Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Chronograph numbers for .204?

Has anybody chronographed their .204's yet? I'm especially looking for numbers for factrory ammo, but handloads would be good too.

My Savage Model 11 does as well as anything I've heard of so far with Hornady 32's, about 4140. Most of the reports I've seen on the 40's go around 3750-3800.

Any and all numbers would be greatly appreciated, especially if barrel length is included.

MD

JB,
I had mine out twice last week. It's a Remington with a 24" barrel.

32gr Factory - 4125
40gr Factory - 3770
32gr V Max over 29.1gr of TAC - 4090

Very similar to what I'm getting in my 24" barrel. Was planning to try TAC but hadn't gotten there yet. Might try Big Game as well with 40's. How's your accuracy with the TAC load?

Thanks,
JB

JB,
I started with factory loads since no brass was available at the time, and accuracy was less than poor. Runout averaged .008 at the ogive, with many going over .010.

I had it recrowned, and bedded it in a better stock, with my handloads averaging less than .003 runout I was shooting around an inch or a little more. I switched from WSR to Fed 205 primers, and accuracy got better, now averaging just under an inch, with some groups better (I'm using 5 shot groups). ES and SD also got significantly better with Fed primers.

My first trip to the rifle range with my Savage 12VLP in .204 Ruger (26" barrel) and shooting factory 32 gr. Hornady shells gave me an average velocity of 4,041 fps at 12' 9" from the muzzle for the first 6 shots through the barrel. The next 5 shots gave 4,079 fps average at 12' 9" from the barrel.

Two months later, I had shot about 200 rounds down the tube and the factory ammo was then giving me an average velocity of 4,160 fps at about 12' from the muzzle.

The last time I ran the factory 32 gr. loads over the chronograph I had about 270 shots through the barrel. On that trip to the range I shot a 6-shot group to get the scope tuned in real good. I got an average velocity of 4,192 fps at 12' from the muzzle. I would guesstimate that the actual velocity at the muzzle would be somewhere in the 4,220 fps area. The temperature was 85� that day.

I never purchased any of the 40 gr. V-Max factory ammo.

I was out with my Rem 700 vls 26" barrel. Temp was about 70. 32gr Vmax and
Benchmark
28gr 3980
28.25 4060 primer pitting
28.5 4095 flat primers

H4895
28gr 4040
28.5 4100
chrony was 10ft from muzzle primers were Rem Br.
It seems I will not get the 4200-4300fps as first advertised and as some claim.

Growler

Thanks again, guys.

I suspect Hornady may have juiced up the factories a little, and paid more attention lately. My rifle is a Savage Model 11 (sporter weight with 24" barrel) and I'm getting 4124 with the 32 factories with the chronograph 15' from the muzzle, 5-shot groups between .5 and .75. With 40's I'm getting 3804, and 5-shot groups around .8.

Haven't tried handloads yet, but finally have enough fired brass to start. Benchmark, TAC and Varget are the main suspects, judging from all the reports. Might even try some Big Game with 40's.

MD

MD, Hornaday claims that they are using a in-house proprietary powder blend that is not available to the public. He says that it will give about 100fps more that reloaders are going to find capable with canister powders.
Ruger Forums has a very good .204R dedicated forum that has lots of good info.
I poo poo'ed the .204 when it first came out.... You guys giving us real world feed back is important and I thankyou for it. My eyes have been opened to some very real possibilitys for my own use! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />BT53

JB -

If you're gunna do a comparo, please consider what the std 223 or 223 AI will do with the 40 gr BT. I'd be especially interested in the 300 yard + performance.

The 204 hasn't excited me that much yet. But, I have a 24 inch 17 Rem that will do 4400 with a 20 gr and a 26 inch 223 that I am just now wringing out with 40 gr BT's.

I bought a case of Fed 50 gr HP's years ago that I have burned about 3/4 through and have only tried a few handloads. The most accurate was the 40 gr BT. Didn't have a chrony at the time. I'm hoping to hit 3800 fps.

I found the 204 hard to justify already owning a 17 and 223.

TM

23" factory TC Contender barrel
32 gr. Sierra
H322 (just shy of max published load)
3950 fps

same bullet with RL-15
4140 fps
changes POI about 3/4 " at 100 yds.

Had my Rem VLS out with some factory Hornady 32 gr.
Temp was 60F
four five shot groups
4044-4124 ave 4083fps
4072-4140 ave 4084
4065-4099 ave 4071
4028-4127 ave 4077

Chrony 10 ft from muzzle. Groups 1.25" ave. Hand loads ave about half that.

Growler