AusVarmint

Ok I'm going to try 40gn vmax in the 204... I have a " metric dick load" of 2206h... Can anyone recommend a good load???

Safest and best way to find what works in you kit it start low and work it up. As in start with some thing like ADI's min load as it there powder and work it up in small increments to find that sweeeeeet spot . I know it's a bit of stuffing about but safety first.

All the best and keep it safe

flip

In my limited experience with the 204 is it seems to shoot well when they are screaming out of the barrel, mine likes the 39bk pushed along with 28.1gn of 2206H which is over the ADI max recommended - I just worked up from the min recommended by ADI and worked up from there keeping an eye out for signs of pressure (none seen) so I've just settled on that for now.

In hotter climates it may well shoot better with less so just use common sense and work up from the min doing the usual checks to see if there are pressure signs and if so back it off.

I just set my OAL off the Rem Accutip Factory Ammo I had been using at the time, I don't think the 204's are over fussy in that regard and seem to like some jump.

Also loaded up some 26gn Barnes Varmint Grenades the other day using 29gn 2206H and it loved those as well, I just took a stab in the dark with that load and it seems to shoot well from my limited testing (no signs of pressure evident) I also loaded a couple of others with 29.3gn and 29.6gn of 2206H and it shoot those very well too, again no signs of pressure as yet (not sure what the max charge is for this projectile weight)

Used the same AOL on them as the 39's.

Just remember these were fine in my particular firearm, doesn't mean they will be safe in yours so just work up from the min recommended by ADI or whom ever powder you intend to use.

Good luck

ADI LOAD DATA FOR 204 RUGER
http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloade ... =204+Ruger

27.9 was the max recommended last time i looked

start at 27.4 and go up in .4 increments

i would be expecting best results at the high end but you need to try the lower end for safety

27.4, 5,6 probably only fire three each and go to 5 shout groups for .7 up

Well thats what I would do, of course if you get 3 shot groups in one hole your rifle might be different than the one I had!!!

trevort wrote:27.9 was the max recommended last time i looked

start at 27.4 and go up in .4 increments

i would be expecting best results at the high end but you need to try the lower end for safety

27.4, 5,6 probably only fire three each and go to 5 shout groups for .7 up

Well thats what I would do, of course if you get 3 shot groups in one hole your rifle might be different than the one I had!!!

Looks like 27.7gn now Trev, compressed load too by the looks. I find I can fit the 28.1gn in without it being compressed (Scratches head).

I agree they do seem to like the upper limits of the load capacity for whatever reason.

Polly wrote:Ok I'm going to try 40gn vmax in the 204... I have a " metric dick load" of 2206h... Can anyone recommend a good load???

What is your loading experience ?, do you have all the equipment needed ?, and so on.
I think I would start a little lower than has already been recommended, maybe 1.5 or 2.0 gns under the maximum. While I have no experience with the 204 Ruger cartridge, my 20/222 shot very tiny groups with just a starting load, I generally don't recommend going all out for speed, accuracy is more important, in my opinion.
A good reloading manual is a must, and read everything you can get your hands on.
Ask any question that you like, there is no such thing as a stupid question if you don't know the answer, especially with loading ammo.

good post camel

Have all the gear. Been doing it on and off for years. Only reason I asked was to see if anyone had been using 2206h and 40 gn vmax. Might save a bit of time

not really as one load will shoot differently in different rifles most of the time the col will be different to

I'm using that powder and pill but the internet babble about Kreiger barrels having tight bores is true.

I loaded a full grain more than listed max in .1 increments trying to get the vm and bt to group in the ruger VT I had with no probs.

I cut corners on the custom with a few test shots at 27.5 and 27.6 and then straight to my old load of 27.9 and that saw the primer pop out when the round was extracted. That rifle liked 27.3 gns if you wanted to keep using the brass!!!