40grn Vmax in 1:12 Twist .204 Ruger

[Bernedti]

Half year ago i bought a Howa varmint in .204 ruger for my Girlfriend.
The Idea was good accuracy at 100 - 300 meters with less recoil

So i bougth 1000 40grn Hornady V-max because they cheap at that Time, but i think that wasn't a good decision

I tried differnt Powders VV N130, N140, N540
Neck sizing - Full sizing
Seat the bullet in the lands

But the best i can get out of the Rifle is this

The Rifle is good, Headspace is ok, the barrel is good, and i had several Howas and i know they shoot better

So can it be that the V-max are not the best for that twist?

 

['Freak]

Try the 39 grain Sierra Blitz King which evidently is just enough shorter to stabilize in a 1 in 12 twist barrel where the 40 grain stuff doesn’t. Can’t say I ever heard tell of a factory chamber .204 Ruger where you could still have much bullet in the case neck and it reach the lands, plus it seems these things prefer having to jump.

 

[Bernedti]

I forgot to say that the best Load I found, i had a COAL 2.29"

The max OAL until i reach the Lands is 2.41"

The results of seating nearly to the Lands were 3 Inch groups at 100 meters

 

[tuck2]

The 39 Gr bullets shoot more accurate groups out of my Ruger Target Varmint .204 rifle than the 40 Gr bullets. Both bullets are well made but 1 grain less weight and the different shape of the bullet results in smaller groups from some .204 rifles.

 

[CatShooter]

I had the same problem with my 204 with 40gr V-Max. Groups were very poor - I sent it back for a replacement and the second one was worse. I called Hornady and they said the 40gr V-Max was very poor in a 12" twist.

So I rebarreled with a 10" twist...

... one hole groups.

 

[Catfish]

I have had a few 204`s, all with the 12 twist. All but 1 were tack drivers and all but 1 shot best with the 32 gr. Sierra bullets. The odd ball shot best with the 32 gr. Hornady bullet. The liter Bergers also shot well.

 

[JORTZ]

I have had similar results using vv powder. I started using ramshot tac and h4198 and all groups improved to dime size but mabey its just your gun like different bullets.

 

[GAnderson]

I would change your powder choices....IMR8208, RL-10x, Ramshot Xterminator, H4895 or AA2520.....think you will find it WILL shoot with one of these powders.

Gene

 

[tjtjwdad]

I have three 204 Rugers, 2-M700s and 1-CZ 527. The CZ shoots them OK, the M700's won't regardless of bullet, case, powder or primer combination. A no-go in every sense of the word for me. I wish they would work though.

HTH,

 

[swampshooter]

I had the same problem. Sierra came out with the 39 gr. bullet because the 40's wouldn't stabilize properly in many 1 in 12 twist rifles under most atmospheric conditions. I re-barreled to a 1 in 10 twist, problem solved, but still shoot the 39 gr. Sierra. In my rifle it is much more accurate than any of the 40's. I re-barreled before Sierra announced the 39 gr. bullet.

 

[Bernedti]

Rebarrel is not an option for me at the time
I have not enough money for reamers yet

I ordered some 32grn Hornady and 39grn Sierra, and will test them out then

I don't really think that the Powder is the problem, the maximum V0 difference is -+10fps
Also tried Reload Swiss Powder that i'm using for .338 lapua and .375 Ultra Mag, same result

 

[MarkS]

The 40 Vmax will shoot in a true 12 tw. I have a 12 tw Douglas in 20 Tac, it will shoot the 40 Vmax very well. The 39gr Blitzkings shoot the best. The Savage are not a true 12 tw, something like 12.2.

Mark Schronce

 

[GAnderson]

Got a 20Tac in 12 twist, Savage Predator 204 in 12 twist and a Sako 85 Varmint in 12 twist and 40 vmax works great in all of them....like I said, 8208, RL 10X, Xterminator, H4895 or AA2520 will make them shoot into .3++'s or better.... AND the 20's don't mind jumping a little gap.....closer to the lands doesn't always work in the 20's. CCI400 or Rem 7 1/2 primers seem to work equally well.....one or the other may squeak a little tighter group than the other depending on which of the listed powders you use. As most have stated, the 39 Sierra is probably the most consistently accurate bullet, but I have no problems with the 40 vmax like others are stating AND definitely nothing close to the grouping/pattern pictured by the OP....the 8208, RL 10x and AA2520 have been my current choices.

Gene

 

[Bernedti]

Yesterday i tried another load with the 40grn Vmax and N540

The groups at 100 meters were not so good but on the other side the groups at 300 meter were better than expected

The fifth shot i pulled the Trigger to fast

 

[kjcpoint]

Benchmark or 8208 are the top powders on my list. I have built a lot of 204's and tac20's with 12tw and no problems.

Kyle

 

[searcher]

A friend and I both just recently built .20 Practicals - his a bolt-action and mine on an AR-15 action, and both with 12 twist barrels - his a Pacnor and mine a Hart. After considerable independant load development utilizing all the "recommended" powders, we instead (independantly) found Accurate LT-32 to be the most accurate powder when using the 39 grain Blitz King and the 32 Hornady Z-Max - as well as the 32 Nosler unleaded Ballistic Tip. Very strange to have one powder work so well with three different bullets in two guns such as in this circumstance. It is a pretty fast powder and ideally suited to small cases and lighter bullets. Downside is a higher than normal cost - but no more than VV. Also, there is limited load data for it - most likely the reason it has been relatively easy to find as compared to the other powders. Usually, I use 8208 XBR, RL-7 or sometimes Varget. The LT-32 also shoots great in my 6ppc, 6BR, 30BR and .223's and with all but the heavier bullets in my .308. Another good option. I just got back from a five day ground squirrel safari, having fired around 900 rounds. While all the mentioned bullets are equally accurate, the 32 ZMAX is all I will load in the future for squirrels unless I am shooting inside a lead-free area. I'll save my remaining 39's for the coyotes.