Best powder for 204

[Bernie Crump]

To see what everyone is using

 

[KPB71]

BLC-2 and a 35gr Berger

 

[105amatt]

32grn v-max or sierra with Benchmark

 

[reelhardmt]

I use Winchester 748 and Benchmark. 39 blitzing 748.....35 berger Benchmark

 

[lewwetzel]

Reloader 10 or Varmint with 39 Sierra BKs.
Varget (compressed load per Hodgdon book) and 35 gr. Bergers.

 

[Sflutes]

I currently run 32SBK over 26.2gr Vit N135, Rem 7.5 @ 3650,18" with reasonable accuracy, sub 0.3"

Case max fill is 28gr using Hornady brass way below QL max,

28gr gives 4000f/s in a 20" pipe with 32's but if you want to shoot out to 500+ I would run 39 SBK over 27.8 gr N135 Rem 7.5 @3750 f/s 20" and has a much better BC

These loads were worked up by myself and safe in my guns and are meant only as a guide

 

[YZ-80]

I shoot a 39 SBK over 27.6 grains of Varget and a 32 grain Nosler BT over 22 grains of IMR 4198. I have a Savage Predator w/ 24" tube.

 

[skookum]

I use 26.7gr of IMR 8208 pushing 40gr V-max bullets in the ballpark of 3900fps and holding .3 moa at 300 yards in a 10 shot string! Drop is approximately 4" at 300. The ground squirrels are in for it this spring! Rifle is a Savage model 10 with a 26" factory barrel.

 

[DXHI]

I am currently developing some loads for myself. Starting with Varget and CFE came highly recommended as well. Will provide updates when i get there

 

[skookum]

The problem with CFE is it is VERY temperature sensitive. I ran some last year with 32 gr Z-Maxs with great results on squirrels but I wanted a more temp stable powder.

 

[65WSM]

Bob Hodgdon said that IMR 8208 was the most accurate powder he had ever encountered. I think it excels in the .204 Ruger. I use 28.0 gr with 32 gr bullets, I have used Zombie Z-Max and Nosler HPFB with great success on ground squirrels. This is hot, and you can use as little as 24.0gr with accuracy. I find the flat base is more accurate than the tapered base, not really much of a boattail, on the 40gr V-Max, Nosler Ballistic Tips or 39gr Sierra BlitzKings.

 

[JSHKS]

Look at 204ruger.com. There is a lengthy thread there on the subject. There are several popular powders, but it like it works well with quite a few.

I never saw any issues with CFE 223 myself. I have a pile loaded with CFE,8208 and Varget.

 

[th82457]

26.8 IMR 8208 with 39 Sierra BK has excelled in 4 different .204's for me.

 

[FURMAN]

RE10 and 39SBK as worked in all 4 I have worked with.