204 powder and pressures

[P1ZombieKiller]

Guys,
I need some guidance as well as some help understanding pressure's and temps. I have a Rem VLS 700 in 204. After playing around with powders and bullets. I have tried Varget, Benchmark, H335, IMR 3031, and BL-C2. This gun happens to like Benchmark when looking at the chrono numbers,SD = 16 ES = 41). On paper,targets) it REALLY likes H335, but with the chrono numbers, it's not so pretty,SD= 38 and ES = 93).

My question is how much weight do I put on good chrono numbers versus what I see on paper. I did this excercise 2 times so I can comfirm my findings. While the groups may not have been right on, the basci results stayed the same. H335 27.5 was best on paper both times, and worst from chrono numbers. While Bench 27.0 was best through chrono both times, the first group was 2nd best by .11 behind H335 27.5

2nd question, I was also told,by same person that told me that my gun would not shoot 39 grn bullets) that H335 is not good to shoot in Texas due to it's effect on pressures when it's hot. Is this true, and what can I do to help eliminate that,besides moving to Indiana).

ALL containing the same combination of:
39 grain Sierra Blitzkings
Remington brass
Remington BR primers

Benchrest 27.0 = 3800 fps
Benchrest 27.5 = 3891 fps
H335 27.5 = 3856 fps,best group on paper but worst in SD and ES)
H335 28.0 3879 fps
H335 28.2 3943 fps
H335 28.5 4039 fps,pressure signs so I only shot 3 shots instead of 5)

 

[blackblue]

Only thing I know to do if your set on using 335 is to keep the load safe so you dont have to worry about pressures. I dont know if it helps or not but I ended up using 4895 in my 204

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Only thing I know to do if your set on using 335 is to

I'm not set on using anything.... I would like to know if I should go with what the computer says as I may have just shoot better. Does the laws of percentages say that if the SD & ES are smaller, that I should shoot better groups with those? My intentions are to load 20 rounds of each one of those 2,Bench 27.0 and H-335 27.5) and shoot 4 more groups of 5 for each set up, and see what the chrono says.

Is this the right approach?

 

[jo191145]

Its been my expierience that at 100 yds,and even further) the 204 doesn't care about ES + SD.
Bore condition and accuracy are #1. Your barrel,fairly new I bet) seems to like the fouling condition that H-335 gives it.
I'm not surprised a ball powder with a little soot to it is shooting well. Just enough soot to prevent copper build up and not enough to carbon foul out is the perfect bore condition your looking for. Thats the first step.

Let the target tell the tale. 39bk's are not my favorite bullet but if you can repeat the groups shown with 27.5 at 100 then move out and see if it will hold together.

Consistent neck tension is a biggy in a chamber with huge freebore. Thats #2

Do not mix powders such as BM and 335 in a fouled barrel. You will not get a true picture of what the load will do.
BM burns relatively clean. It may produce some good groups in a 335 fouled tube but not be able to repeat them later.
At least shoot the BM loads first. The 335 probably will not be hindered by the BM fouling.

FWIW BM and Win 748 are my favorite 204 powders. Never tried much H-335. Stay away from BLC-2 in Texas. Volatile stuff IMO.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Do not mix powders such as BM and 335 in a fouled barrel. You will not get a true picture of what the load will do.
BM burns relatively clean. It may produce some good groups in a 335 fouled tube but not be able to repeat them later.
At least shoot the BM loads first. The 335 probably will not be hindered by the BM fouling.

I actually have started carrying Butch's bore cleaner and cleaning with jags for the first time ever. As I shoot more, I was told to start cleaning right. I did clean every 20 shots,or in between powders as this case may be) but I'm not sure if 1 powder group did not over lap into the other powder group in between cleanings. I will pay attention more to that as we go on.

I do plan on getting these same 2 loads out for 4 groups of each, and then let the target tell. All groups will be at 100 yards until deer season is over. My only access to land over 100 yards is my deer lease, and there is no "range shooting" during deer season.

 

[willyp19]

I have the exact same rifle as you, I tried for over a month to get Nosler 40gr B-Tips to work...Never got too good of results. After a lot of reading, went Sierra 39 gr. BK...Loaded with both H4895 and RE-10X.

Found the perfect load with:
W-W Brass
REM 7 1/2 Primers
RE-10X
Sierra 39 gr. BK

Almost 1 hole at 100 yards, and 3800 FPS.

Good luck!!!