204 ruger reloading

[tkeveney]

I just bought a new chronograph & was amazed at how poorly the factory loads for my 204 performed. Extreme velocity spread was almost 150 feet per second in a 5 shot group.

Velocity was no where near published levels - average of approx. 3500 fps for 40 gr. and 3600 for 32 gr. (I know I can do better - even in my 20" barrel.)

If any of you folks have some tips on reloading this cool little cartridge - I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!!!!

 

[chet]

I have no reloading experience with the 204....

but i'm curious- what manufacture was the ammo? and what is the gun?
you mentioned 20" barrel, is it an AR? Do you think a semi auto might develop more deviation in velocities?

 

[tkeveney]

Manufacturer of the ammo is Hornady.

The rifle is a Ruger ultralight bolt action M 77

I got the ultralight, because I tend to walk & hunt rather than sit on a spot. The conventional varmint guns tend to be huge & heavy.

 

[Richracer1]

Their published velocities are probably for the more conventional 26" barrel set up. I have the Savage 12FV (26" bull barrel - yes it weighs a ton) and I'm getting an average 3990fps with the 32g V-max using H322.

 

[Divernhunter]

The short barrel is hurting you. I ran 32gr Factory Hornady(and some Rem) across my chrono and got at factory specs with a heavy barrel Savage varmit rifle. My handloads with Benchmark are real cloae to factory specs as I remember without looking up the figures.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a CZ 527 rifle chambered for .204 Ruger. It has a 22 inch barrel and shoots very close to factory velocity (4020 fps) with two different Winchester 32 grain factory loads. Also I have been loading 25.5 grains of IMR3031 for Hornady 40 gr SST's and the velocity is nearly 3650 fps, right where it is supposed to be. So 22 inch barrels can deliver factory ballistics with this cartridge.