Primers and Accuracy

[Fat NDN]

I recently bought a H&R bull Barrel .204 Ruger. I have not been able to get it on paper with my reloads.
Factory loads work fine.  I've been the range twice already, same story both times. I am trying to load for
Sierra 39 gr Match kings using Varget powder.  The factory loads were 34gr.
Could it be my primers ?  I bought some at a gun show and they are old. I can tell because CCI doesn't
use that type carton anymore.

[Savage]

While primers are a factor in rifle accuracy, and a couple of bucks spent on a hundred primers for a trial wouldn't break you. I would suspect primers are not your biggest problem. I would vary the powder charge and see how that affects grouping first. There is a lot you can vary in reloading that will likely affect accuracy more than the primers. Find a good reference on reloading for accuracy. There you'll find a ton of information, start with the easiest fixes first until you get the results you want. That's all part of the fun!
Savage

[Questor]

My first suspicion is the length of your bullets. They barrel may have a slower twist than is needed to stabilize the relatively long matchking bullet, which is heavier than the original 204 bullets that weight about 10 grains less. I think that if primers were the issue, you'd probably have spotty accuracy, but not a situation where you miss the paper.

A quick test that I'd try if I had factory ammo on hand would be to pull a few of factory bullets and load them according to data for bullets of that type and weight. See what your results are. This could give you a meaningful test that doesn't require buying a whole box of bullets.

[Questor]

Another test would be to see if the bullets are keyholing (hitting the paper sideways) at ranges of 15 to 20 yards.

Good luck. I hate problems like this, especially when it's for a gun that needs to be accurate like a 204.

[snapcrackpop]

Are you neck sizing or full length sizing?

My reloads hit several inches higher than my reloads (off the paper at times).
Where are you hitting at 50 yards?  All over the place or just higher?

[LaOtto222]

I am with Questor. I suspect the length of the bullets too. Move up close to the target and see if you are getting bullets hitting at odd angles. When they tumble, they can go any where, but where you want them to. Bullets of a different weight change velocity and may hit considerably lower or higher than the load you sighted in with.  Many times a slower, heavier bullet shoots high, some times a lot.

[SHOOTALL]

Might be the bullet weight but that would be odd since the second factory load out was a 40 gr. bullet .
I would try a new primer , bench rest type if you can get them . If you are doing OK with factory loads , do your reloads sound the same or weaker ? do most of the hand loads sound the same ? if the don't you may be getting erratic ignition a primer or powder problem . and since the primer is suspect i would switch that first .
now take this as you wish DON"T BUY PRIMERS OR POWDER OR RELOADED CARTRIDGES FROM GUN SHOWS or other places as such IF THEY ARE NOT IN SEALED FACTORY CONTAINERS and reloaded cartridges anytime . Don't ask how i know ! but i got lucky once no gun damage but never again !

[Tom W.]

I have a Handi Rifle that will shoot factory Remington Core Lokts  all day long, but I have yet to get it to shoot any other 130 grain handload. I've been trying for some time. I dunno why it won't.
On the other hand, I have some CCI and Federal  Large Pistol primers that I obtained from a friend that he got when his grandfather died that were made in the mid 1950's, and shoot without any problems... Primers will last a long time if kept in a good environment. The Match primers will help some, but if you can't get a group now, don't spend the extra on the match primers  until you get the problem rectified.

[njanear]

Some .204s are reported to just hate the heavier bullets - with the 40gr VMax usually being the biggest problem.  In your case, with it shooting the factory 34gr OK, I would guess that might be where I would start looking.  Get some 32gr or 34gr (or the 35gr Berger) and give it a try.

For some good info on all aspects of the .204, try here:  http://www.rugerhunting.com/forum/

[Catfish]

My CZ love the 32 Sierra`s and shoots the 32 Hornady`s and the 39 Sierra`s well, but hates the 40 Hornady`s. My guess is that the primers are not the main problem, and neither is the bullets. Bad primers will just open up your group. Try some 32 gn bullets, just in case the bullets are the problem. First thing I would do is to shoot a group at 25 yrds. and see what it looks like. If it`s ok move to 50 yrds.. I think your problem is that your hand load just shoot to a different point of impact.

[warf73]

What OAL are you reloading the 39gr bullets to?
Some of the Handi Rifles like the bullets to be way out there. Do a search in the H&R part of these forums there is some great info on this particular round. A board member named Mitch had his bullets way out of the case to get good accuracy in his handy.
As for it being a primer issue that is probably not the case.


Warf