorites = Kreiger, Mullerworks, Preferred, are my top 3 picks-

 

[long40shot]

Does anyone have experience with the 40grn Bergers?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I use the 40 gr Berger for coyote( & 40 BIB ). Very accurate, consistent bullets. Much better coyote bullet than the Sierra 39.

 

[long40shot]

I use the 40 gr Berger for coyote( & 40 BIB ). Very accurate, consistent bullets. Much better coyote bullet than the Sierra 39.

What powder combo did you like the best?

 

[varget204]

Have 2 Savage 26" LT Varmit,1in12' twist, 1;Krieger, 2 Criterion,1 Varmint,1- Excaliber all HY Bull sporters 26",1 in11" twist,.700 at muzzel ,all shot the 40 Max the best ,tried 35 & 40 gr Bergers,32 & 40 Noslers, & 39 gr Blitz King,the B.K. were 2nd. At 100 to 1000 yards Nothing matched the 40 V-Max, used Varget,Win-748,XBR 8208,H-4895,also tried H.322 & H-335 with the B.K. All tried Don Unmussig 45 gr HPBT Good bullets a little heavier jacket ,they would be good for coyotes

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Here’s 39gr blitzkings with 8208xbr. Its a 20 tac but they are pretty similar to the 204

.276 moa 5 shot group at 100 yards
View attachment 1606725

View attachment 1606726View attachment 1606727

Fine shooting, I'm shooting a Federal factory 40 gr Nosler ballistic tip at 3650 fps out of my Thompson Center Venture with a one-pound trigger I can get this benched at 100 yards. For a cheap rifle, it can go to work.Four shots ,I left it alone and it sure slays them varmints.

 

[long40shot]

I made it to range today. My old trusted 39 blitzking load handedly out performed the Berger combo.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Hello folks,

I've kinda caught the bug to see how tight of a group I can get my 204 to shoot. My pet load has been a Sierra 39bk over RL10x. That combo will shoot very well, but you know how it goes... The 35 or 40 Berger has caught my my eye. So putting performance on varmints aside, what is your best bullet/powder combo in your 204?

Matt

You wont beat the 39gr BK for accuracy in the 204R. That is THE bullet to have for that cartridge. I can stack consistent 1/2” groups at 200 yards using RL15 and BLC-2 loads at 3930-3980 fps.

In my bigger rifles, Berger is always my go-to bullet, but in the 204R, i could never get them to shoot quite as good as the 39gr BK.

I dont currently use Sierra bullets in anything else. Theres definitely something special about that particular 20 cal bullet.

 

[MDT6BRA]

Have you guys tried 8208 with 39blikzking? I shot it today and got pressure at 27.0 with a 22” barrel but only around 3475fps. Seems slow to me?

 

[varmit_hunter]

I running a Bergers 35gr with H4895. A 1@10 twist barrel!! Mine shoots lights out. I first started out with RL10 and 39gr Bk. But i moved to Bergers. I sold 1000 39gr BK. I have shot Bergers 30gr 35gr and 40gr. I have used RL10 H4895 and Tac. I think I have 4 pds of H4895 powder left. Then almost 8 or 9 pds of RL10 to use. Just in my 204 ruger.
My last victim. With a Berger 35gr hp and H4895.