Hunter5325 & Ben Lurkin: I have been "visually" inspecting the few newly fired Federal cases I have from this purchase I made.
They sure seem to be "okay" and weights are fairly similar.
I do not plan on reloading them any time soon as I have dedicated the whole lot (1,000 rounds) of this ammo to one Rifle and it may take me two or three years to run these 1,000 rounds through that Rifle.
So I won't be giving any details on that for some time.
But for many decades now "I" have had very good luck with Federal brass and reloading same. I do have at least one Prairie Dog Safari planned for this late spring but the Chinese Corona Flu may put that on hold - I would guess I would use up 200+ of those factory Federal rounds thereon. And I had another friend scheduled to do a Prairie Dog Hunt with in mid-summer and again would probably use 200+ then as well.
I agree - it is hard to "load my own" for that price and the 32 grain V-Max bullet has proven itself to me, afield and at the range for several years now.
You all might remember my posts touting the accuracy of the "Hornady" factory ammunition (32 grain V-Max bullets) I have used in my small fleet of 204 Ruger Rifles for years now. I used it initially because when the 204 Ruger was new empty brass was NOT available so I chose that ammo and have shot maybe 10 boxes (200 rounds) through my initial 204's and after that when I got more 204's I used it for barrel break-in and sight-in,
I have treated 8 (eight) of my 9 (nine) 204 Ruger Varminters thusly and EVERY one of those Varminters shot the 32 grain Hornady factory ammunition extremely well!
I have never seen a run of excellent accuracy from factory ammunition in my adult shooting life (55 years now).
Once I had used and "tested" each of the 8 (eight) Varminters in 204 Ruger I went to handloading for them - it was not easy to best the accuracy of those Hornady factory rounds with my carefully crafted handloads!
My off hand impression of these Federal factory rounds is that they shoot rather well but have not so far (in my limited useage so far) quite lived up to what the Hornady factory rounds have PROVEN to do.
I hope the Federal ammo becomes available again and you both get to try them.
Long live the 204 Ruger!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy