Les Baer 204 Ruger AR-15

[lgwatson]

I recently acquired the above mentioned rifle. I have no experience with the 204, and limited experience reloading for semi auto (AR-15 .223/5.56. The rifle is extremely accurate with Hornady Factory 32 gr Vmax rounds. I have ordered dies, brass and 55 gr Berger boat tailed varmint bullets. Does anyone here have experience with 55 Berger loads in the 204. A 9 twist barrel is recommended for the 55 grain. Any other advice would also be appreciated.

 

[RegionRat]

and 55 gr Berger boat tailed varmint bullets.

These Berger 55 grain are a special "corner case", meaning they are not meant for every gun.

You can shoot them in a 204, but to take advantage of the BC you would want these in a Wildcat where you can get them over 3600 fps to make them worth their trouble.

To keep these at magazine length in a 204 Ruger in an AR wouldn't be a great use of your time.

Generally, these are run in necked-down cases like the BR, PPC, 22-250, and lately even the GT and 22 Creedmoor.

I will suggest you set the 55 grain Berger aside for a different rig and focus on the 40 VMax at magazine length for your AR. Nothing wrong with the 32 grain, but the BC on the 40 is worth the trouble.

In my WOA varmint uppers, I can get away with bulk loading on the Dillon while throwing CFE223 and the rig stays under 0.5 MOA. The 40 VMax in the 204R will carry energy farther than the same weight bullets in a 223 to put a smile on your face every time.

The last several seasons I have been running the Rem 7.5 primer using Nosler and Norma brass, shared between the ARs and bolt guns.

I find the 204R AR to be very easy to develop and you should have no trouble.

You will really like the 204 Ruger in the AR platform for colony rodents.

 

[lgwatson]

Thank you for the input. I'm looking forward to working up a load.

 

[17VLD]

I'm curious what that Les Baer rifle has for a twist. I have always liked his stuff and am sure it's a well built rifle. As a side note I was very surprised that my XR100 in 204 shot factory Hornady 40vmaxs so we'll in my 12 twist,tight clover leaves at 100 yards at sea level. Kind of thinking an AR type rifle might have had a faster twist than the normal 12, but I'm not sure. Those 36 grain factory loaded Sierra Blitz Kings for the 204 would sure do well on varmints, wish they were offered as a component to us reloader.
Matt

 

[JSH]

I don’t know if I could afford to feed an AR in 204, lol. One needs self control of mind and mouth, I am lacking on both. A whack a mole situation with an AR, barrel makers would love me.

Since I have started playing with the 204 I have found it to not be real fussy about loads. I have been fortunate to not had any twist issues. After having read numerous articles and comments about a 1-12 shooting the 40’s well, I have come to the conclusion that some do not have a true 1-12 twist.

I am with the above comment on the 55’s, the 204 doesn’t have enough “boiler room” to reap what the 55’s have to offer. FYI I built a 20BR for the 55’s. I was warned barrel life would be short by some standards. From what I have gleened in info since, I would go the Grendel/PPC case at this point. Give up a little FPS and gain on barrel life.

 

[Hal]

Les Baer AR-15's in .204 have. A 1-10 twist.

Hal

 

[RegionRat]

I don’t know if I could afford to feed an AR in 204, lol. One needs self control of mind and mouth, I am lacking on both. A whack a mole situation with an AR, barrel makers would love me.

Since I have started playing with the 204 I have found it to not be real fussy about loads. I have been fortunate to not had any twist issues. After having read numerous articles and comments about a 1-12 shooting the 40’s well, I have come to the conclusion that some do not have a true 1-12 twist.

I am with the above comment on the 55’s, the 204 doesn’t have enough “boiler room” to reap what the 55’s have to offer. FYI I built a 20BR for the 55’s. I was warned barrel life would be short by some standards. From what I have gleened in info since, I would go the Grendel/PPC case at this point. Give up a little FPS and gain on barrel life.

Just food for thought since everyone must take care of their own....

But...

Life can be short... I stopped worrying about bbl life and just started living like tomorrow is promised to no one.

If you have never shot a WOA Varmint upper in a well infested prairie dog field, you should give it a run before you die. When I finally broke down and tried it, I kicked myself for not doing it sooner.

I too was surprised how a Remington factory 204 came in 12 twist and was worried by the math that said it was a very low SG, like near 1. However, in the fields where I shoot it has been no problem at all with the Hornady 20 cal 40VMax.

I shoot down to 2650 feet at my local club, and since other states are typically higher I have seen no issues. In fact, the gun performs very well for a hammer forged bbl. It runs all day but takes twice as long to clean as a typical custom rig.

I ran the twist using a very tight bronze brush and as far as I can tell it really is a 12. My custom rigs use an 11 for the 40 VMax and Sierra 39. The wildcats that use those 55 grain Bergers are 9 twist and I have tested down to near sea level at distance with no issues.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

My advice is buy lots of brass while it's available. It was out of stock for a couple years. The next shortage is always looming...

 

[varmit_hunter]

There for a while that 204 brass was hard too find. When I got into a 204 ruger. I bought 1000 new brass. 300 or 400 once fired brass. I am still using the once fired brass. My 204 is my truck gun. 1@10 twist barrel. Shooting a 35 gr berger bullet. Berger did made a 20 cal 30 gr hp bullet. Not any more. I bought a few boxes to try out.

 

[searcher]

I doubt your rifle will shoot the 55's well (if at all). Those Les Baers that I have shot are great rifles. If I were you, I'd buy either 32 V-Max, 40 V-Max or 39 Sierra Blitz King bullets to try. The best powders I have tried in a half dozen .20 Practicals (with these bullets), has been Accurate LT-32, H322, H4198 (in that order). Next best were Varmint and Reloader 7. Good luck with your new rig!

 

[Hal]

Searcher
What kind of accuracy were you getting with your LBC .204 ?

Hal

 

[searcher]

Searcher
What kind of accuracy were you getting with your LBC .204 ?

Hal

Sub 1/2" MOA when the Accurate LT32 was used with those bullets. The H4198 was almost as good - but that stuff is hard to get unless one already has a stash. Got a lot of 1/4" groups while dialing in for my range cards. The 40 and 39 are a bit less "squirrely" than the 32's, though they shoot really well.