Tested a BROWNING VARMINT A Bolt this evening that had been on consignment at my shop for awhile...........not on consignment anymore as the former owner now has a R-15 VTR and I have the Browning and a chunk of change!!
Anyway, I had 4 boxes of factory stuff sitting on my shelves at home and I put a Simmons Aetec 2.8-10 on the rifle to test it.........not the optics I would prefer but all I had open at the time! Winchester factory 34 grain HP shot into .578 for 4 shots(all of them I had) Remington 32 grain Accutips shot into 1.066 for 4(all of them also!)((worst grouping I've seen from a .204 in 5 years of messing with them!!))Federal 39 grain Blitzking factory loading shot into .537 and the head turner was the Hornady 45 grain SP factory loading!! It shot .485 and .416 groups for 5 shots using that factory load!! Just for S&G I brought out a box of my 27.5 grain or Accurate 2520 loads with the 39 grain Sierras and(neck sized for my Savage VLP but the bolt closed!!) it proceeded to do 8 shots(barrel was getting warm I am sure!) into .504". A little work with this one and it would be a bonafide "varmint mister"! That 45 grain factory load astounded me! First .204 that I've tested that REALLY seemed to like those heavies!! Wonder what it would do with the 40Vmax's!!?? Never seen those bullets do acceptable accuracy in but one 204 and it was a Model 7, 20" pencil barrel!! Maybe I'll test it!! Charlie (GHD)

Charlie-

As if the varmints in your neck of the woods didn't have it tough enough, you up the ante on your end by adding ANOTHER tack-driver to your arsenal. That's just not fair...

All kidding aside, thanks for the report. I always look forward to your reviews.

Keep those groundhogs on the run...

Bobby

+1 on the good information. Keep us informed as I have an encore barrel that I will be developing some loads for.

What, you mean you didn't get a "cloverleaf" right away. I would get over to the bench and get to work:!:

Congrats!!!!

Bob

Hey Charlie (GHD), and anyone else,

Had any experience with #1's in 204? I have one (as does a friend), and we have yet to have real great success in getting them to shoot much better than 1-1 1/2. I know that #1's are not renown when it comes to accuracy, but I have #1's in 218 Bee and K-Hornet that outshoot both 204's quite nicely.

I have a 1V in .204 and it likes 39 Sierra's over VV N-133 powder. Makes small groups.

Tom

I had a cooper 21 in .204 that shot consistent .2's and bunch of .1's w a forgotten load involving Berger bullets. I personally hated loading the tiny bullets. It also didn't do anything the Ol' 22-250 didn't do better. But congrats on a new bangstick!!!

Long live the great .204 Ruger

Long Live the great coyote

Long live the great Browning Arms