Savage 204 ruger loads?

[K0na_stinky]

I have had good luck with a variety of powders and bullets.. N144, TAC, R10X, IMR3031 and a few others. Bullets: 32 Sierra's, 26 Barnes, 39 Sierra's, and 40 Bergers.. My go to load right now is 39 Sierra's and R10X. I am trying/developing some loads with 3031 ands 40 bergers right now that show promise.. I can honestly say I haven't found anything my HOWA 1500 doesn't like.. Just some groups tighter than others ..

I am leaning toward the 39/40 grainers becasue the 32's seem to run out of steam after 200 yds and the heavier bullets overtake them..

What twist is your Howa?

 

[AKDaddy]

I'm going to throw in here just because I have a "different" story.

I bought a used Savage model 16 in 204 Ruger for $300. In initial load developement I tried IMR 8208 XBR, Benchmark, IMR 4895, and Varget, all with 40 grain Ballistic Tips. The Benchmark and 4895 quickly rose to the top for speed and accuracy. I was easily getting MOA, and sometimes close to 1/2 MOA. I was pleased, but the barrel was fouling badly. I fire-lapped it with Tubbs Final Finish (worked great, easy cleaning now) and after fire-lapping the Benchmark was no longer the hot ticket. On a whim I tried 8208 again, and Wow. Speed with accuracy. We're talking 4000 fps with 39 grain Blitz Kings (hBN coated) and easily 1/2 MOA out of a 26" barrel. I'm above book max, but no pressure signs and my R-P brass is on its 5th time around without sloppy primer pockets.

I know few others have found 8208 XBR to work well in the 204 Ruger, but it sure does for me. Thought I'd mention it.

 

[K0na_stinky]

I'm going to throw in here just because I have a "different" story.

I bought a used Savage model 16 in 204 Ruger for $300. In initial load developement I tried IMR 8208 XBR, Benchmark, IMR 4895, and Varget, all with 40 grain Ballistic Tips. The Benchmark and 4895 quickly rose to the top for speed and accuracy. I was easily getting MOA, and sometimes close to 1/2 MOA. I was pleased, but the barrel was fouling badly. I fire-lapped it with Tubbs Final Finish (worked great, easy cleaning now) and after fire-lapping the Benchmark was no longer the hot ticket. On a whim I tried 8208 again, and Wow. Speed with accuracy. We're talking 4000 fps with 39 grain Blitz Kings (hBN coated) and easily 1/2 MOA out of a 26" barrel. I'm above book max, but no pressure signs and my R-P brass is on its 5th time around without sloppy primer pockets.

I know few others have found 8208 XBR to work well in the 204 Ruger, but it sure does for me. Thought I'd mention it.

Thanks for the info. So far all my loads have been well under 1 MOA. I’d like to get down to ¼ MOA tho. Have to see if I can make it. ;D

 

[jo191145]

Here you go Kona.
Never stop trying
Sav 12 VLP factory barrel.
That was the last 5 shot 200yd tweak before I said good enough.
40 Bergers at 2.275 COL. 25.3 gns Benchmark Fed 205M.
Won't win any speed tests but accuracy first. Worry about the wind later.

 

[Terry]

Check out the VHA website. You will find a lot of .204 loads.

http://vha.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=103530

 

[K0na_stinky]

Here you go Kona.
Never stop trying
Sav 12 VLP factory barrel.
That was the last 5 shot 200yd tweak before I said good enough.
40 Bergers at 2.275 COL. 25.3 gns Benchmark Fed 205M.
Won't win any speed tests but accuracy first. Worry about the wind later.

Now thats good shooting!! Do you know how far you are off the lands?

I'm 0.005 off for now. I'm testing reloader 10 see how making the load hotter helps the accuracy.

Quick question. Today I shot 10, 32gr hornadys infront of varget and switched to 39gr sierra 39gr blitz kings infront of reloader 10. My first 2, 3-shot groups were just under an inch and my last group was a 4 shot group and it was well under 1/2". Does chaning bullets and powder make the first shots inaccurate?

 

[jo191145]

Mostly dumb luck
That barrel did shoot that load just under 1/4 moa @ 200 for a short time. I can't even do that with a PPC.
Right up until I ran those 26gn VG's at 4700fps. Never would shoot that load or 40gn bullet again. Good lesson learned.

40 Berg is far enough away from the lands in a standard factory Sav that it has left the case long before ever finding them. ;D Shortest bearing length in the 204 family I'm aware of. I've never found best accuracy trying to get close or into the lands with a 204R. They've always preferred a healthy jump for me.
39sbk or 40 V-Max may be an exception to that rule. Seldom use them myself.

The smaller the bore the more fussy they get about fouling. Both carbon and copper. IMO.
NEVER do load development with mixed powders. I have. I've seen the results. The results can leave you chasing your tail forever ;D
FWIW whenever I begin load development with a new powder I do not clean the barrel. This gives me a rough indication of how many rds it will shoot before losing accuracy. With 10X my bet would be 40 - 50 rds and your accuracy will fall apart fast. With 10X You'll need to clean the throat well at that point.

 

[K0na_stinky]

Mostly dumb luck
That barrel did shoot that load just under 1/4 moa @ 200 for a short time. I can't even do that with a PPC.
Right up until I ran those 26gn VG's at 4700fps. Never would shoot that load or 40gn bullet again. Good lesson learned.

40 Berg is far enough away from the lands in a standard factory Sav that it has left the case long before ever finding them. ;D Shortest bearing length in the 204 family I'm aware of. I've never found best accuracy trying to get close or into the lands with a 204R. They've always preferred a healthy jump for me.
39sbk or 40 V-Max may be an exception to that rule. Seldom use them myself.

The smaller the bore the more fussy they get about fouling. Both carbon and copper. IMO.
NEVER do load development with mixed powders. I have. I've seen the results. The results can leave you chasing your tail forever ;D
FWIW whenever I begin load development with a new powder I do not clean the barrel. This gives me a rough indication of how many rds it will shoot before losing accuracy. With 10X my bet would be 40 - 50 rds and your accuracy will fall apart fast. With 10X You'll need to clean the throat well at that point.

Thanks alot for all the info. I'm going shooting tomorrow to test more loads. Ill let you know how it works out.

 

[Wrangler John]

I have had good luck with a variety of powders and bullets.. N144, TAC, R10X, IMR3031 and a few others. Bullets: 32 Sierra's, 26 Barnes, 39 Sierra's, and 40 Bergers.. My go to load right now is 39 Sierra's and R10X. I am trying/developing some loads with 3031 ands 40 bergers right now that show promise.. I can honestly say I haven't found anything my HOWA 1500 doesn't like.. Just some groups tighter than others ..

I am leaning toward the 39/40 grainers becasue the 32's seem to run out of steam after 200 yds and the heavier bullets overtake them..

I live in a lead free area, so I use the Barnes 26 grain Varmint Grenade with 25.2 grains of Reloader 10x and either a Federal 205M or Remington 7-1/2 BR primer. Velocity is 4.085 fps average in a 1:12" twist and 4,110 fps in a 1:8.5" twist, accuracy is .250" +/- for ten shots at 100 yards. The Berger 50 grain HPBT in the 1:8.5" twist PacNor barrel with 25.0 grains of Varget will shoot similarly sized groups at around 3,200 fps. The Berger is a good long range choice - they even look like aerodynamic jewels - but you need a fast twist barrel to use them, a factory 1:12" twist won't stabilize them.

 

[Joe O]

I have a Savage LRPV,and it shot .333 with Federal Factory ammo 39gr SieBK,right out of the box.My reloads with Varget got it down to 1/4" consistantly,if I did my part.I have since swithhed powders to IMR 8208 XBR mainly for the lack of heat sensitivity,but I like it more because of the way it pours and the accuracy I'm getting with no pressure signs.I load 28gr for the 32s and 27.3 for the 39s.OAL 2.350 or slghtly longer(your gun).I get right at 4000fps out of a 23" barrel and 4100fps from my 26" LRPV.The 39s are 3750fps.Many other powders will work,I just like this one the best.

 

[Thorbird]

My first Savage 12 loved 26.5 benchmark and the 35 bergers. Weren't fast but bugholed. Have only used 39blitz in the new Savage an RL10x and it also is so accurate, but I also want to try the berger 35's and 40's sitting on my shelf right now. With the .204, below 35 grain bullets I like benchmark, above that RL10X has been good so far.