Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Load info on 204 Ruger

Well I've been a .17 Rem fan for years and finally decided to get a 204 Ruger . I bought a 204 barrel for my encore . It is a 26" heavy barrel . I have done some research , Im planning on useing Sierra 39 gr Blitzkings and Berger 40 gr HP , to start with , I'm thinking of starting out loading test loads with either Benchmark or Reloader 10 , those 2 powders seemed like a good place to start , any info on a good starting point would be great , and am I on the right track with what I'm going to start my test loads with . Thanks for looking

Probably two of the most accurate powders tested in the .204 are H4198 and H322.

H 322 did pretty darn well in mine, that's for sure..
H 4198, not so much...

but mine is picky...

Allaints new AR Comp is the best tho with ALL bullets tried in it...

I consider my 204 barrel picky, as it is a real light weight one..Ruger Ultra Lite tube..

Thanks guys for the info

40gr V-max, 24.5gr R-10
Excellent accuracy in my CZ 527.

LOVE my .204!! You will too! Mine's a cheapie, Savage bull, 26", accu-trigger(love it), Bsa Platinum 6-24x. Got it just to try out the .204.. I may get another, but won't part with this one.. If the wind and heat rise behaves it'll behead a prairie dog at 350yds....... need I say more. CHEAP to shoot, I'm mostly a Hornady V-max guy, 32's and 40's, but like 39gr Blitzkings and WOW! the 26gr Varmint grenade.! My wife got the 'Kind' shot this summer just shy of 200yds, all we saw was a red hallow about 3' in dia..... NOTHING LEFT!!!!!!!! LOL! FLAT shooter. The heavier bullets are better for us where we go, shooting 200-450yds across a big draw, so heat and air movement are an issue, but if we get out early in the morning, we kick whistle pig butt..
Good Luck! Anxious to hear how the T/C does!

Try the data out listed on this website, (www.204ruger.com) and see what you think. If that barrel doesn't work out, you might try an boltgun.

IMR 8208 XBR or H4895 have been very accurate powders in the 204. They also give excellent velocity.

Thanks again for all the info

24-25.1 of RL10X some wheres in there is a good load for your rifle.

76 michael,

If you check out the various sources of loading data, you'll find that Ramshot TAC is always among the fastest powders listed for the .204. It's proven to be that way in the three .204's I've owned, and is normally very accurate as well.

My current .204 is a Remington 700 VTR. I normally shoot 10-shot groups toward the end of experimentation with any prairie dog rifle, as I like to see what the rifle will do with a hot barrel. Plus one 10-shot group is a lot more indicative of the rifle's accuracy than 5-shot or, especially, 3-shot groups. This rifle groups then 32-grain Nosler Ballistic tips into under 3/4" or less with 29.0 grains of TAC.

In addition to being both fast and accurate, TAC is very clean-burning and includes a de-coppering agent. I've also installed Dyna Bore-Coat in the VTR, and barrel cleaning in the field simply isn't needed. I prefer to shoot rather than clean!

Crap...I guess I gotta go buy more TAC...I'm out....

My rifle loves 28 gr H4895 and the Berger 35 gr Match HP

Ever try any IMR 4895..?

no, not in the 204, i like the temp insensitive Hod4895

OK...thanks..Ive not had temp. sensitivity issues with IMR4895...but I know the H4895 is supposed to be more resistant...

I don't like even a small change in pressure in the sub cal bores. They are running on the red line as is. It just doesn't take much to push them over the pressure line.

I'll have to go with H-4895 and Benchmark.

I tried Benchmark in my 204 and it wasn't as consistence accuracy wise as H4895 . I'm going to try BL-C2 and see how it does.

My encore 15 inch shots most accurate with re 15 but speeds are low with max loads.I've tryed ww 748,benchmark,4198 but the re 15,is buy far the most accurate so far but speeds are 350 fps or more slower,just got barrel and have'nt had alot of time for development.it will shoot dime sized groups at 100.