.204 Ruger load & groups

[arizona hunter]

Had my best shooting yet with my .204 Ruger. It has a 1 in 12 twist and according to Hornady the 32 V-Max should be more accurate than the 40's, and this has been true with me.

Attached are two pics of groups and one of me with the rifle.

I shot this with 28.6 gr. of RL 15 and 29.2 of RL 15. Most of the 40 gr. groups are 3/4 to 1" (3 shot) while those with the 32's are 3/8" to 3/4" (5 or 6 shot). These are great groups for me considering I just choose Rem brass, Rem primers (did try several powders before settling on RL 15) instead of experimenting. Also, all my cases have been fired and neck sized at least 4 times each.

Guess I'll use the 40's on coyotes and when it warms up, the 32's on prarie rats.

The rifle is a Howa 1500 Thumbhole Varminter w/ Boyd laminated stock, SS barrel.

This has become my favorite rifle. It shoots everything good or great, easy to reload and is just plain fun-even my wife likes it!

 

[WIN71]

primers

I'm not sure if it will make a difference with your load or not. I did not try RL-15 but I did try BL-c (2), 748, and H-335 and with all three I got better groups when I switched to bench rest primers. The extreme spread dropped markedly and that may be the reason. Also the 30 and 32 grs. shot better than the 40's which was the heaviest bullet I tried. This is in a Cooper MV. Incidently, I could not get the V-max 32 grn. to shoot as good as the Sierra 32gr. or the Berger 30 or 35 gr.

 

[stinger]

I've only shot 32g V-Max's and H322, but I have had acceptable accuracy. I have plenty of other bullets and powders to try, but sadly not nearly enough time to do it.

Regards,

Stinger

 

[stinger]

Oh...

And what 26.5g H322 will do to a cottontail...

 

[ob_1jr]

at what range were those groups shot at?? 50 or 100 yds? Looks pretty good though.