204 ruger freebore question

[Fern]

My cz 527 is currently at pac nor awaiting to get new barrel put on. I was under impression they had two reamers a match with a .062 freebore and a 0 freebore. I just found out they do not have the zero free ore just the .062.
I’m sure the .062 would be better then the one on it but wondering what it would take to get a reamer with zero freebore
This is my first time getting a custome barrel on on any of my rifles and just want to not have any regrets.
The folks at pac nor have been awesome answering questions but I’m on vacation and keep missing to call and see what options I have.
Anyone have opinions one way or another?

 

[Tommie]

Any reamer company will make whatever you want. Pretty simple really.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

You don't mention what caliber your new barrel will be chambered for. IF it's a 204R, be aware if you go with zero f/b, you will not be able to safely shoot factory ammo, as the SAAMI spec for that caliber lists a very long .100"+ f/b to attain the advertised velocity.

I have a reamer on file at P/N that has .015" freebore, is considered a "Match" chamber. I used it for my 11T 204 build shooting only handloads. Five seasons later, it's still killing ground squirrels in grand fashion.

 

[Fern]

You don't mention what caliber your new barrel will be chambered for. IF it's a 204R, be aware if you go with zero f/b, you will not be able to safely shoot factory ammo, as the SAAMI spec for that caliber lists a very long .100"+ f/b to attain the advertised velocity.

I have a reamer on file at P/N that has .015" freebore, is considered a "Match" chamber. I used it for my 11T 204 build shooting only handloads. Five seasons later, it's still killing ground squirrels in grand fashion.

Rick
I hand load all my 204ruger. I have some factory before I started hand loading but it’s there just for looks.
I plan to shoot 40g vmax as the 39sbk are hard to find. Because of this I chose to go with a 10 twist 26” barrel
I have about 1500 sbk but would be nice to shoot 40 vmax as I have never had issue finding them.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Got it. I just wanted you to be aware of the 204 freebore thing.

My 11T shoots the 40gr V-Max as well as the Nosler 40gr BT very, very well JFI. I agree also that all my 204's shoot the 39gr SBK the best, but dang they're expensive IF and WHEN you can find them. Glad we have options.

Good luck with the new barrel.

 

[pdhntr]

Got it. I just wanted you to be aware of the 204 freebore thing.

My 11T shoots the 40gr V-Max as well as the Nosler 40gr BT very, very well JFI. I agree also that all my 204's shoot the 39gr SBK the best, but dang they're expensive IF and WHEN you can find them. Glad we have options.

Good luck with the new barrel.

Hi Rick,

If it wouldn't be too much trouble could you give me a cartridge overall length to the lands with either the 40 gr. V-max or 39 gr. SBK in your 204?

I am going to order a reamer for myself and don't exactly know what freebore to use.

Thank you!

Jim

 

[S&sprecisionTx]

My cz 527 is currently at pac nor awaiting to get new barrel put on. I was under impression they had two reamers a match with a .062 freebore and a 0 freebore. I just found out they do not have the zero free ore just the .062.
I’m sure the .062 would be better then the one on it but wondering what it would take to get a reamer with zero freebore
This is my first time getting a custome barrel on on any of my rifles and just want to not have any regrets.
The folks at pac nor have been awesome answering questions but I’m on vacation and keep missing to call and see what options I have.
Anyone have opinions one way or another?

0 to fit mag

 

[S&sprecisionTx]

Any reamer company will make whatever you want. Pretty simple really.

What is the name of your company and how long is the lead time for a reamer

 

[L.Sherm]

Zero freebore all the way, Has anybody tried factory ammo with the zero freebore?
Its an easy solution with a seating die any way.

 

[L.Sherm]

What is the name of your company and how long is the lead time for a reamer

Trust me I would go JGS first then Manson.
I think JGS told me 12-14 weeks when I ordered my 20 Prac reamer from them about 6 weeks ago.
I've had 2 reamers now from PTG that are .002 to small at the back end.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Hi Rick,

If it wouldn't be too much trouble could you give me a cartridge overall length to the lands with either the 40 gr. V-max or 39 gr. SBK in your 204?

I am going to order a reamer for myself and don't exactly know what freebore to use.

Thank you!

Jim

Jim, if you'd like, I'll email you my reamer print that's on file with P/N, or I'll rent my reamer to you. It gives .015" freebore.

All my cartridge measurements are by use of a Stony Point tool that measures to the ogive. I don't use OAL as it varies too much bullet to bullet.

 

[RGRobinett]

You don't mention what caliber your new barrel will be chambered for. IF it's a 204R, be aware if you go with zero f/b, you will not be able to safely shoot factory ammo, as the SAAMI spec for that caliber lists a very long .100"+ f/b to attain the advertised velocity.

I have a reamer on file at P/N that has .015" freebore, is considered a "Match" chamber. I used it for my 11T 204 build shooting only handloads. Five seasons later, it's still killing ground squirrels in grand fashion.

Per Hugh Henriksen (Henriksen Tool Company, Inc.) top reamer maker, regarding the .204 Ruger:
"Hornady 40 Gr. V-Max, at 2.245" OAL (factory ammo), the bullet measures .201" ahead of the case-mouth. With a 1Degree 30 Minute leade and NO (as in ZERO) free-bore, the bullet will still jump about 0.050". This from the notes Hugh added to my .204 Print. I went with 0.060" free-bore, and that's 0.060" too much! All of my subsequent .20 Cal reamers feature ZERO free-bore . . . and that's proven, "just right". Good shootin'! RG

 

[Fern]

Jim, if you'd like, I'll email you my reamer print that's on file with P/N, or I'll rent my reamer to you. It gives .015" freebore.

All my cartridge measurements are by use of a Stony Point tool that measures to the ogive. I don't use OAL as it varies too much bullet to bullet.

Sending you pm Rick

 

[Tommie]

What is the name of your company and how long is the lead time for a reamer

Manson probably did the best/quickest job for me. They can certainly answer any questions you have.

 

[D-mon]

I have used a ptg 204 match reamer to rebarrel a couple of rifles. Factory hornady 40gr vmax ammo have given me 1/4 to under 1/2 moa with both rifles. I am not sure of the freebore dimensions, but honestly, at that level of accuracy I m not too worried about it. The quality of the barrel , alignment of the chamber and how the whole rifle is put together is probably more important .

 

[B23]

I am not sure of the freebore dimensions, but honestly, at that level of accuracy I m not too worried about it. The quality of the barrel , alignment of the chamber and how the whole rifle is put together is probably more important .

I have rifles with very shot FB and others with much longer FB and never had an issue with any of them not shooting well.

It's kind of ironic because the only factory rifles I've had in a long time are a couple CZ 527 17 Hornets and two different 204 Rugers. One was a CZ 527 Varmint model 204 the other is a Tikka 204 both of which have very long FB length from the factory. In the CZ 204 w/32gr Vmax 2.408 COAL was just touching and those 32's are nearly falling out of the case before they touch the lands but it still shoots very well.

The only time I'm very concerned with FB length is in relation to COAL and if I'm going to have enough magazine length with a longer FB or with a short FB how far down in the case is the bullet going to be.

 

[L.Sherm]

I look at freebore this way when putting a rifle together I want every advantage I can to get max accuracy out of it. Will some rifles shoot with excessive freebore? Yeah they can but what if it doesn't?
In all my different 17 and 20 cals they all shoot the best in the range from - .005 to + .005 in relation to the lands across 6 different bullets and several different cartridges and in the neighborhood of 15 rifles.
I see no reason to ever intentionally chamber a 17 or 20cal with .060-.100 freebore.

 

[Fern]

Thanks everyone for the advice. This rifle cz 527 varmint kevlar in 204R) took me a long time to track down and will probably only be doing this barrel once on it. I don’t want to have any regrets and have changed some things on my barrel length and twist after having a great conversation with another member that brought up some great points I didn’t consider.
The rifle was used and had no history on it but when I tried to reach the lands the bullet was barely in the case

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Pac nor has a 20 practical 0fb. Id personally pick that over the 204 ruger. I liked my 204 but during the shortage there was no brass or ammo for like 2 years. Even when it is not a shortage, choices are limited.

 

[varget204]

In 6 different barrells ,the 204 seems to love long jumps with 39 & 40 grain bullets in 1 in 12 & 1 in 11 twist 26" LV & HV Varmint