I have a 204 mate...infact i stole & use your 8.5g t-boss load...
but I've only used 32's in it.
Ok...interesting...i didnt think that proj would open them up on the outside being so small...maybe they too light--are the wounds on the entry or exit...?
& ive great success with the 32 zmax's...body shots at any range (30 yds the closest but usually front on when that close) & perferct pelts with no exit ...
Even that close head shots are ok if front on & between the eyes...but trying to scalp them is like opening a can of condensed tomato soup upside down...eeoow...
In case yr interested, iuse 28gr 2208 for a smidge <3600fps. Not smoking hot but good & effective.
Got a bm2 load about +170 odd fps but have 4kg of 2208...
I can use the 22-250 if i want abstract, but im liking the clean results of the 204 on foxes.
As for yr 223... 3800fps--is pretty fast where im concerned...but is that not basically doubling up on the 204. ..?
Not knocking it tho mate--im envious i dont have the time to do all that...!
The man who knows everything, doesnt really know everything...he's just stopped learning...