loading for 204

skyfish

Spent some time at the range this week getting ready for P-dog trip. Share some of what I learned. Rifle is a Howa Varmint Supreme. Long throat, seat bullet over .075" past OAL listed, and still have plenty of "freebore". Foe that reason I won't list how much powder, but i will share some of what i learned.

All powders with 40gr V-max. All powders showed similar accuracy, most of my best were in the .700-.800". Some were right at 1.000 +/- just a touch. All three powders had some POI at 100 yards and XBR8208 and IMR3031 had the same velocity.

RL-15 showed as good accuracy but Velocity was low, 3450fps.
IMR3031 was accurate and velocity was 3760. Very long sticks for 20 caliber funnel.
XBR8208 was similar in velocity and accuracy as IMR3031. It did post the best with the several .700 groups but 3031 was usually at .800 and less grains of powder for same velocity.

Both should work for the P-dog trip. May try some Sierra's 39 grains after trip. I'd like .500 groups, but hey. Inexpensive rifle that shoots almost anything under 1" groups. Not bad.

Ambrose

My Ruger Hawkeye likes the 40 gr. Nosler balistic tip with 29 gr. of RL-15 for 3886 fps. The 32 gr. Sierra blitz king with 27.5 gr. of H322 @ 4071 fps shoots almost as well in the Hawkeye and the CZ527 likes that load, too, @ 3958 fps. Another load that groups well in the CZ consists of the 39 gr. Sierra blitz king again with 29 gr. of RL-15, but the velocity drops to 3651 fps in the shorter barrel. For some reason, my rifles don't shoot as well with the v-max bullets.

Good luck on your trip!