Handi 204 Ruger Range Report-Udate

[McLernon]

Went to the range yesterday and fired eight groups of three shots each. The average group size was 1.188 inches. I am using 32 gr. Vmax's over 30 gr of BL-C2 a near max load. Got some primer flattening and cratering. The only mod was the aluminum pillar. Conditions were less than ideal. Cold and windy. The second mod has now been completed--------- a thin spacer between the fore-stock and the spacer piece to snug up the action and dampen vibration. I'll be back to the range next week and will file the next range report.

I plan to reduce the charge a gr. or two.

The third mod will be to bed the barrel and lug to the frame with an epoxy/aluminum mix.( I think I'll follow FredM's advise and fully bed the fore-stock too.)

I hope to achieve the 'magic' 1/2 MOA required for ground-hog hunting.


Update:

Well I dropped the load to 29 gr of BL-C(2) and still got flattened primers and poor accuracy(2MOA). Enough of that stuff for me. My son is using H335 with good results so I am going to switch.




Mc

[quickdtoo]

Mc, I worked up in .2gr increments with the 40gr Vmax, there was a big difference in accuracy between 29.2 and 29.6, the sweet spot was 29.4gr, group size went from 1½" to 5/8". Since the start load and max load are only 2gr apart, I almost went in .1gr increments, but felt that may not be enough difference, so settled on .2gr increments. Next, I work on COL, right now I'm at 2.2895" to the lands is 2.390" which I can't do, throat is just too long.

Tim

[Fred M]

McLernon.
You need to completely tighten up all joints and keep the underlug from torqueing
as laid out in my acurizing write up.

As you know 1/2" is bare minimum in the  204 it should be 1/4" else you may as well shoot a 17HMR.

Remember the 40gr bullets are barely stable at max velocity with the 1-12" twist.
Use 32 or 35gr bullets.

I am having a ball with my 17HMR shooting gophers and crows out to 200 yards with my Winchester Low Wall, an exteamly accurate rifle. I wished I had one in
223 too

[aulrich]

I had a hard time getting anywhere near max with bl(c)-2 before the primers would flatten. My best results have been with h4895 and the 39 Blitzking during testing most of the load sequence went under .75 best group was a .39. I have not shot that gun for groups much since then, but it has opend up some since then but .5 to.75 are still happening.

[just bill]

I am having a ball with my 17HMR shooting gophers and crows out to 200 yards with my Winchester Low Wall, an exteamly accurate rifle.

Not to hijack the thread but ditto that in regards to the HMR but on woodchucks for myself as a walking rifle and a set of shooting sticks.  The low recoil sight picture of impact is priceless and the low muzzle blast appreciated, accuracy excellent.  Up'ed the annie with a CZ set trigger,sporter, from my previous HMR, last spring and mounted a nice Burris on it.  I have found the TN'T to be the bullet choice for larger varmints as it penetrates a bit deeper before fragmenting than the v max yet normally will not pass through and it tumbles then frags into a few peices at greater distance.  Be sure and try the TN'T on Woodchuck, Rockchuck,Coon,Fox size game.  I like the V Max on crows.
Very fun at the bench also.  Sub moa 5 shot at 100 in calm weather with best groups in the .5's.  At 200 yards it often puts 3 of 5 shots into an inch in ideal conditions but averages about 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 5 shot.  Then at 300 for kicks we blow up small balloons about 6" -8" and pin them, practicing our come up and drift, once we get it dialed and if it's very calm out we can run several balloons before a miss.................hard to believe with a rim fire.

It's probably my favorite varmint caliber for what I do and enjoy.

In regards to the .204 and woodchucks topic.

My pal has a .204, hunts woodchucks avidly, and I have shot it allot but personally used a 22-250 for longish distance.  His is a bolt action savage.  He has tried various grain weights but settled on the 32 gr v max for woodchucks.  He has taken to just beyond 400 yards. At about 325 yards is where you have to pay attention to shot placement with that caliber and bullet choice or they will make it to the hole.  The recoil ain't bad but the muzzle blast is to high pitched and loud for my taste as compared to it's effective range.  His shoots about .750" 5 shot at 100 from bench but seems to open up a bit at 300 as compared to 22-250's, .243's etc.  Which is the distance we normally practice with for woodchucks using those type calibers.

Gets to the point for long range woodchucks, may as well get a .243 and be done with it.  They are all loud and all have enough recoil that unless using a low power scope sight impact is not really clear as with the sub calibers and a .243 or 25 caliber does the job better at long distance.

A rim mag or Hornet for walking and a .243 or 25-06 for long distance pretty much covers it for woodchucks in realty.  The inbetween calibers are just fun to have.

[Fred M]

Just Bill

I have to agree with you on the 17HMR. That little cartridge is a jewel. I use a 6x47 for coyotes it will do a good job out to 300 or a bit more using 55gr v-max
at 3450MV. It has very little recoil and the muzzle blast is not too bad.

But the Low Wall 17 is my favorite for gophers and crows. Hand loading a Hornet is not something I would like to do. As of yet the 204 has not excited  my fancy, though if I could find one in a 1885 low wall Browning I would be tempted.

[McLernon]

The 204 is better compared to the venerable 22-250. It's fast and the 32 gr Vmax's are explosive. My son has a CZ Varminter in 204 and the first time out he shot dead a groundhog at 300 yards in a 20 kph cross-wind. It's truly a great little round.

Mc

[just bill]

The 204 is better compared to the venerable 22-250. It's fast and the 32 gr Vmax's are explosive. My son has a CZ Varminter in 204 and the first time out he shot dead a groundhog at 300 yards in a 20 kph cross-wind. It's truly a great little round.

Mc

"The 204 is better compared to the venerable 22-250."

Oakie Doakie    A 22-250 shooting the common 50 gr V Max at typical 3800 fps and blows the heck out of woodchucks as compared to the signature pin prick, fur caliber .204 32 gr is sure lacking in speed , explosiveness and punch.  Same with it's pedigree history in past formal bench rest competition along side the .222  A .204 that shoots the upper 30 to 40 grain,higher bc bullets accurately is of equal but not "better" in my eyes.  But as noted above many of the common factory guns won't stabilize them with that twist as it's border line and accuracy drops as compared to the low,mid 30's bullets, as does the speed that many .204 purchasers want.  By the way, speaking of speed.  Several factory calibers broke the 4000 fps mark with factory ammo before the .204 came along with a big pitch of "4000 + fps"  The 220 Swift, 22-250 and 17 Remington with lighter grain bullets/ammo all broke 4000 fps prior.  But most don't choose the lightest, as is happening now with the .204 and upper 30 & 40 grain bullets,ammo.

As noted prior there all "tweeners" anyways.  A rim mag or 22 Hornet for walking and a .243 or 25-06 for long distance covers the complete woodchuck game for the common avid woodchuck hunter.  Everything else factory along with wildcats is just to debate,spend money on and BS over with a cup of coffee.


Always nice to debate woodchuck calibers with fellow hunters of such in a friendly manor.  Just remember when you start writing "its better than this or that caliber" your sure to get some debatable replies
 

[McLernon]

Try a side-by-side external ballistics comparison of the 50 gr 22-250 and  the 32 gr 204 and you will see what I mean. You need to use a ballistics plotting program that will do them both on the same graph. My son's 204 is 1--1/4 high at 100 yards, 3/4 inch high at 200 and 3-1/2 inches low at 300 yards and it's not loaded to max. That's pretty close to the 22-250 with a MZ of 3800 fps. Strong groundhog medicine------------------------eh!!

Mc

[quickdtoo]

Here's an on going 3 page discussion on long range coyotes at PM that has a lot of 204 vs 22-250 talk.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=5&Number=52561846&page=0&fpart=all

and an accuracy comparison discussion...

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=52558614&page=&fpart=all&vc=1

A ballistic comparison tween the Rem 204 40gr Accutip and 22-250 50gr Accutip..

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/comparative_ballistics_results.aspx?data=PRA204B*PRA2250RB

Tim

[McLernon]

Thanks Quick-------good stuff!!!!!!!!!!

Mc