Loading for the 204 Ruger

boonerbuck

boonerbuck

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Well after all kinds of run arounds trying to order my M700 LV-SF, I found one used in 204 Ruger.

It started with me calling around the mail orders trying to find one in 22-250 or 223 but no luck. A local shop here in the end told me their supplier had one in 22-250 and I gave him the go ahead. A week later they call him and tell him it's on back order. A month at least but they have one in stock in 223. Fine with me. A week later, they call and say it's on back order. I already picked up every thing I needed for the 223 so I say I'll wait. I'm cancelling tomorrow and selling the components and dies etc.

Todbartell gave me a heads up last night and I worked out a deal for the 204, dies and 100 brass included.

So how about loading for 204? What powders are you using? What velocities and accuracy are you getting and with what bullets? Which bullets are fur friendly?
 
I have been useing H-335 with OK results, and I have just picked up a pound of H-4895 and a pound of re 10X which is supose to work awsome in the 204, but I havnt got around to do any loading with them yet. :( As for fur friendly bullets, I have been useing 32grn V-MAX's with great results, but not many peaple have had then same luck with them, I think they are pushing them too fast and are exploding on the surface. I dont have a Chrony so I cant post velocities, and I have not measured groups but they are well under a inch, roughly 3/4" 5 shot groups. I also picked up a box of 35grn Bergers, and 39grn Blitz Kings, but I have not had the chance to try them on coyotes. Also look at this site, it has tons of info on the 204! 204 forums and load data
 
35 gr Bergers are Gods gift to fur hunters. This picture is of the neck of a male I shot at about 125 yds. No exit and 2 little stitches. I also didn't have them screaming out of the barrel either ,somewhere around 3700 fps.
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### International deals with Bergers

from what Ive read (researched the 204 a bit this winter), the 35 Berger is the fur bullet of choice. Hornady just came out wit a 45 gr. soft point too, so Im sure that is marketed towards predator hunters.

anything that is suitable for the 223/22-250 would work well in the 204. benchmark, RL15, Varget, 4895 etc

the LVSF should be a nice platform for the hunter on the move, I hope you're happy with it. its a remington, so it should shoot ;)
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I am looking into a 204 myself now, I shot a fox Saturday with the 7mm-08 useing 100gr sierra varminters and it completely wrecked the fox.
However I have heard of mixed resultts with the 204 on yotes.
Should a guy look into a 22-250 rather than 204? and How is the .222 rem for yotes?
 
222 w/ 50s @ 3200 would work quite nice out to 300 yards or so me thinks

204 would be a better fur round I think, with the right bullet
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The 204 is about as loud as a 223 maybe a hair quieter but it is right there. I have been using H4895 with very good success especially with the 35-40's. The 35 bergers work really well on coyotes, but if you watch out not to hit bone the 32 and 40 hornadys work just fine from what I have seen posted. My best gopher load is 39 Sierra and h4895 but that bullet is not fur friendly at all. SIR had one box of the Nosler BT's so I have got those to try. Although I have tried the ligher bullets I generaly stay to the bigger heads they have better over all performance.
 
I have a rem XR-100 in 204. From the reviews I've read, and my testing with a chrony, this is a very 'slow' barrel.

I've tried 10x, and it works OK, but is very dirty. So far, the best I've found is 29.1gr of Varget & a 40gr VMAX. This is WELL over the maximum publsihed loads, but shoots fine with no pressure signs @ ~3600fps. Extrapolating from published load data, this charge of Varget SHOULD be pushing 4k.
It is also the most accurate load I've found. Lighter charges & factory loads shoot really rather poorly.

I much prefer shooting the 204 to my 22-250. A lot quieter, and a lot less recoil. Trajectory should be as good or better than anything the 22-250 can do, owing to it's more efficient bullets. In practise, it's not something you notice.
 
Boer seun said:
but would the 204 kill cleanly?
seems to be a mighty small bullet
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providing the bullet penetrates deep enough to get into the vitals, sure it would kill cleanly.

tons of yotes have fallen to the 17 Remington, which makes the 204 look like a much bigger gun :)

204 certainly packs sufficient energy and velocity. its more about matching the right bullet to the task at hand.
 
The 204 has garnered a mediocre reputation for coyote-sized game so far, but I think that's probably due to the bullets available - all designed as gopher-busters.

Hornady has a new 45gr SP that should be more than adequate for 'yotes
 
Berger recommends a 1 in 14 twist rate for the 35 gr Berger than people have been suggesting for coyotes. This rifle comes with 1 in 12. Berger has a 40 gr that they suggest 1 in 12 for. Maybe I'll look at this bullet.
 
boonerbuck said:
Berger recommends a 1 in 14 twist rate for the 35 gr Berger than people have been suggesting for coyotes. This rifle comes with 1 in 12. Berger has a 40 gr that they suggest 1 in 12 for. Maybe I'll look at this bullet.
Click to expand...

within reason, you really can't overtwist a bullet.
 
I'm not afraid of trying other bullets despite what they recommend. I will probably shoot this rifle a lot during this summer. Believe me, I'll be looking at many bullets.

Here's what I'm looking at in order of priority in my search for a coyote load.

humane kills
accuracy
minimal damage to pelt

I will suffer exit wounds if it means less dogs tracked and/or lost.
 
Well you really don't have that many to choose from. IIRC, this is what you've got:

Hornady:
32 & 40 VMax, 45 SP

Sierra:
32 & 39 BK

Berger:
32 40 & 50 grain ("match?")


The VMAX's & BK's are primarily designed to convert gophers to gaseous form, so you're looking at the Hornady 45SP & bergers
 
There is a well-written, well-researched article on .204 loads in the 2006 edition of Hodgdon's Annual (magazine style) reloading manual. Good value for about $ 10.00. Lots of info on newer stuff like the 325WSM and 450 Marlin as well as quite a few wildcats. Contains lots of loads NOT published on their website.
 
beretta boy said:
There is a well-written, well-researched article on .204 loads in the 2006 edition of Hodgdon's Annual (magazine style) reloading manual. Good value for about $ 10.00. Lots of info on newer stuff like the 325WSM and 450 Marlin as well as quite a few wildcats. Contains lots of loads NOT published on their website.
Click to expand...

You know what, I picked that up and it's around the house somewhere. Great heads up. Thanks.:D
 
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