New 204 AR build, 35gr, 40gr or 55gr Bergers?

[msphotog]

Hey, folks, this is my first question, but I've been lurking here for more than 10 years...I've just built a 204 upper with a Shilen 9 twist barrel...I've been developing loads with H4895 and 10X with a bunch of Berger 40gr bullets I already had...I've been studying barrel twist vs bullet size, and I'm wondering if anybody is shooting this barrel, and which bullets are giving them the best accuracy?
Also, I noticed that the Hodgdon load data is considerably hotter than the Berger...Right now, I've gotten my best groups with 26.6gr of 4895, 205M primers, and Nosler cases. Any opinions would be welcomed! Thanks! and also thanks for all the good advice i've read over the years!

Mark

 

[pacificman]

Sounds to me you got it all figured out. In my opinion you are using two very good powders for the .204 caliber.
With a 9 twist seems you could shoot any bullet they make for .204. I don't own the same barrel as your shooting
but have heard that Shilen are great barrels...I do agree that the load suggestions in the Berger loading manual
seem to be a bit more on the conservative side. If I were shooting a 9 twist I would definitely try the 55 gr. Bergers.
When I had a .204 it had 12 twist and the best bullet seemed to be the 39 gr. Sierra.

 

[msphotog]

Thanks, Pacificman...I was pretty sure that the 55's would shoot in the 1in9 barrel, but with a 1/12 twist they just wouldn't stabilize...I'll try some!

 

[pacificman]

The 55's call for 8 twist but still might work in your 9 twist...you could always try the 50 Berger also
which according to Berger should work well with your 9 twist. I would be curious how they shoot.

 

[B23]

I don't think the 204 Ruger really has enough case capacity to drive the 55's fast enough to out perform the lighter bullets and at 204R speeds that 1-9tw barrel could be marginally fast enough twist to stabilize the 55's. I think those 55's, ballistically speaking, isn't very well suited for the smaller cases and is a much better fit for the larger wildcat .20's like a 20-250 and the like.

 

[msphotog]

pacific man-I don't think the Berger 50gr are made anymore, and B23, I think you're right...All the reviews I've read on the 55's are guys shooting, like you said, 20-250, or 20BR...I've also got some 39gr SBK's that I haven't tried in this rifle, but they shot pretty good in my Rem VLS with a 12twist barrel...I think I'll stick to 39's or 40's. Thanks for the recommendations!