.204 handloads

[MarlinMan]

Just got some dyes for .204 and was wandering if anyone has a good handload.
Anything with Hodgden Benchmark,Varget,or BL-C(2) powders?
I will be shooting a Remington XR100 W/26" barrel.

[helotaxi]

"Good" will depend on the rifle.  All 3 of those powders should work well.

Here's what's in the Hodgdon's annual:

32gn VMax

Varget 27-29 gn (max load is a compressed load)
BL-C(2) 28.5-30.7
Benchmark 26-28

35gn Berger

Varget 28-29 (max load compressed)
BL-C(2) 28.5-30.7
Benchmark 25-26.6

40gn VMax

Varget 26-28.1
BL-C(2) 28-30
Benchmark 24-25.7

Basically pick a bullet weight that you want to shoot, pick a powder and start building up the load in small (I use .2gn with the .204) increments and find what your rifle likes.  This will also give you an opportunity to get some practice with the rifle.

[Catfish]

I have 2 - .204`s. 1 is a CZ and the other a Savage. The CZ is a real tack driver with the 32 gr. Seirra bullets and shoots the 39  Seirra bullet and the 32 gr Hornady real well but doesn`t like the 40 gr. Hornady bullets at all. The Savage does not like the 32 gr. Sierra bulltes at all but but does real well with the 40 gr. Hornady bullets. Any of the powders you listed are good powders for the .204, but which is best in your gun you`ll have to find out.

[gube]

Here ya go.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,168764.msg1098782535.html#msg1098782535

[lakota]

My CZ likes:

32 gr Sierra Blitz Kings with Benchmark

39 gr Sierra Blitz Kings with Varget.

I didnt have much luck with BLC-2 or H335. One day these powders would work great, on another day with different weather conditions they wouldnt shoot worth a hoot. When I had my .222 BLC was my go to powder and always performed. From my experience with the .204 it seems a bit finicky when compared to it's .22 caliber cousins.

I could not get the 32 grain V Max to shoot worth a damn out of my gun despite trying 5 different powders and multiple loads. This baffles me because the 32 Vmax and the 32 Blitz King look about identical except for the color of the tip.

Havent tried 40 gr Vmax yet. I definatley want to try a box of Calhoun bullets.

[Ahab]

My .204's like the 35gr Bergers and RL-10x powder.