22/204 Test loads

[AckleymanII]

I took the 26" Shilen 9T on a test run today, zero freebore reamer, New Blue bag winchester brass,
50g Nosler ballistic tip, 7 1/2 primer

3-8mph head wind

these loads are not meant to be a "Guide" for your reloading but these results only illustrate what was safe in my Shilen 9T barrel, with my old lot# of powder, my bullets, primers, etc. Loads listed may not be safe in your rifle. Rifle to rifle load data varies hugely and caution is always in order no matter what the source.

Changes will be added as load development continues

40g Nosler ballistic tip-H4198; BR-4

25.0g-3805
25.5-3894-shot in the very low 2's
26.0-3998
26.5-3972
All loads are very, very accurate with none over .400 of an inch
Note, these loads are approximately 200 fps slower than a 14T barrel from another shooter

50g Nosler ballistic tip-H335; 7 1/2
27.0g 3396
27.5g 3438
28.0g 3501-shot high 2's
28.5g 3583,3587
29.0 3655, 3650
29.5 3684, 3698
30.0 3726,3701
30.5 3851,3850
All of the above various powder charges went into a 1/2" group

31.0 3886,3886,3892 most accurate in crazy wind I was shooting, Sub 3/8" group, all vertical Group due to wind

50g Nosler- H322; BR-4
25.5-
26.0-
26.5-3531,3530
27.0-3537-Shot in the 2's

50g Nosler-AA 2015-7 1/2
26.5g-3529- shot in very low 2's
27.0-3589- " "
27.5-3765
28.0-3831 Max load


50g Nosler-Benchmark-27.5g-3645
28.0?, shot in the high 2's
28.5 3770
29.0-3833

50g Nosler-N133; BR-4
27.0-3601-bug hole group high 1's
27.5g-3750-Max load
28.0 -3777

55g Nosler- H335- 27.0g-3561,3571
27.5g-3603,3600
28.0- 3674,3650 HOT, gas leak around primer

55g Nosler-H322; BR-4
25.0g shot in the low 2's
25.5
26.0
26.5
25.5,26.0,26.5g were all 1/2" group

55g Nosler- N135
27.0-1" group
27.5-.5" group
28.0- shot in the 2's
28.5-.5" group

55g Nosler-8208; Br-4 Primer-27.5g = .250 or less groups @ 3500 fps, no pressure



Private rifle range where we shoot out of a house. Crow lit on the ground by the 100 yard berm. 30.5gH335, 50g Nosler load blew him into three distinct pieces.

 

[TAJ45]

Per our phone conversation, with you not seeing any pressure signs yet, it will be interesting to see what you can get out of it and have the groups hold together.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

I took the 26" Shilen 9T on a test run today, zero freebore reamer, New Blue bag winchester brass,
50g Nosler ballistic tip, 7 1/2 primer

3-8mph head wind

these loads are not meant to be a "Guide" for your reloading but these results only illustrate what was safe in my Shilen 9T barrel, with my old lot# of powder, my bullets, primers, etc. Loads listed may not be safe in your rifle.

28.5g of H335- 3583,3587

29.0 3655, 3650

29.5 3684, 3698

30.0 3726,3701

30.5 3851,3850

31.0 3886,3886,3892 most accurate in crazy wind I was shooting, Sub 3/8" group, all vertical Group due to wind

Private rifle range where we shoot out of a house. Crow lit on the ground by the 100 yard berm. 30.5g load blew him into three distinct pieces with massive helicopter acrobatics, crows are in season.

Next tests will be 55g and 60g Noslers, then 69g tipped match kings.

Excellent, 69 grainer's will be deep into case capacity ?

 

[aer21]

Not calling you a liar but you are getting 22-250 velocity with 50gr bullets out of a .204 case?

 

[TAJ45]

If Keith said it, believe him and his Oehler. He would rather eat worms than prevaricate (lie).

I bought a rifle from him, 257 Wby chamber w no freebore. 100 gr at 3750. Hold fur to 350. . .

 

[AckleymanII]

More data will follow with other bullet weights and powders.

223 AI is very close to these numbers in a 26" barrel. I may elect to throat out for 69's. My goal is to use something that feeds better than 223 AI in the 700's with factory bottom metal and without altering feed rails. Standard load with very long barrel life in the 223 AI is 28g of H335, 50g at 3750 with 3850 being close to a max load for accuracy. 55's in the 223 AI are doing 3650 with N135 with amazing accuracy, 26".

 

[aer21]

If Keith said it, believe him and his Oehler. He would rather eat worms than prevaricate (lie).

I bought a rifle from him, 257 Wby chamber w no freebore. 100 gr at 3750. Hold fur to 350. . .

I understand and I’ve chatted with him on Pm before about 6.5x47 loads. Just checking.

 

[TAJ45]

I understand and I’ve chatted with him on Pm before about 6.5x47 loads. Just checking.

I understand and I’ve chatted with him on Pm before about 6.5x47 loads. Just checking.

 

[TAJ45]

 

[AWS]

Interesting to hear your results, keep the info coming. The 22-204 is one of my favorite coyote pelt hunting rounds, I've been shooting it since 2005, 40gr NBT at close to 4000 fps out of a re-chambered Savage 1-9 223 22" Sporter weight barrel.

Any thoughts on doing a 6mm-204 or 25-204, I've been shooting them also for a long time 2004 and 2005.

 

[Ackman]

Not calling you a liar but you are getting 22-250 velocity with 50gr bullets out of a .204 case?

Keith's a good friend and we talk about this stuff a lot. He's very thorough and when he gets results it's no BS. Yeah, that's very well into 22-250 territory, and that was the most accurate load. He's a very careful reloader, thorough about watching pressure and monitoring case life. What 55's do will be interesting. The 55gr. accuracy load in my first 22-250 years ago was 3650 and I believe this 22-204 will be there.

 

[TAJ45]

Good to see you posting again, Dave.

 

[alf]

Welcome to the club......brace yourself.......

 

[sw282]

ln the Army they told the only dumb question asked is the UNASKED question. So here goes. What's the difference between a 222Remington Magnum and a 22-204?

Thanks.
282

 

[TAJ45]

Not being a smart @$$ but very, very little. I forget which one has the longer nk. Goog the specs on ea one for the skinny.

 

[AckleymanII]

282, the 204 holds a little more powder than the 222 Mag.

There is also another cartridge that defies all logic, that is the 22 Hawk(perhaps the 220 Hawk), that is a blown out ppc case with a double radius shoulder. 52's at 3900 are the norm with amazing accuracy. This makes me wonder just how well the 22 Grendel would work.

With the 22-204, making the dies is very simple. Run a 5.7mm drill bit in the sleeve of a 204 Ruger benchrest seater made by Forster. Exchange out the seating stem for a 22 caliber version....done.
Use Redding S full length and neck sizers.

For a coyote, ground squirrel, p. dog, rock chuck rifle, the expense of the 204 Ruger brass is a real plus.

 

[AWS]

When I built mine 222 Rem Mag Brass was virtually non-existent and the 204 case had a 30 degree shoulder, a little more capacity, was just a running it through a FL sizing die and just a matter of changing out the guts on a 204 Bushing die to load, with just a slight modification to the die body I can load 6mm-204 and 25-204 with the same FL Bushing die. A much simpler wildcat than the 223AI that needed a custom die and fire forming to load. Hornady .224 seating dies are pretty much universal and worked perfect for seating bullets in the 22-204.

 

[sw282]

Thanks for THREE very informative explanations... Sounds like Mr 22-204 could easily put 0le Man 22-250 into retirement if a rifle or ammo maker would put it into production

 

[Ackman]

ln the Army they told the only dumb question asked is the UNASKED question. So here goes. What's the difference between a 222Remington Magnum and a 22-204?

Thanks.
282

Easy to find out, just look in a reloading manual and compare the rim to shoulder measurement on both cases. It's all right there.

 

[AWS]

It was seriously thought about, when I ordered my reamer I was told that one of the major companies had also ordered reamers.

I believe the 17-204 was also seriously looked at.

The 25-204 was brought out commercially by Gary Reeder as the 257 Raptor with ballistics matching original 250-3000 and 257 Roberts ballistics.