204 Ruger, R-15 and barrel legth

skyfish

I have a Howa varmint supreme with 24 inch barrel, I load 40gr V-max with R-15 Federal primers and get pretty good groups, have NOT use a chrono yet to check velocities. I was thinking of getting a CZ 527 with the 21.9 inch barrel for some varmint hunting. Is R-15 too slow for that combo, my Hornady manual likes the R-15 but is out of a 26" barrell. Would I be better off with a bit faster powder, I do like the 40gr V-max, I like a little bigger bullet for 'yotes and I'm sure it will do fine on P-dogs as well.

Just looking for some input and/or ideas that others have tried.

Ambrose

I have a Ruger Hawkeye (24") and a CZ527 (21.9) and I have tried Reloader 15 in both. My Ruger likes 40 gr. Nosler balistic tips better than the V-max. With that bullet and R-15, my chronograph gives an average of 3886 fps for 40 shots in the Ruger--about the same as the 40 gr V-max factory load. The CZ likes 39 gr. Sierra blitz kings. With that bullet and the same charge of R-15, I get 3651 fps in the CZ--again, about the same as Hornady's factory load. The R-15/ballistic tip is the most accurate load in my Ruger. The CZ is most accurate with the 32 gr. blitz king and Hodgdon H322. So far I've tried 11 different powders in my .204's and have pretty much settled on R-15 and H322 as giving the best accuracy/velocity. Hope this helps.

Grunt2

I would thing R-7 would work better in 204 than R-15...But I don't have the manual in front of me...

Ambrose

If you're happy with the V-max, by all means, stick with it--it's the one you will most often find on a dealer's shelves. But if you get the urge to experiment, try the Berger 35 gr. I've only fired 2 five shot groups with it so far and it groups better than the blitz king in my CZ.

And Grunt,
I haven't tried RL7 in the .204--I thought the burning rate might be a little too fast in that cartridge. I use it in my .221 fireball, though (Rem. 700). 18.6 gr. with 50 gr. Hornady SPSX produces 3000 fps and is the most accurate load in that rifle. (Sorry for the digression.)

skyfish

I have some H322 as well, I'll give that a try as well. The Hornady manual seems to favor a little slower powder for this cartridge. I'm might try a different bullet as well, I'd like to shoot the same loads through both. The Howa is for P-dogs and paper punching, the CZ would be more of a hunting rifle. I don't know how anyone does a lot of hunting with a heavy barrel. Now I just need work and weather to cooperate.