.204 Ruger Results with H4198 and IMR 4064

[tx4guns]

Did a little work at the range today with 19 different loads in the .204 Ruger AR-15, using 4 different powders and Sierra 39gr Blitz Kings. Took them down from max by 0.5gr increments and shot 3 shots of each load. Used Varget, BL-C,2), IMR 4064, and H4198. The BL-C,2) groups were horrible, like 2'+. I got some severe pressure signs from them,spikes sticking out of primers) with a mild load. I stopped with that one. Varget gave some sub-MOA groups, but not as good as I'd hoped for. I'll reserve that powder for the Grendel and .223 loads. H4198,also use it in my .222 Rem) was outstanding and consistent. Several 1/2 MOA groups, including one at 0.35'. The star of the day was the IMR 4064, tho. The middle group was 0.25'!!! WOW! I'm going to work the best 2 loads in 0.1gr increments up and down now and see if I can 'improve' them along with chronograph data, but I'm extremely happy with the accuracy results from today. I'm not expecting super hot velocities with 4064, but if it shoots like that, I don't care how fast it's going. The H4198 should be pretty fast.

Pics:

 

[FURMAN]

Looks like you may have found your load. Reloader 10x works great with 39gr SBKs.

 

[coltchris]

What were you shooting these loads in? Twist rate?

 

[tx4guns]

Shooting my new baby Everything on it was bought as parts and assembled.

-DPMS .204 Lower and Hi-Rider Upper
-Shilen 24' stainless bull, 1:9 twist
-Magpul PRS Stock
-RRA LPK w/ NM 2 Stage trigger
-RRA BCG
-Clark Custom carbon fiber handguard
-DPMS gas block
-Harris bipod
-Ergo Grip
-TPS tactical rings
-Mueller Optics 4-16x50 Mil Dot Illuminated Ret scope,missing in picture)

 

[bohemR13]

I had great results with WC844,mil surp H335) from a 204 in a savage 12.

40 Vmax
26.8gr WC844
Wolf SR Mag primer
COL seated to .005 jam

Shot consistently 1/4' at 100y


Probably you'll have differences with a gas gun, but that might be something else to try out.

The BLC-2 that I shot from it worked fine, but the groups were not as tight, they hovered around 1/2'

 

[tx4guns]

Got to chrony these loads over the weekend. The 21.5 of H4198 was around 3350fps on average. The 26.5 of IMR4064 was around 3550. Both hit the exact same spot on the target with the same hold point at 100 yards. That's pretty cool. Interchangeability is a good thing! Both shot 2 shots almost touching with a clean barrel. After around 10 rounds, the groups opened up. I guess this Shilen needs to be clean to shoot well. I have about 120 rounds thru it so far, so I'd expect it to settle down a bit after a couple hundred.