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

I run 27.5 grains under a 40 nosler BT, or 28 Varget under a 39 BK.

40 vmax give lottsa folks fits. if the BK's don't work, drop back to the 32 grainers....

Thanks Huntsman.

One of the best powder to use in the 204 is Hod BLC-2

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

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.

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

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.

35 gr bergers.

Found some 32 gr v max locally today. Got two groups at 3/4 of an inch. Happy with that. Thanks again everyone.

39 Blitzking and max in YOUR rifle, RL10x or H4895.

You may want to try CFE223 propellent as well.

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...

Yeah, it's pretty hot stuff--and so is the 26-grain Barnes Varmint Grenade!

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

My 20 Practical AR with White Oak BarreL.

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

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.

If only I could get my mitts on some Hornady 45 grainers!

like these ??

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/6103

YES!


YOU ARE DA MANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!



But you just cost me some money.....

good deal....they are just a little slow at shipping...

can't beat the $7.95 shipping though

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....

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.

Yeah....I think so...factory Rem Barrel....

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

It would be a real good place to start as H is hotter than IMR by a tad....

Thanks ingwe will give it a try.

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.