Cooper in 204 Ruger

[JDMAGNUM]

Phasor, I have not done any load developement as of yet. However, I am looking at H322 with some Hornady V-Max 32 Grnrs. I spent the evening last night getting the cases ready,Hornady). I found that the flasholes were severely burred and needed cleaned up, but the overall lenght of the cases were about .002 within the same length of each other. I'll begin tonight with bullet seating depth and a couple of different powder charges, and move on from there. I have the tooling for outside neck turning and length but would prefer to stay away from those operations if I can due to the number of rounds required for the dog towns in your neck of the woods. I'll post my results as I obtain them. You are certainly correct about the accuracy of the factory rounds, however the cost of a good week-end shoot would be a little much.

 

[chops]

My first post. I am curious to know if you can see the bullet impact on your target. Have been looking at a cooper but it is only about 7 and one -half pounds. Thanks. Ken

 

[Carlyle]

Hello There,
I also have a Phoenix 204. Started to work on some cases today and realized that I need a smaller bushing for my Redding Dies. I will report back if I get anything sorted out

Carlyle

 

[JDMAGNUM]

Here are some results from recent loads I have tried. Some look good and some not. A lot of it is me....the rifle will definitely outshoot me. In case it can't be seen; I was using H322 powder and Hornady VMAX 32 grn. 2 loads each of 25.5 and 26.0 two using FED 205m primers and two using REM 7 1/2 BR. OAL of 2.965 as measures by Stony Point OAL gauge.

 

[BadRambo]

Hello All -- enjoying reading the results and progress. Just wanted to throw in some of my results that may be of interest/help.

First, I have just put together, a Thompson Encore using a E.A. Brown accuracy barrel for .204. After the prescribed breaking shooting, I have been able to do 4 shot groups just over 0.25". The secret to sucsess was to SLOW DOWN the .204 load. I found that at near max loads, the grouping was not good. But I reduced my velocity down to about 3500 with a Hornady 40gr VMAX and 25.0gr of Varget and ensured my seating depth was just off the lands by about 20 mils or so. I began shooting very consistently, well under a "minute of ground hog". All that from a rifle that "breaks open in the middle"

I also have a Cooper Varminter, which I love, but in .221 Fireball. It also is now shooting 40gr VMAX loads now, and doing 0.25-0.35" groups with only moderate velocity loads. I always saw it posted that the shallow-twist Coopers like to be "shot fast"... there is some truth to this. My experiments with slower loads, did open up the groups on the 40gr VMAX to about 0.6=0.7" -- just a slight increase in velocity and the groups closed right up.

For what its worth!!! -- Regards -- Bob