Reloading .204 Ruger (or .223) with reduced load - Anyone done this?

[utahman]

I've had my wonderful .204 rifle for about 6 months now.  I love it!  However, as a very long range varmint gun, I've wanted something a little less powerful for my jackrabbit hunting.  I use to take my .22 with a lot of success; however I seemed to not be able to reach out to those 150 - 200 yard shots with the little round.  I've done some research, and have found that a .17 HMR or a .22 WMR would be perfect for me for the following reasons.

1 - They both will reach out to those 150 - 200 yard shots
2 - I won't have to wear ear protection - I hate walking the desert hills with my ears plugged!  I like to hear all the wonderful sounds of nature when I am out an about.

My Problem and possible solution; but I need your advice and thoughts:

My .204 is to dang loud NOT to wear hearing protection and I currently do not have the funds to add a new rifle such as a .17 or .22 WMR.  I've been reading that many out there reload using reduced loads.  The powder used most often seems to be H4895.  Hodgdon Powder Company even has this information about taking the max load x .60 to get the starting reduced load. 

I did some calculations, and if I use a 32g bullet having a BC of .210 with a MAX = 29C grains 3,980 Velocity

Then took the .60 formula, I would get a 2388 velocity, which is about right in between a .17 HMR and .22 WMR velocity.

My question is, has anyone tried this on a .204 or .223?

How is the noise (Muzzle Blast)? And does it compare to a .17 HMR or .22 WMR?

How is the accuracy of this reduced load?

Thanks for you help and insights.

[quickdtoo]

Greg Mushial has low velocity data for the 223...

Tim

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/addata.htm

[stimpylu32]

rr

I have used it in my 223 with desent results , the report is just a tad higher than the 22 mag and groups were larger , in the 2 1/2" range and POI was about 5" lower @ 100 , all in all i found that they will work for what i planned to do , close Groundhogs around out buildings .

stimpy

[Old Syko]

Hmmmm.  Mr Williamson, sounds to me like you already have a firearm with the ability to what you need, so why cripple it with reduced loads when the problem is not necessarily with the gun but with proper hearing protection.  Take a look at some of the electronic protective devices on the market some of which have the ability to enhance rather than reduce what you hear while you're walking those desert hills.  I too was doubtful of how they would work until I picked up a set of electronically enhanced muffs a year or 2 ago and now never go without them.  I even wear them for work as the machine I run reaches upwards of 110 Db at times.  No they're not for everyone but they are a great alternative to reduced and often inaccurate loads.

[quickdtoo]

Hearing protection is required for even the diminutive 22Lr, so don't underestimate the damage done by low velocity centerfire rounds. I don't care for wearing muffs while hunting, but I won't shoot without hearing protection. I wear in-ear electronics whenever I hunt, they not only protect what hearing I have, they enhance my hearing, all those subtle sounds that I used to hear that are gone without hearing enhancement, some not so subtle, like a distant gobbler that would be undetected without hearing help.

Tim

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?id=2052

http://www.sportearx.com/testimonials.html

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4787045

[utahman]

Thanks for your help on this!  You'all have peaked my interest in these hearing devices.  Now I'll be putting that on my long list of things to research.

This site is great!

ryan

[dw06]

Big welcome to you Ryan.Good advise on the hearing protection,I've lost so much hearing over the years from small engines,machinery,and shooting that I now wear protection every shot if I can.As for the reduced loads,I never worked with the 204,but have with the 223.I've settled on 10grs of blue dot in mine and it shoots a well as my normal loads.They do hit about 4 inches lower at 100 yards,but if I site in just for them can shoot varmits out to 150 or so.Some load it up to 13grs but I wanted a load to copy the 22hornet,and it has worked great.
You might also look at sr4759 for use in the 204,I use 18grs in the 22-250 and have shot 3s and 4s at 100.

[MnMike]

Some of the electronic protectors have come down a lot in price. The ones I use came from Harbor Freight and cost about $15. I am thinking about using them for deer hunting this fall. They seem to give a bit of amplification, which helps when you are listening for that crunch crunch crunch.

mike

[PA-Joe]

Go to the James Calhoon webpage and read up about his gopher loads using blue dot or 800x powders. You can down load the 223 to be anything from 22 mag to 22 hornet. Watch the twist rate of your barrel though.

[utahman]

Going to store tonight to buy and try the Blue Dot reduced load mentioned from this site:  http://www.jamescalhoon.com/

Anyone try this yet? 

Instead of doing this on the .223, I'm going to try it on my .204!!!