Short throat .204

[zielina]

I was just shipped a .204 ruger bull barrel (fluted) from H&R a month ago. I load it with a 34 gr varmint extreme from Midsouth using 27 gr of IMR 4895, Fed 205M. The OAL I set for the recommended number of 2.240. It had a (cron) velocity of 3590 fps and gave .75 in groups at 100 yrds, using 50 rounds as a sample. Having had a problem with a short throated 45-70, I decide to measure the throat of the 204. I got a repeatable reading of 2.184/5. -very short. I reseated 50 rounds I had loaded at 2.240 to 2.180. I made 100 rounds in the last batch, but only fired 50. The cron results were 3795 fps and the groups dropped to .60-.50. Its a very good idea to measure.

[LaOtto222]

Good shooting. The throats on the H&R rifles vary quite a bit from one cartridge to the next. My 30-30 has a relatively short throat, but my 223 Ultra bull has a long throat. The throat in my 357 was so long I could put 360 DW brass in it. I reamed it to 357 Max, it did not take a lot of reaming for it. I measure every gun before loading for it. Depending on the gun, I get best results any where from .005" in to the lands back to about .040" away from the lands. With 55 grain bullets, I can not even get close to the lands in my .223. You can rent throat reamers if the the throat is too short, but you are SOL if it is too long. 204's in Handi rifles have a good reputation for accuracy. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[chip-don]

over on the 204 web site most reloaders complain about the long throat in factery 204s  most beleive it is because pressures in the 17s and 20s can change a lot from gun to gun and load to load  // those are great groups congrads

[MSM]

  To get a throat dimension are you measuring overall cartridge length of a "dummy" round with the bullet seated to just engage the riflings? Just curious. It is purely academic, but if one were measuring that way, a bullet with a longer secant would seem to give a reading of a longer throat.
  I have noticed in my hand loading adventures that overall cartridge length would vary depending on the bullet "profile." In a .270 of mine I could load more streamlined bullets to greater over all length than the more blunt styles. I have a .45-70 NEF that will not chamber the Speer 400 bullet when seated to crimp in the front cannelure. However, Remington 405 grain bullets can be seated further out and work fine in that rifle.
  You obviously know what you are doing. Glad to see some good group reports.
      Scott