204 ruger powder choice with 39s and 40s

[Fern]

What is your favorite choice of powder for 39 gr blitzkings or 40 gr vmax? I’ve always shot 32 gr vmax out of it before I rebarreled it. Currently putting together a 20 vartarg to shoot 32s so thought I’d bump up to 39/40 on the 204. Any input is much appreciated. Ideally want to stick with hodgdon or IMR powders.

8208 is very popular and using it with 39 sbk and 7/1 primers. Another popular powder is R10x. There was a thread on 204 ruger that showed spreadsheet with dozens of popular loads before the file was lost. The author made a post stating the most popular combinations after he sorted it

 

[long40shot]

RL10x is great in my rifle. My friend who is a long time 204 shooter uses H335.

 

[varmit_hunter]

I bought some N530 to try in my 204.

 

[D-mon]

Around 28 gr of w748 behind a 40 gr v max.

 

[david12601]

H335......wc844.....h4895

 

[brokeasajoke]

Where's @Rick in Oregon ? He is a wealth of info from over at 204ruger com. I haven't visited there in a while.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Where's @Rick in Oregon ? He is a wealth of info from over at 204ruger com. I haven't visited there in a while.

Well, I'm right here!

Don't know about being a wealth of info, but I can add that in all my 204's shooting the 39gr SBK or any of the 40's, RL-10X is my go-to powder. It just seems to work well with the heavier bullets in the 12T rifles, and is stellar in my 11T 204 Match designed from Todd's reamer.

I've got some 8208 to try, as it also appears to be a viable choice, just have not done it yet, as all my 204 cases are loaded and ready for Skippy and his pals. But others relate it's also a good choice. I'll also mention that Cooper Firearms of Montana used H335 for their 'one-hole' factory test targets with 32gr bullets, so there's another option that has a good track record.

The 204Ruger.com site is pretty much moribund now. It had a good run, but now lacks any degree of participation. It's still up, but the site owner is MIA and has about zero interest or involvement in the site it appears. Good thing we have AS here, as this site is healthy and running well. (Thanks Paul!)

 

[drop_point]

I always had good luck with BL-(c)2, RL15, and TAC.

 

[brokeasajoke]

I'm getting good accuracy with Varget and 35gr bergers. I want to try 10x, 335, and 4895. I do have 8208xbr

 

[Hipshoot]

TAG!

 

[windypants]

Benchmark for mine. It didn’t like 8208 and 4895. RL10x looked good but I shied away because of temp sensitivity.

 

[1mil]

8208 is a top choice for me in several
P Dog specific cartridges, high volume shooting in warm and hot weather. Tiny groups with 32&40 grn and high velocity but I've never used a more temp insensitive powder. I've experienced all kinds of pressure problems with other powders like AA over the years.

 

[enrique]

Cfe 223 and/or benchmark

 

[C.E.Smith043]

BLC2 was the most accurate for me and the best speed but it isn't an "extreme powder"

 

[Jrjones]

H4895,benchmark,8208. I shot many different ones and they all seemed to do good. I kinda stopped messing w stuff after I tried a 39gr sierra w reloader 10x! Had my 204 since 2005. I shoot 24.6grs 10x

 

[searcher]

Accurate LT32, Reloader 7
I've shot a large number of powders in several rifles. These two were tops in all with those bullets.

 

[Chris Shelton]

Accurate LT32, Reloader 7
I've shot a large number of powders in several rifles. These two were tops in all with those bullets.

How temp stable is that LT32?

 

[searcher]

How temp stable is that LT32?

Pretty good - much better than the Reloader 7.

 

[long40shot]

I wonder how N133 would be with the 39s & 40s?