Cooper 204 FL die fit.

[lmorrison17]

A friend of mine has bought a Cooper in 204 be does not reload. He has offered to buy the tools and components to let me load for him. I haven't had any trouble finding load data. But I haven't heard anyone talking about what dies are a good fit for their chamber. I think the rifle in question is a model 21 Phoenix.
Thanks

 

[jwv2001]

But I haven't heard anyone talking about what dies are a good fit for their chamber.

What? .204 is .204.
Buy a set that includes a neck sizer and don't worry about it.

 

[ocsjr]

I got this info from a fellow Cooper shooter who had talked with Cooper about it. They said 32 gr bullets seated to 2.235 OAL should do the trick. In my Model 21, I'm using that OAL with the 32 gr Sierra BKs and 27.3 gr Benchmark,around 3850 fps)and they work real good for me and I consider that load safe in my rifle only. Pay attention to case prep and use good dies with a decent press and you should be okay. I started up with the Redding Deluxe Die Set #84287 and a #10 shellholder. When I started to load the 39 gr BKs,Benchmark again), I bought a Forester seater,F005121) to keep from changing my settings. Hope this helps. Smitty

 

[lmorrison17]

jwv2001 not all .204 chambering reamers are the same. An ideal brass/chamber/die relationship will provide many benefits. A .001 reduction in size from fired case size in critical areas,body\ shoulder junction and just ahead of the web at case head) will give a longer brass life by not over woking the brass. An ideal chamber fit will lend itself better accuracy by keeping the bullet centered with the bore. A dies that sizes the case body .003 for instance would be a sloppy fit and a case of bore bullet misalignment. For the purpose of this thred all I am concerned with is find a factory die that doesn't oversize compared to coopers chamber. If I cant find one maybe a custom die is in order. Thanks. Larry

 

[jwv2001]

Larry, There is a SAAMI spec for the .204 just like there is for any standardized cartridge. Die makers use the same standard. What you're saying is that you would need a special die for every reamer that was ever manufactured because they are not identical.

 

[lmorrison17]

What I am saying is that for my idea of a perfect set of dies for any given chamber will not be a perfect set for every chamber. I think if you spend 1200 on a rifle and another 1200 on a scope. Why not try to make perfect ammo. I'm just trying to find a good die FOR THIS RIFLE without spending the extra$$$ that a custom die would cost if it isn't needed. Like I said this is not my gun, for my 6.5x47 I had a case sized in redding die sent to the reamer maker to have the reamer made so that the chamber will be the best that it can be for THAT die. Maybe this level of precision isn't called for in this application but I didn't think it would hurt anything to try for the best I could do.
Larry

 

[Stonewall]

The cat just deleated my first post.

A great forum for Cooper rifles can be found on Rimfire Central:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=57

Another fine site on the Ruger .204 cartridge and rifles :
http://www.rugerhunting.com/forum/

Buy a block of cerrosafe from Brownells . Then email Forster and Redding to see if you get a match.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=384

Glenn

 

[Phasor]

Another option would to be to purchase a Redding body die in 204 Ruger with some fired cases from your chamber and have Jim Carstenson at this site custom fit the die with his bushing conversion. Then you would have a die fitted for that chamber. There is an article on the site in the gear reviews section.

You can get in touch with him here.

jlcprec@netins.net

Phasor

 

[lmorrison17]

Thanks Phasor and Glenn. Both good ideas. I have a die coming from redding I'm gona see how it works out and go from there.