Savage 204 ruger loads?

[K0na_stinky]

Hey all I just got myself a new Savage model 12 with a 26" 1 in 12" twist barrel.

It almost shoots to well with factory ammo. And the hornady ammo I'm useing shoots high. Really high.

So far Ive tryed to get up to the hornady velocitys but I am starting to have a compressed load. 28gr of varget. I want to say away from compressed loads if I can. I don't have any experience with them.

I want to switch powders. I'm thinking about hodgdon benchmark.

Does anyone have any loads that worked in their 204 rugers? Loads that didnt work at all?

Any info would be awesome.

Thanks.

 

[Bkluke]

I had good luck with Accurate 2015 and 2230. Hodgdon H335 is good as well. Here is a good site that I have used in the past. http://www.rugerhunting.com/204_data.php ;D Good Shooting

Let me know what you find out.

 

[kjcpoint]

27.5 grains of benchmark with a 40gr vmax, touching the lands. shoots 3/8ths in groups. Took about 85 rounds before it started to shoot.

Kyle

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

H322 the most accurate powder tested. Suggested it to my buddy his .204 is shooting just a hair over .5 at 200 yards with 32 Gr. Sierra Blitzkings.

 

[K0na_stinky]

Thanks for the replys.

With factory hornady 32gr bullets I shot a 3 shot group well under 1/4" at 200 yards. So I know my rifle can shoot well with that 32gr bullet. I have a box of 250 (32gr v-max) and I have been playing with them abit. Shot a 1/2" group and backed it with a 1" but I think that was my fault, then ran out of reloads. With my reloads I'm shooting close to 3" lower at 200 yards. My rifle is zeroed for the hornady's and I took a shot at a pop can at 100 and I hit the ground about 40 feet infront of the pop can.

I'd like to push the range of the little 204 so I think I would like to shoot a Sierra 39 gr blitzking.

 

[K0na_stinky]

Today I picked up some Reloader 10x and some Hodgdon Benchmark. I'll make some different loads tonight and see how they work tomorrow.

 

[funkyon4wheels]

25grs. of Reloader 10 behind a 39gr. sierra blitz king (max load according to sierra is 25.1) .7" 3 shot groups outta my savage 25 @ 100yds

 

[agr516]

My Savage model 12 VLP shoots extremely well (.2's-.3's) with 26.5gr of AA2230, 39gr Sierra Blitzkings, and Fed 205M primers. 3850fps.

 

[K0na_stinky]

My Savage model 12 VLP shoots extremely well (.2's-.3's) with 26.5gr of AA2230, 39gr Sierra Blitzkings, and Fed 205M primers. 3850fps.

How far are you off the lands?

 

[agr516]

I actually do not know how far this load is from touching the lands. The throat in the rifle is too long for me to touch the lands and still use the magazine. I have not attempted to reach the lands and use the rifle as a single shot.

 

[K0na_stinky]

I actually do not know how far this load is from touching the lands. The throat in the rifle is too long for me to touch the lands and still use the magazine. I have not attempted to reach the lands and use the rifle as a single shot.

Thanks for the info. My rifle is a single shot so I have nothin to worry about.

 

[agr516]

You may still not be able to reach the lands even with a single shot. At magazine length, I have very little neck purchase on the 39gr Blitzkings.

 

[K0na_stinky]

You may still not be able to reach the lands even with a single shot. At magazine length, I have very little neck purchase on the 39gr Blitzkings.

Well I'm going to try right now to see if I can get them to touch. I'll let you know how I make out.

 

[K0na_stinky]

So in my gun with the 39 gr blitzking it touches the rifling at about 2.408 COAL. And 3.022 with my Sinclair bullet comparator. That gives me 0.15 ish baring surface in the case neck. Plenty for what I'm doing.

 

[1000yardstare]

Had my best luck in the .204 with H4895.

 

[K0na_stinky]

Had my best luck in the .204 with H4895.

What was your twist and what bullets were you shooting?

Thanks.

 

[dozernomore]

Had my best luck in the .204 with H4895.

same here in mdl 25 lvt,204 ruger ,1-12 twist,24'' medium contour barrel,
40gr v-max,a lil over max according to hornady manual

 

[243jimb]

Using Berger bullets and H4895 my 204 shoots very well. With the 35 grain bullets and 28.2 grains of H4895 gives 3950fps, the 40 grain bullets and 27.7 of H4895 gives 3740 fps. Also Varget and Benchmark give good accuracy too, it will depend on what your rifle prefers.
Jim.

 

[K0na_stinky]

Using Berger bullets and H4895 my 204 shoots very well. With the 35 grain bullets and 28.2 grains of H4895 gives 3950fps, the 40 grain bullets and 27.7 of H4895 gives 3740 fps. Also Varget and Benchmark give good accuracy too, it will depend on what your rifle prefers.
Jim.

Thanks guys. I got some reloader 10x and some benchmark to try.

28gr of varget behind a hornady 32gr vmax gives me about 1/2 groups at 200 yards. But thats not good enough ;D

 

[TheOtherZilla]

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..