Author Topic: 204 Ruger bullets (Read 4470 times)

bobg · « **on:** April 11, 2007, 08:03:24 AM »

I have a Savage 12fv in 204 Ruger. One of the few rifles i have decided to keep. So far all i have shot in it is Winchester factory ammo. When and if i start to reload for it should i go with the 32 grain Sierra or the Hornady bullet? Anyone have any experience with these two bullets? So far it shoots factory ammo into 3 shot groups of 3/8".
Thanks for the help,
bobg

skb2706 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2007, 08:35:30 AM »

I shoot both and quite honestly they shoot to the same POI. I haven't found one to be superior to the other in any way and when I need them I'll buy whatever the better price is....typically Hornady are a bit cheaper. If you're using them by the hundreds it makes a difference.

Ponydog · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2007, 08:30:48 PM »

I have a CZ 527 in the .204...sweetest gun I have ever owned...I have shot the Winchester and the Hornady 32 grain bullet....maybe the Winchester was 34 grain .......either way they are fine loads for most any varmint.

Catfish · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2007, 04:33:54 PM »

I`ve tried the 32 gr. Serrias and Hornady in acouple of different CZ rifles. Both rifles hoot them to the same point of aim, but the Serrias grouped better in both rifles. The Serrias do have a .009 thick jacket and the Hornadys have a .014 thick jacket, but I think both are to thin skinned for coyotes, but great on groundhogs. Iam hearing that the 35 gr. Bergers are great on coyotes but have yet to hit one with a Berger bullet and moved to a .22-6mm for coyotes as the Serria 32 gr. bullets did not do the job.

ken2222 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2007, 04:39:13 PM »

are you guys shying away from the 40gr for any particular reason....my plain ol Handi loves 'em....

Ken

Chuck White · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2007, 02:52:49 AM »

ken2222 wrote: are you guys shying away from the 40gr for any particular reason....my plain ol Handi loves 'em....

---------------

I AM!

The 40 grain bullets won't stabilize in my Encore!
They keyhole every time.
With the 32's, I can shoot 1/4 to 1/2 inch groups.

skb2706 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2007, 04:52:51 AM »

Never even tried them. For the purposes I have .204s it is doubtful I will. Mine are Contenders, one MGM barrel and one factory they are prairie dogs rifles that work excellent for me with either 32 gr. choice.

babe915 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2007, 05:10:07 PM »

my savage varmint shoots the 40gr. just fine, same grouping as the 32's I been loading the 40gr.
for p/d shooting because they seem to fare better in the wind

Chuck White · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2007, 02:21:14 AM »

I just don't understand why some guns will shoot both the 32 and 40 grain bullets with excellent accuracy, but I don't recall anyone saying that their TC will shoot the 40's worth a hoot.

MOGLEY · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2007, 05:05:48 PM »

My nef shoots both weights great BUT I cannot load the 40gr hot. 29.5 gr of varget is the max load and they will keyhole. Other than that they group very well.

warf73 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2007, 01:45:47 AM »

I only shoot the 40's in my Ruger 204. Never shot a 32gr pill in the rifle yet.

Warf

Chuck White · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2007, 04:03:52 AM »

Quote from: MOGLEY on April 22, 2007, 05:05:48 PM

My nef shoots both weights great BUT I cannot load the 40gr hot. 29.5 gr of varget is the max load and they will keyhole. Other than that they group very well.

--------------------

This might be the answer as to why the TC's won't shoot the 40's accurately!
The factory stuff is loaded too hot for the TC twist rate.

I may have to get a box of 40's and work up a load!

Buckskin · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2007, 08:48:52 AM »

My Encore 204 loves the light rounds (32s). Hates the 40s. I've been playing around loading the 39 Biltzkings,but have had little success. As for the 32s not being enough for coyotes, I beg to differ. I have killed quite a few in the 3-400yd ranges with this round and it just piles them up.

buzztail · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2007, 11:45:38 AM »

My 14" contender hates the 40's and loves the 32's just like most other TCs here

gube · « **Reply #14 on:** August 30, 2007, 03:18:44 PM »

My Savage 12 VLP Likes the Hornady 32 and 45 gr but hates the 40 gr V-max (keyholes). The 35 and 40 bergers were very good as well. The nosler 32 and 40 gr were also very good. The most accurate were the 39 gr blitz kings. The 32 gr blitz's keyholed very badly, but if kept at a very mild load, accuracy with the 32 blitz was awseome.

My new Savage 12 BTVSS does very well with all of the above (it even likes the Hornady 40 gr V-max.). I have not tested the 32 gr blitz with it yet.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2007, 02:49:28 AM »

Quote

I just don't understand why some guns will shoot both the 32 and 40 grain bullets with excellent accuracy, but I don't recall anyone saying that their TC will shoot the 40's worth a hoot.

I have a T/C Contender carbine in 204 Ruger I've been working up loads for with Hornady 45 gr. SP bullets. With RL-15 I'm getting 3 shot groups at 100 yards of about 0.75 inches or better. Maybe it will shoot lighter bullets better; I'll have to try some.

TLARbb · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2007, 03:24:21 PM »

Maybe the 40gr bullets in the TC are self destructing with the high velocity and a high twist rate. Might explain why the 45's are working for some and the 40's won't.

I don't know, but this is an interesting thread. I just got a handi in .204 that has not been to the range yet. The cartridges the gun store had in stock were 40gr Hornady V-Max. When I get a chance to shoot it, I'll come back with a report.

EJ

rickt300 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2008, 04:02:33 PM »

I just got a 204 barrel for my contender today. It was supposed to be a 223 but when my cleaning rod wouldn't go up the barrel I decided to check out the fine print on the barrel. Having a 223 anyway I decided why not and went to town for a couple boxes of the Hornady 32 grain ammo. I have a short range in my yard and used 7 of them to get centered at 25 yards. 4 went into the same hole but what I really noticed is that the 204 is LOUD! I will test the other 33 at the range tommorow and see how they shoot.

Luckyducker · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2008, 03:35:25 AM »

I have a blue and walnut Encore with the 28" ProHunter barrel in 204Ruger and the only bullet I have shot in it is the 40 grain Hornady V-max. On a good day it will shoot into one slightly ragged hole, but other days it will group them into 1/2" and some days I must have drank to much coffee before shooting. I have used H4895 (27.1) and CCI primer which puts them around 3650 to 3700 ft/sec. I love this rifle and the accuracy is great, but I don't think it will work for shooting here in SW Kansas because of the winds that usually blow here. I am thinking about trying to trade this barrel for a 22/250 or 243Win. A few weeks ago I was shooting the 204 at the range, trying to hit steel pigs at 500 meters in a moderate wind and the bullets were blowing close to 4' of drift. I comensated and think I was hitting the pigs sometimes but the little slugs didn't have enough weight to knock them down. Maybe I'll have to use my 338Rum for a Varmint rifle, the bullets from it don't seem to drift very far and it has the reach to hit prairie dogs at long range. Just kidding, I just wish the wind didn't blow so hard here.

rickt300 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2008, 05:07:01 AM »

I just ordered some 32 gr. Hornady Vmax bullets and dies from Cabela's. I plan to push them around 3600 fps. Anyone have an especially accurate load pushing this bullet around this velocity? I am considering using IMR 4198, have 3031 and H4895 also.

Chuck White · « **Reply #20 on:** March 09, 2008, 12:38:04 PM »

Quote from: rickt300 on March 09, 2008, 05:07:01 AM

I just ordered some 32 gr. Hornady Vmax bullets and dies from Cabela's. I plan to push them around 3600 fps. Anyone have an especially accurate load pushing this bullet around this velocity? I am considering using IMR 4198, have 3031 and H4895 also.

I have a 26" Encore Heavy barrel and I load mine as follows:

204 RUGER

BULLET: 32 grain Hornady V-Max
POWDER: 23.0 grains of IMR 4198
PRIMER: CCI 450
CASE: HORNADY
COL: 2.30"
VELOCITY: 4125fps at 20'

With this load, I can get them into .330" at 100 yards.

rickt300 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2008, 05:31:22 PM »

That sure is singing along. I want to use my 204 as a short range raccoon, skunk and coyote round so figure 3600-3700 fps will work just fine. However 4125 fps would seem adequate to break the barrel in with and see what the 32 grain Vmax's are good for. Short range being pretty much under 150 yards and down to 25 yards a lot of the time. There are lots of coyotes and the coon and skunks have invaded the space under our cabin, I have sworn revenge after some coons got inside and made a royal mess out of the place. I'll sight in with the factory Hornady 32 grain load and test these out this coming sunday.

MOGLEY · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2008, 01:03:57 PM »

I just this month finally got "THE" load down for my 204 nef. Nothing was really doing it until I tried reloader 10x. I found out what a difference .3 grains make in load work ups. I had been making .5 grain jumps before. When you do load work ups, my advise would be .5 jumps till you get acceptable groups then work around that number. I got my groups to .5 at 100 yards and have been enjoying episodes of crow explosions past 250 yards! My final load is Reloader 10x at 26.3 grains
Sierra 32 gr blitzking bullets
Win small rifle primers
coal of 2.27
3950 fps
My bull barrel NEF has a 1 in 9 twist. These are max loads in the Sierra book. Nothing else was grouping until I hit this combo. I actually had gone to 26.6 grains and had all the pressure signs including one blown primer. I always err on the light side of loads but in this case........
Your gun will decide what it likes. I have a lot of rounds down the barrel before I hit this. Keep at it. Some of the powders I tried were Benchmark, Varget, 4198, 322, blc2, 4895, 3031.
Along the way I discovered how important case length can be and how many thousands a case can grow per each shot. How important consistent crimp pressure, uniform primer pockets and flash holes are. I learned how to do a trigger job on NEF rifles....Highly recommend this!! That will make as big a difference as any load work up! When reloading EVERYTHING makes a difference

good luck

rickt300 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 11, 2008, 09:31:57 AM »

Anyone load this cartridge with H380, which is similar to RL15 in burn rate or IMR4320 which is very close to IMR4064? I ask because I have a lot of both and my velocity needs aren't that great and groups of even a lousy MOA will do for my varmint busting.

rickt300 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 18, 2008, 05:50:12 AM »

The 32 gr VMax is a pretty destructive bullet on coons, jackrabbits and crows. No coyote showed his hide but I bet a chest hit will get one quick. My barrel has a 1 in 12 inch twist and I don't see that as overly fast so why wouldn't it stabilize the 40 grain bullets? What is the toughest 32 grain bullet out there? How tough is the 45 grain Hornady?

mjbgalt · « **Reply #25 on:** March 19, 2008, 02:48:02 PM »

i don't know if there is data for that or not. check www.stevespages.com and see if he has any. i know 4064 and varget are relatively close in burn rate and varget shoots VERY well in my .204.

-Matt

rickt300 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 29, 2008, 04:55:20 PM »

I just ordered some Varmint Extreme nightmare bullets from Midsouth to use as a cheaper coon and coyote load. They backordered me but I have no doubt they will come through. Anyone with experience useing this bullet?

gube · « **Reply #27 on:** March 30, 2008, 04:35:55 AM »

Well my Wildcat Bullets have arrived. 6 boxes of 38 grn cup base ultra low drag and one box of 48 gr rebated boat tails. I leave for Mexico on Wed, so I can't play until I get back. I'll try to take some comparison pics before I leave.
http://wildcatbullets.homestead.com/
Here are some photos I took comparing them with some others. I lined them up from tallest to shortest. The boxes in the background are the order that the standing bullets are in. The two laying down are the 48 and 38gr WC. I took one from overhead to compare the hollow points. The 48 gr is quite long

NAM70 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 06, 2008, 09:54:33 AM »

This is what my Handi does w/40 grain Hornady"s. It shoots the 32's just fine. I'm also going to try the 34 grain Midsouth varmint bullets for a cheap load if they ever get here. Been on backorder for almost 5 weeks now. Dave

rickt300 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 06, 2008, 07:22:48 PM »

5 weeks! Heck.