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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57 |
Need some help on load development for my Ruger 204 browning xbolt. Loaded 40 gr Hornady vmax 26.7 gr H4895 best three shot group 1 1/4 at 100 yds. Need better accuracy for spring gopher shoot would appreciate some advice Thanks
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,911
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,911 |
I run 27.5 grains under a 40 nosler BT, or 28 Varget under a 39 BK.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,911
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,911 |
40 vmax give lottsa folks fits. if the BK's don't work, drop back to the 32 grainers....
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57 |
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
One of the best powder to use in the 204 is Hod BLC-2
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869 |
I would try the 32 grainers especially for gophers. A lot of 204's don't like the 40gr. Had good luck with varget, benchmark and TAC in mine. Only one of the 6 rifles will group the 40gr bullets. 2 of the 6 will shoot the 39 blitz kings but all 6 shoot great with the 32's
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,098
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,098 |
Tuchodi,
I've had my best overall luck with the 40 V-Max using Ramshot TAC. Have found the CCI 450 often results in the best accuracy. But as some have already pointed out, for gophers there's nothing wrong with 32's.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,454
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,454 |
The 1-12" twist can be marginal with the 40 grain VMAX. Because of the long boat tail, it's just a little longer than other 39-40 grain bullets and if the twist is just a hair slower than nominal, which happens with manufacturing variation, that bullet might not stabilize.
The fractionally shorter 39 grain Sierra and 40 grain Nosler have not had that problem in my guns.
There's nothing wrong with dropping down to 32s. I haven't shot the Sierra yet but the Hornady and Nosler are very accurate in my gun.
My loads are simple. 27.5 grains of Vargut under any 39-40 grain bullet, 28 grains of H335 under any 32 grain bullet. WW brass, Rem 7-1/2 primers. Ballpark half inch 5 shot 100 yard groups with a 7 pound all-up rifle.
Tom
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
Here be dragons ...
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57 |
Thanks everyone for the great advice. Living in northern British Columbia components are not always that easy to obtain off the shelf, but it's going to be awhile before the gophers are out up here anyway.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527 |
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57 |
Found some 32 gr v max locally today. Got two groups at 3/4 of an inch. Happy with that. Thanks again everyone.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,910
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,910 |
39 Blitzking and max in YOUR rifle, RL10x or H4895.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,886
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,886 |
You may want to try CFE223 propellent as well.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,752
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,752 |
No one mentioned my favorite.... since canning the 204 and going with the 20 Practical...
the Hornady 24 grain NTX....you can launch it fast and its pretty darn explosive once it hits the target ( talking gophers here).. and an accurate little pill also...
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,098
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,098 |
Yeah, it's pretty hot stuff--and so is the 26-grain Barnes Varmint Grenade!
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,026
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,026 |
Tuchodi: All six of my 204 Ruger Varmint Rifles are shooting the Sierra 32 grain BlitzKing bullets now. They ARE accurate and very lethal on all manner of Varmints - from Ground Squirrels on up to Badgers and Coyotes! BUT.. the most accurate bullet I tested in all of these 204's was the Berger 35 grainers. They are just hard to find and expensive so I switched to the much easier to find Sierras. If you can find the 35 grain Bergers be sure to try them. Best of luck with the Browning 204. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,760
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,760 |
I too.......chose the 20 PT after having two 204R barrels
min 2 grs per charge less than the 204....that means 400 grs less
powder consumption & heat in a 200 rd p/dog morning......
same 3900 fps....40 gr moly V max
Last edited by tikkanut; 03/19/16.
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,561
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,561 |
This load out of my Contender rifle has done well for me. A crow a 311 yards, a racoon at probably 350 yards, a deer at 252 yards, a couple of coyotes and probably stuff I don't remember.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
If only I could get my mitts on some Hornady 45 grainers!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
YES! YOU ARE DA MANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!! But you just cost me some money.....
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,760
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,760 |
good deal....they are just a little slow at shipping...
can't beat the $7.95 shipping though
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
No worries! Thanks for that! I just ordered two boxes...been looking for those since their inception and Hornady has " Temporarily Suspended" production on them. I see the bar being raised on stunt shooting....
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
OK...I got the 45 grainers and tried three different loads today. They all shot good but 26.0 grains of TAC was pretty much magic... Au Revoir piggies!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 |
OK...I got the 45 grainers and tried three different loads today. They all shot good but 26.0 grains of TAC was pretty much magic... Au Revoir piggies! Ingwe, was that in a 12 twist? I just got back from the range and 26.2 gr. of RL10x behind a Moly coated VMAX averaging 3879fps bested 26.5gr. of the same averaging 4003fps. This was out of a 12 twist 26" barrel.
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
Yeah....I think so...factory Rem Barrel....
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57 |
Had the trigger tuned on my 204 A bolt. Made all the difference. 40 vmax with 26.7 gr. H4895 3/8" group. out if h4895 but have imr 4895 any idea if the same powder charge would be compatible
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
It would be a real good place to start as H is hotter than IMR by a tad....
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57 |
Thanks ingwe will give it a try.
Last edited by Tuchodi; 03/30/16.
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 57 |
Just got back from a gopher shoot in southern Alberta. My 204 Ruger with 40 grain Hornady vmax was like a laser out to 300 yards.
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