Lets talk 204 Ruger and velocity

[Damon555]

I added a Remington SPS 204 Ruger to the stable a while back and am just finishing up shooting all the factory ammo that I was given with the rifle. The rifle does not like the factory loaded Hornady ammo with the 40 grain V-maxes so I am going to shoot 32 grain Vmaxes which shoot great with the factory ammo.

I bought this rifle to be a speed demon...I've got several 223's that have been working just fine for prairie dogs but I wanted something that shot flatter.

The factory boxes state that velocity is somewhere around 4200 fps and I believe it....those baby shoot like a laser. A quick web search hasn't turned up the results I am looking for. I want max velocity out of these 32 grain bullets. It seems that the powders that I have on hand are a little on the slow side for this cartridge. What powders are you guys using to get the 4000+ fps velocity that I am looking for?

I shot respectable groups at 200 yards today and just for grins I tried it out at 300.......I was amazed! With no hold over (sighted 1" high @ 200) I was hitting pieces of broken clay pigeons. If it can perform this well in the prairie dog towns I might have a new favorite varmint caliber.

What are you doing to get max performance out of your 204's?

 

[cfullgraf]

If memory serves me correctly, factory 32 grain 204 Ruger hit about 4100 fps out of my 24 inch heavy barrel AR.

I load my 32 grainers to about 3900 fps. No sense beating my rifle up unnecessarily. Primer pockets get loose enough fast enough any way.

I plan to switch over to 40 grain bullets when I run out of 32 grain bullets. Velocity will be less than the 32 grain bullets.

Some of the new powders on the market may be able to hit velocities similar to factory. I have been using old, standby powders so I don't know.

I like the round and it shoots well in my AR.

 

[helotaxi]

Check out Ramshot powders and the load data on their website. They publish the highest velocities of any data I've found. Both X-terminator and TAC had published loads over 4k. If you want raw velocity, Accurate lists in the 4450fps range with the Barnes 26gn Varmint Grenade with 2230 and 2520. The Lyman #49 manual has some good loads listed as well.

Realize that the ballistic coefficient of the 32gn bullets are not good at all. They start off really fast but quickly hit the wall, so to speak. Past 300yds or so, bullet drop and, more importantly, wind drift start getting excessive. The 40gn are not as fast but they drift less in the wind. Personally, I like the 50gn Bergers but you need a fast twist barrel to get them to stabilize. Most factory barrels have a 1:12 twist which works fine with the 32, 40 and 45gn bullets from Hornady, but a 1:10 or faster is needed to shoot the heavy Bergers. They are about on par, velocity wise, with .223 bullets of the same weight but their significantly better BC means that they drop and drift less.

 

[Damon555]

Thanks for the info guys....Just when I thought that the 223 was going to be my varmint caliber of choice I had to go and try a 204. There might be a new mayor in town!

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

aren't you glad you don't have to choose just 1?

 

[Damon555]

aren't you glad you don't have to choose just 1?

Oh yeah! Just ordered a 204 Ruger Encore pro hunter barrel too....28" is a pretty good running start for this little round.

 

[A-FIXER]

Oh yeah! Just ordered a 204 Ruger Encore pro hunter barrel too....28" is a pretty good running start for this little round.

I would like a 30'' but I guess I settle for my 26'' and I am around 4275 with W-748 but I am loading them a little heavy.