I am about to embrace the reloading. I've tested the waters and made some "factory" loads. Did my best to copy hornady. Did well. So I will do more, more everything! I am thinking of load work up with two main powders. Benchmark and varget. Anything I should know. Stay away from? I just got a 6.5 creedmore and dies, next on the list. Pretty set on h4350 for it.
204 ruger powder choices
- Thread starter J10archer
- Start date
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
Varget is one of the more accurate 204 Powders. CFE223 is excellent. I have never had a good result with BLC2.
But my go to powder is H322. It is the only one that can drive a 40gn Hornady Vmax fast enough to stabilize in a 1:12 barrel. Varget cannot do that.
if your barrel is 1:12, most find the 39 blitz's work great with Varget. If you plan on 40 Vmax, 322 is your powder.
If you plan to use 32 grain bullets, almost all powders will work fine, my preference with 32's is Varget or CFE223
Good luck!
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
Oh, make sure if you are planning to make rounds that are on the edge of being stonking fast, use CCI small magnum rifle primers.
Otherwise you will risk piercing.
Otherwise you will risk piercing.
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
1. IMR 8208
2. H4895
3. Varget
4. Benchmark (accurate but low velocity)
Those are used in A CZ Varmint
2. H4895
3. Varget
4. Benchmark (accurate but low velocity)
Those are used in A CZ Varmint
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
First choice h 4895. If a 204 wouldnt shoot a 39 bk with a stiff load of h 4895 there is something wrong with it. That's been my experiance with loading for a dozen of them over the years.
Imran 8208 and cfe223 are also worth looking at. Reloader 10x. These 4 can bring the speed. 3750 to 3850 with the 39 gr sierra depending on barrel.
Imran 8208 and cfe223 are also worth looking at. Reloader 10x. These 4 can bring the speed. 3750 to 3850 with the 39 gr sierra depending on barrel.
Big bore dinosaur
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- NORT OF COW.TOWN.EH
Benchmark & 40 gr vmax. Cz527 varmint
Thanks gentlemen, I have 39 grain projectiles, and 32. But 39 is my plan. Temp intensive is important for me. All season shooting and hunting. And magnum primers are stronger? Never heard that. I have some. I can try it. Thanks again
Hmm ! Big Variance of POWDER opinions here for the 204 R ! 
RJ
RJI have 4 204s at the moment. I shoot H4895 and IMR XBR 8208 loads in all of them mostly using Berger bullets or 40gr Vmax. I have a reduced load worked up for my Browning A-bolt with 30gr Bergers and H4895 that is extremely fur friendly when shooting fox and beavers. I use CCI 450 primers in all but the reduced loads.
I will copy this closely, will be my starter. Benchmark powder is on backorder. Thanks for the help
Leatherstocking
CGN Regular
- Location
- BC Rockies
26 grn Barnes Varmit Grenades with Benchmark for me. CCI BR2 primers.
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Big bore dinosaur
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- NORT OF COW.TOWN.EH
Try the Remington primer or BR2 and hodgdon bench mark .
I had some spare time last couple weeks so I started playing with a new load for my 204 Cooper with CFE 223, 40gr Vmax and once fired neck sized Win brass. First load I tried of 28.5grs put a 3 shot group into basically the same hole at 100yds off the sand bags on my bench. Went up and down a few tenths of a grain but the group started to open slightly. POI was 1" higher then the old load of BLC(2). Hopefully get out this week to see how it preforms in the gopher patch out to 300yds while they are still out this fall.
My experience with H4895 mirrors this. I have not loaded for a dozen but have owned 5 over the years and every one, regardless of make, shot really well with max. H4895 loads, top velocity also. Benchmark has proven very accurate for me, and is one of the cleanest powders ever, but slightly slower.
I settled on H322 with 32gr Sierra bullets for my Tikka. Tried 8208 as well as Varget, all had equal accuracy but i have an 8lb jug of H322 so it gets the nod. I couldn't get the Tikka or a Rem 700 to shoot anything but patterns with 39 and 40gr bullets.
