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Originally Posted by GregW
Originally Posted by dogcatcher223
My 204 has always been finicky to load for. It shot so bad when I first got it that I was thinking of a new barrel. Someone here gave me a load with Bergers that worked pretty well, but the velocity wasn't there.



Me...

Benchmark and 35 Berger gave you crap velocity?


Yep. I can never remember your handle since you changed it from Gmoney! haha

Yeah, I was hovering around 3700fps...this gun has a long throat though, so who knows.

BP-B2

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That's odd - That load gives (or gave) me 3,900+...


- Greg

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Shot it this weekend, now the 26.6 load is shooting better than the 27.1. Certainly minute of coyote, but odd none the less.

I think a 22-204 in an 8 twist would be a sweet little round. Got me thinking...

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Try the 40 Berger's?


- Greg

Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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I think its node is Page 1 on the Classifieds.



Travis


Originally Posted by Geno67
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual.
Originally Posted by Judman
Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit.
Originally Posted by KSMITH
My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
IC B2

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Or a good gunsmith who can determine what's wrong with the rifle.


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Some .204 Rugers don't shoot with the "standard" 1:12" barrel, especially if the twist drifted off during rifling to something slower. They really come alive with lead free bullets:

Barnes 26 grain Varmint Grenade - good for 1:12" twists but shoot astounding well in anything faster. I use a 1:12", 1:9" or 1:8.5" twist.

Nosler's 20 Caliber BT Lead Free 32 grain bullet shoots well in the 1:9" twist or faster, with the same load as the above Varmint Grenade - 25.2 grains of Reloader 10x at 4,089 to 4,110 fps depending on the barrel (I use 24" barrels exclusively).

The little Hornady 20 Caliber 24 grain NTX is astounding in 1:9" twists and shoots superbly in 1:12" twists (at least in my Shilen barrel).

Berger's discontinued .204 50 grain and current 55 grain HPBT will shoot only in the 1:8.5 or faster twists over Varget and maintains groups under an inch at 100 yards. These are not lead free, but should smack larger varmint with authority.

Why lead free? Simply stated, they are more accurate than any lead core jacketed bullet and capable of begin driven at the highest velocities without coming apart. The cores are a compressed metallic copper powder that is a solid similar to stick chalk, they do not soften under the friction of being driven down the barrel, and simply explode when hitting varmints. In fact the 6mm Varmint Grenade in my .243 WSSM causes ground squirrels full of wet alfalfa to vanish completely.

As to powders, I have found two for use with under 35 grain bullets: Reloader 10x and Accurate LT-32.

Here are some results:

[Linked Image]

The above group was preliminary load development back in 2009. A ten shot group with a velocity of 4,089 fps. The two fliers are my fault. Note that the red diamonds are .5" on a side, and that the group with flyers is still going to smack a squirrel into rodent heaven. This is my standard varmint load and shoots the same in all barrels, Shilen 1:12', Pac-Nor 1:8.5 and Hart 1:9".

[Linked Image]

Above is a 10 shot group from a custom built Colt AR-15 lower with a Fulton Armory Side Cocking upper. I decided to build it as a bolt action with no gas port in the custom 24" Hart SS barrel. It has since been switched to an Anderson lower with an AR-15 Gold Trigger and Magpul PRS stock. I would expect similar results from a semi-auto configuration. The blow-its are due to my flinching when the guy next to me fired his .338 Lapua just as I was touching off - the hot blast going by lifted my cowboy hat!

Below is my load data work up for .204 Ruger with AAC LT-32 powder. Note that 25.5 grains is max in my barrels with the 26 grain Varmint Grenade or Hornady 24 grain NTX. I used the Wolf 223 small rifle primer, but the Remington 7-1/2BR or Winchester SRP would substitute. This data is for information only and is safe only in my rifles, use at your own risk.

[Linked Image]

Primers have a dramatic effect on accuracy, so I try several before loading in lots of 1k or greater.


Last edited by WranglerJohn; 07/29/14.
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There is no way in hell dogcatcher's rifle is in need of load development.




Travis


Originally Posted by Geno67
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual.
Originally Posted by Judman
Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit.
Originally Posted by KSMITH
My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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An 11 twist pac-nor will fix it


"Then join in hand, brave Americans all!.....By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall"
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Originally Posted by deflave
There is no way in hell dogcatcher's rifle is in need of load development.




Travis


FACT. Unless load development is supposed to last 20 years of trial and constant error.

I'm open to offers...

Remington BDL blued matte.
Medalist stock bedded by Kampfeld.
Rifle Basix trigger
Kampfeld bolt knob.

11-shot group. 26.6 grs Benchmark + 35gr Berger.

[Linked Image]




IC B3

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The word is "FRUSTRATED" and I feel your pain. Been working with my Varmint model 527 CZ 223. It does shoot 1" groups but I think it should shoot smaller groups. Accept the results or make a deposit on a new barrel. I have a PacNor barreled 223 that shoots itty bitty groups and it has ruined me completely as the CZ now has no appeal.

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Kind of tired of throwing dice at guns. I just need a couple real good guns, and i could sell the rest. I have a 223AI that is just a factory ruger recut and it shoots lights out. Not sure why I kept buying more varmint guns after that one.


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Yes. That would annoy me as well.





Travis


Originally Posted by Geno67
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual.
Originally Posted by Judman
Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit.
Originally Posted by KSMITH
My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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I think some of these hot rounds are tough to shoot accurately. That is just my personal experience.

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I have had the same issues with a few newer Remington's. Everyone of them had the same issue, the firing pin spring dragging on the inside of the bolt. Replaced them all with the PTG 20% stronger spring and firing pin. I think the firing pin is made by GreTan. Groups shrink like Magic, no variation in firing pin speed. I bought a 5R 308 wouldn't shoot better than 1.25" at 100 yards, swapped out firing pin assembly and " BAM " one hole groups.
TEXMAG

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Tex, interesting conclusion and certainly worth a try.

Thanks.

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I'm thinking this gun might become a 22-something with an 8 twist.

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