.204. powder, primers and bullets

[Overlay]

Guys
.204 is on route, need some advice - bullet weight/ type, preferred primers and powder

looking to put together a quick. ish expanding round probably a BT for foxing out to 120 yds

i’m going to reload this from the start any advice on propellants and bullets would be greatly appreciated

also any idea on zeroing, never had one before

Thanks in advance

phil

 

[Dazb1967]

I use N135 powder, 32gr or 39gr SBK, My Tikka T3x shoots both without rezero, I also use Federal Champion small rifle primers and shoots at around 3700fps

 

[Fox Red]

N550 for me with CCI400 primers and Nosler brass with 39gr Blitz. 3,740fps

 

[big ears]

Used N133 under 39gr bk. cci b4 primers. 3650fps. Devastating out to 300 yards

 

[BigPat]

I use 27gr of N140 behind a 39gr SBK. It runs out at just shy of 3900fps which IMO is plenty fast enough!

But here is the weird bit. I decided on this load using quickload and at the time, a couple of updates back, it was showing within safe pressures. I have just re-run the same load and it is showing above max pressure, not by much but it is definitely above. So my assumption is that the data that Viht provide to quickload has altered. Nethertheless, I did work up to this load and there are no signs of excessive pressure so I am happy to continue as this is a very effective and accurate load that allows me to use N140 in multiple calibres.

 

[Fox Red]

I use 27gr of N140 behind a 39gr SBK. It runs out at just shy of 3900fps which IMO is plenty fast enough!

But here is the weird bit. I decided on this load using quickload and at the time, a couple of updates back, it was showing within safe pressures. I have just re-run the same load and it is showing above max pressure, not by much but it is definitely above. So my assumption is that the data that Viht provide to quickload has altered. Nethertheless, I did work up to this load and there are no signs of excessive pressure so I am happy to continue as this is a very effective and accurate load that allows me to use N140 in multiple calibres.

Stange. Vhit app shows 28.1gr as max load using a 40gr V-Max and 140. 39gr should be too different I guess?

 

[Lever357]

Look out for Sellior and Bellot primers, around £35 per 1000. I have used them in small pistol and large rifle and never had a fail to fire.

 

[Cyres]

25.2 grn Reloader 10x, 39 grn BK, remmy 7.5 primer. Remington or Winchester brass. 3,550 fps, 1" high at 100 yds point and shoot. Just loaded 40 grn Vmax 25 grn 10x,. Load to factory COL 2.250.

D

 

[Longstrider]

Tee hee .. " ... out to 120yds."

You'll be 'talking' to Charlie from MUCH further away than that once you've got the thing zeroed and sorted The .204 is almost wasted on 100 yarders.

I've been feeding mine with 26gr of Ramshot TAC behind 32gr V-Max's, but a recent revelation from another SD member has put me on the hunt for a tub of Alliant Reloader 10x to try.

 

[Roebuck243]

25.1gr of Reloader 10x , with 39gr Sierra Bk has been my favourite over the years . REM 7.5 primers.
Grouped the best and prefer the 39gr bullet to the 32gr.
Shot first 204 out and now on second one with this recipe . Great round for fox wouldn’t use anything else .

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I use 27gr of N140 behind a 39gr SBK. It runs out at just shy of 3900fps which IMO is plenty fast enough!

But here is the weird bit. I decided on this load using quickload and at the time, a couple of updates back, it was showing within safe pressures. I have just re-run the same load and it is showing above max pressure, not by much but it is definitely above. So my assumption is that the data that Viht provide to quickload has altered. Nethertheless, I did work up to this load and there are no signs of excessive pressure so I am happy to continue as this is a very effective and accurate load that allows me to use N140 in multiple calibres.

It might interest you to know that Vihtavuori used to state (back when they did PDF data sheets) to use the data for the relevant year of manufacture.
I can only assume that changes in data would reflect in updates in the apps that use their data too. My Vihtavuori app updates quite frequently, I am not sure what data specifically but it does change.

 

[Overlay]

Tee hee .. " ... out to 120yds."

You'll be 'talking' to Charlie from MUCH further away than that once you've got the thing zeroed and sorted The .204 is almost wasted on 100 yarders.

I've been feeding mine with 26gr of Ramshot TAC behind 32gr V-Max's, but a recent revelation from another SD member has put me on the hunt for a tub of Alliant Reloader 10x to try.

Cheers for the info
Got a very very accurate 222 for the longer range ones

 

[Crow Man]

25gr Vihtavuori N130, CCI Br4 primer under 32gr VMAX
24.8gr reloader 10x CCI Br4 primer under 39gr SBK
Both with a COAL of 2.260
Sorry don’t know the speeds but both loads very accurate in my T3 and remmy 700.
I think your 222 might be staying in the cabinet once you get the .204 up and running.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Cheers for the info
Got a very very accurate 222 for the longer range ones

I have one of those too. Semi custom job with a heavy barrel shoots one hole groups (as low as .2” so far). However I have to agree with the comment below. Although my 204 cal is a slightly different cartridge. It tends to come out of the cabinet for everything but NV use as far as fox and crows go.

25gr Vihtavuori N130, CCI Br4 primer under 32gr VMAX
24.8gr reloader 10x CCI Br4 primer under 39gr SBK
Both with a COAL of 2.260
Sorry don’t know the speeds but both loads very accurate in my T3 and remmy 700.
I think your 222 might be staying in the cabinet once you get the .204 up and running.