New .204 results

[Combat_Wombat]

So all the bits and pieces for my new feral cat smasher have come in and got assembled last night. Ended up getting a sporter barrel because there was a 3 month wait for the varmint barrels.

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The boyds stock fitter in nicely with the exception of having to shave the barrel channel out 2mm to properly free float it. Also had to take 2-3mm off the front side of the groove that the bolt handle slots into when closed. Nothing too serious for a $100 stock and from what I hear is pretty common.

I put a 6-18 redfield battle zone on it and can't complain at all.

Took it out to the farm to sight it in and managed to improvise things pretty well with what I had.

Made up the targets with a nicko on old election campaign posters that I use for the .22

Bipod wasn't stable enough so I used two bags of dog food as a rest

And in the excitement wasn't waiting long enough between shots for the barrel to cool

Despite all that I managed to get it shooting 3 rounds in a 50 cent piece and when it finally cooled down just a bit wider then a 10cent with two holes touching!

Not complaint at all considering they were only 32gn hornady factory loads.

All in all really stoked with the set up and will be taking it out spotlighting next weekend as I've been roped into going to a family 50th tonight

[Combat_Wombat]

Pedigree shooting rest "the best a mutt can get"

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[Combat_Wombat]

If you look closely you will see old mate Bob Katter

[brett1868]

I like the dark look of the stock and looks like your on track to destroy some pussies. I picked up 6 boxes of the Hornady 32gr rounds, price was reasonable and they came in packs of 50. Damn impressive performance for factory ammo based on the 6 shot group in the picture. Was only 50m but it's showing plenty of potential for longer ranges. I've no doubt you'll be nailing pussy through the head at 200m with ease.

Looking forward to seeing how your rifle performs once you get it sighted and a load sorted. I haven't tried any reloads yet but I've got some 32gr Hornady VMAX's I'll be trying with 28gr of BM II.

One disconcerting thing I have heard about the .204 Hornady ammo is that they use a special blend of powder to achieve the 4150fps velocities they quote on the box. This powder isn't currently available to the public or so I've been told and replicating that performance won't be easy with over the counter powders.

Curious to see how these shoot on reloads if anyone's tried it and would like to share their load data.

[Combat_Wombat]

Yeah I'm going to stay with 32gn projectiles when I start loading waiting on the dies to come in the mail. Still haven't decided on a powder yet but let us know if that benchmark works well. How much loss of velocity are we talking with different powders?

[bigfellascott]

I wouldn't be too concerned about trying to replicate the velocities that Hornady reckon they achieve, so far none of the Hornady I've seen chronied has come even remotely close to what they state on the box! not to mention the brass has large variations in capacity as well, despite that they seem to shoot pretty well.

My Howa 204 loved the 32gn Rem Accutip and Federal Premium stuff, both were good for 4 or 5 into a 1/4 5c piece at 50m which was a real surprise.

[Combat_Wombat]

Yeah I'm not going to lose any sleep if it's not spot on anything close to 4000 is fantastic as far as I'm concerned.

[AussieTimmeh]

I love that look, what a great looking rifle! Looks like it would be real fun to shoot. Enjoy!

[North East]

No doubt about it…the .204 Ruger is an impressive little caliber.

[Bark]

BATTLEZONE TACTICAL!!!!

And we shoot rabbits

Soz, not having a go CW. Always have to have a laugh at what they name shooting stuff

[sha]

One disconcerting thing I have heard about the .204 Hornady ammo is that they use a special blend of powder to achieve the 4150fps velocities they quote on the box. This powder isn't currently available to the public or so I've been told and replicating that performance won't be easy with over the counter powders.

As I understand it... You don't want to blend powders yourself at home by just mixing tubs because due to grain size and density differences they'll separate and you'll have potentially dangerously varied loads.

Just for arguments sake, if you measured each half directly into your cartridges to make a blend would that work?

e.g. instead of mixing tubs and dispensing the lot, you dispense 15g of powder X and then 15g of powder Y directly into each case?

Would that cut it or are you still dancing with death there?

[bawoog]

If you look closely you will see old mate Bob Katter

Ha ha

[jays]

Cracker shooting Brett.

[Combat_Wombat]

BATTLEZONE TACTICAL!!!!

And we shoot rabbits

Soz, not having a go CW. Always have to have a laugh at what they name shooting stuff

Yeah must be aimed at the tacticool crowd in the same way that you can have a Mustang cobra triple turbo gti limited edition

[MeccaOz]

Looks pretty damned neato mate. I like the dog food bags ... I think I used rice last time, lol

[Joom]

Never thought of the kibble bags.... Going to try it.

[Combat_Wombat]

Never thought of the kibble bags.... Going to try it.

I was supprised by how well it worked actually much steadier then the bipod

[MeccaOz]

Hey Combat_Wombat Just out of curiosity, how long does that barrel take to get hot with the 204 ?

[Combat_Wombat]

Got hot enough to have to leave it to cool right down after 10-12 rounds with a minute between shots. Also hard to judge because it was around 38 degrees that day too.

[Westy]

Never thought of the kibble bags.... Going to try it.

I was supprised by how well it worked actually much steadier then the bipod

Well Goodo then!!!!!!!

[Bennybigbores]

Just a quick question for the .204 shooters, how flat do they shoot? Roughly? Say if sighted for zero at 200m what trajectory etc at 50 100 150 etc, everyone seems to rate them pretty highly

[Combat_Wombat]

Not 100% sure mate but I'm taking it out Saturday so I'll run some tests and let you know.

[North East]

Just a quick question for the .204 shooters, how flat do they shoot? Roughly? Say if sighted for zero at 200m what trajectory etc at 50 100 150 etc, everyone seems to rate them pretty highly

Just get on to the Winchester ammunition website and check out there Ballistics Calculator.

[Tiiger]

Just a quick question for the .204 shooters, how flat do they shoot? Roughly? Say if sighted for zero at 200m what trajectory etc at 50 100 150 etc, everyone seems to rate them pretty highly

This is based on 40gr pill and 3,750fps muzzle velocity. (BC .239 if you really must know).

050m 0.0
100m 0.9
150m 0.9
200m 0 (zero)
250m -1.9
300m -5.1

Would be happy to input load data for you if you have something specific in mind?

[RealNick]

100m 0.9
150m 0.9
200m 0 (zero)

An inch high all the way while creeping down to 200.... That would be nice and easy to shoot.

[bigfellascott]

Tiiger,

Could you run the 26gn Barnes VG's running 29gn of 2206H and 8208 - I think that's right? They're doing around 4200-4300fps from memory. Would be interesting to see what they are doing according to your programme.

Also 39gn SBK pushed along with 28.2gn of 2206H doing around 3700-3800fps from memory.

Cheers mate, I appreciate it.

[Tiiger]

I used ADI max load data for this so I could input a known velocity, very close to your estimates/load anyway so it's going to make FA difference.

26gr pills to start.

28.2gr 2206h = 4,302 fps MV.
29.5gr 8208 = 4,309 fps MV.

Same velocity (-7) so trajectory will be the same for both, table is:

050m -0.1
100m 0.8
150m 0.9
200m 0 (zero)
250m -2.1
300m -5.9

39gr SBK came out the same as 40gr table posted originally.

So the heavier pills are flatter shooting in this instance as it turns out. Higher BC of the longer bullet letting it go faster for longer I guess. The 26gr are only 0.131 compared to the .239 of the 40gr table which matches the 39gr SBK.

[bigfellascott]

Thanks for that mate - I figured the heavier pills would be flatter over longer ranges with the BC, always good to see what they are doing none the less. I'll have to set up some targets at the diff ranges and see how accurate the data is hey.

Cheers mate, much appreciated.

[brett1868]

CombatWombat, are you getting much copper when cleaning your barrel? Was feeling a bit soft today and had to clean a couple barrels to man up, nothing like cleaning guns to make you feel like a man. I ran my usual copper solvent on a patch through it and got next to no blue on the patch so I repeated the process with the same result. Figured copper fouling isn't a big issue on this rifle so I just scrubbed the bore with solvent then patched dry and oiled before storage. Curious if you are seeing the same results or not.

[deye243]

funny that i have 4 howas and my mates have another 4 between them and none of them copper up bad either