Looking for a good handload for the savage model 12fv in 204 ruger

[jaredsally95]

I just bought a model 12FV in savage 204 ruger 26" bull barrel synthetic stock and i put a 6by18 50mm bushnell on it ive been trying to find a good load for it by handloading i was wondering if anybody out there that has the same rifle and has found a good handload for it i have BLC2, H4895, Benchmark, please post some loads for me can't wait to try a few thanks

[potatohead]

I don't have the LRPV but I do have a .204 model 12 heavy varminter. I found that MINE is very picky!! Found one load that shoots 1/4-3/8" (@ 100 yards) groups this morning. 30.2 grains of BLC-2, 32 grain sierra blitz kings at .009 off the lands. I have another if I can find it with the 39 grain SBK that shoots under 1/2" but it uses Winchester 748. From what I tried this morning the 39 grain SBK's with BLC didn't group but I only tried 7 four shot groups. All at .009 off the lands. Hope you get more responses as I would like to know some more to try too. I'm not liking how picky this barrel is!! Almost forgot! 7 1/2 remington primers and remington brass.

[pa hog]

24.3-24.6gr RL-10X, 39gr SBK, Hunting Shack or Hornady Brass,CCI BR4's .005" off lands worked best in my gun.

[dcloco]

www.204rugerhunting.com

LOTS of loads on there.

My 12FV prefer 40 gr VMax over H4895 or Benchmark. My 204 likes 0.040 to 0.060 off the lands.

This is some load development I did a couple years ago. WORK UP YOUR LOADS for your rifle please. Group size is the right column.

30 gr Berger HP under 28.7 to 30.6 grains of BLC2
28.7 3775 1x
28.8 3775 1x
28.9 3883 1x
29 3869 1x
29.1 3778 1x
29.2 3755 1x
29.3 3904 1x
29.4 3816 1x
29.5 3817 1x
29.6 3886 1x
29.7 3846 1.5x
29.8 3855 1.5x
29.9 3948 1.5x
30 3884 1.5x
30.1 3944 1.5x
30.2 3961 1.2x
30.3 3944 1.2x
30.4 4037 1.2x
30.5 3966 1.2x
30.6 4002 1.2x
32 gr Hornady VMax under 24.1 to 26.0 of REL 10x-DONE 2/6/07.
24.1 1.25x
24.2 1.25x
24.3 1.25x
24.4 1.25x
24.5 1.25x
24.6 0.6
24.7 0.6
24.8 0.6
24.9 0.6
25 0.6
25.1 1x
25.2 1x
25.3 1x
25.4 1x
25.5 1x
25.6 1.5x
25.7 1.5x
25.8 1.5x
25.9 1.5x
26 1.5x
32 gr Hornady VMax under 28.7 to 30.6 grains of BLC2
28.7 x 0.75
28.8 x 0.75
28.9 x 0.75
29 x 0.75
29.1 3762 0.75
29.2 3769 1x
29.3 3799 1x
29.4 3805 1x
29.5 3817 1x
29.6 3839 1x
29.7 3846 1.2x
29.8 3862 1.2x
29.9 3934 1.2x
30 3902 1.2x
30.1 3927 1.2x
30.2 3923 1.2x
30.3 3968 1.2x
30.4 3962 1.2x
30.5 3996 1.2x
30.6 4037 1.2x
32 gr Sierra BK under 27.1 to 28.5 grains of H4895.
27.1 3923 0.4
27.2 3946 0.4
27.3 3902 0.4
27.4 3999 0.4
27.5 3983 0.4
27.6 3991 0.4
27.7 4055 0.4
27.8 4052 0.4
27.9 4041 0.4
28 4053 0.4
28.1 4057 x
28.2 4090 Bullet failed
28.3 4108 Bullet failed
28.4 4129 Bullet failed
28.5 4172 Bullet failed
32 gr Hornady VMax under 27.1 to 28.5 grains of H4895
27.1 3939 1.5
27.2 3950 1.5
27.3 3927 1.5
27.4 3959 1.5
27.5 3995 1.5
27.6 4030 0.75
27.7 4022 0.75
27.8 4063 0.75
27.9 4062 0.75
28 4047 0.75
28.1 4068 2x
28.2 4107 2x
28.3 4093 2x
28.4 4134 2x
28.5 4132 2x
32 gr Hornady VMax under 25.6 to 27.5 grains of Accurate AA2460
25.6 3941 0.4
25.7 3908 0.4
25.8 3856 0.4
25.9 3799 0.4
26 3913 0.4
26.1 3913 1x
26.2 3835 1x
26.3 3840 1x
26.4 3922 1x
26.5 3926 1x
26.6 3869 1x
26.7 3914 1x
26.8 3861 1x
26.9 3876 1x
27 3916 1x
27.1 3942 1.5x
27.2 3892 1.5x
27.3 3923 1.5x
27.4 3912 1.5x
27.5 3913 1.5x
32 gr Hornady VMax under 26.1 to 28.0 grains of Benchmark DONE 2/6/07
26.1 1x
26.2 1x
26.3 1x
26.4 1x
26.5 1x
26.6 0.5
26.7 0.5
26.8 0.5
26.9 0.5
27 0.5
27.1 0.4
27.2 0.4
27.3 0.4
27.4 0.4
27.5 0.4
27.6 1.5x
27.7 1.5x
27.8 1.5x
27.9 1.5x
28 1.5x
32 gr Hornady VMax under 26.1 to 28.0 grains of H335
26.1 3908 1x
26.2 3888 1x
26.3 3907 1x
26.4 3874 1x
26.5 3902 1x
26.6 3913 1x
26.7 3687 1x
26.8 3857 1x
26.9 3912 1x
27 3830 1x
27.1 3788 1x
27.2 3744 1x
27.3 3783 1x
27.4 3788 1x
27.5 3891 1x
27.6 3896 1x
27.7 3914 1x
27.8 3873 1x
27.9 3892 1x
28 3871 1x
32 gr Hornady VMax under 25.6 to 27.5 grains of H322
25.6 0 3x2
25.7 3877 3x2
25.8 3852 3x2
25.9 3893 3x2
26 3852 3x2
26.1 3887 2x2
26.2 3922 2x2
26.3 3899 2x2
26.4 3937 2x2
26.5 3975 2x2
26.6 3942 2x2
26.7 3966 2x2
26.8 3991 2x2
26.9 4032 2x2
27 4016 2x2
27.1 4006 0.5-
27.2 4020 0.5-
27.3 4067 0.5-
27.4 4064 0.5-
27.5 4096 0.5-
35 gr Berger HP under 24.4 to 26.3 grains of H322
24.4 3591 0.5-
24.5 3545 0.5-
24.6 3619 0.5-
24.7 3579 0.5-
24.8 3643 0.5-
24.9 3639 0.5-
25 3606 0.5-
25.1 3615 0.5-
25.2 3664 0.5-
25.3 3684 0.5-
25.4 3700 0.4-
25.5 3682 0.4-
25.6 3717 0.4-
25.7 3718 0.4-
25.8 3725 0.4-
25.9 3773 1x
26 3716 1x
26.1 3741 1x
26.2 3771 1x
26.3 3785 1x
39 gr Sierra BK under 26.6 to 27.5 grains of H4895
26.6 3745 0.5
26.7 3748 0.5
26.8 3762 0.5
26.9 3785 0.5
27 3761 0.5
27.1 3803 0.75
27.2 3797 0.75
27.3 3829 0.75
27.4 3821 0.75
27.5 3871 0.75
39 gr Sierra BK under 28.1 to 30.0 grains of BLC2 - DONE 2/6/07.
28.1 1x
28.2 1x
28.3 1x
28.4 1x
28.5 1x
28.6 1x
28.7 1x
28.8 1x
28.9 1x
29 1x
29.1 1.25x
29.2 1.25x
29.3 1.25x
29.4 1.25x
29.5 1.25x
29.6 1.25x
29.7 1.25x
29.8 1.25x
29.9 1.25x
30 1.25x
40 gr Hornady VMax under 23.1 to 25.0 of REL 10x DONE 2/6/07.
23.1 0.75
23.2 0.75
23.3 0.75
23.4 0.75
23.5 0.75
23.6 0.75
23.7 0.75
23.8 0.75
23.9 0.75
24 0.75
24.1 0.5
24.2 0.5
24.3 0.5
24.4 0.5
24.5 0.5
24.6 0.5
24.7 0.5
24.8 0.5
24.9 0.5
25 0.5
40 gr Hornady VMax under 26.6 to 27.5 grains of H4895
26.6 3767 1x
26.7 3801 1x
26.8 3798 1x
26.9 3812 1x
27 3799 1x
27.1 3814 1x
27.2 3816 1x
27.3 3844 1x
27.4 3855 1x
27.5 3921 1x
40 gr Hornady VMax under 24.9 to 26.8 grains of Accurate AA2460
24.9 3644 1.25
25 3567 1.25
25.1 3640 1.25
25.2 3720 1.25
25.3 3626 1.25
25.4 3623 0.5
25.5 3629 0.5
25.6 3693 0.5
25.7 3664 0.5
25.8 3642 0.5
25.9 3639 2x2
26 3706 2x2
26.1 3670 2x2
26.2 3713 2x2
26.3 3674 2x2
26.4 3684 x
26.5 3706 x
26.6 3681 x
26.7 3731 x
26.8 3740 x
40 gr Hornady VMax under 24.3 to 25.7 grains of Benchmark
24.3 3362 1x
24.4 3377 1x
24.5 3467 1x
24.6 3480 1x
24.7 3468 1x
24.8 3476 0.5
24.9 3500 0.5
25 3486 0.5
25.1 3507 0.5
25.2 3527 0.5
25.3 3551 1x
25.4 3598 1x
25.5 3582 1x
25.6 3606 1x
25.7 3672 1x
40 gr Hornady VMax under 25.5 to 26.8 grains of H335
25.5 3569 0.6
25.6 3566 0.6
25.7 3534 0.6
25.8 3566 0.6
25.9 3572 0.6
26 3551 0.6
26.1 3573 0.6
26.2 3594 0.6
26.3 3604 0.6
26.4 3628 0.6
26.5 3627 1x
26.6 3594 1x
26.7 3673 1x
26.8 3674 1x
26.8 3652 1x
40 gr Nosler SP under 28.1 to 30.0 grains of BLC2 DONE 2/6/07.
28.1 1x
28.2 1x
28.3 1x
28.4 1x
28.5 1x
28.6 0.5
28.7 0.5
28.8 0.5
28.9 0.5
29 0.5
29.1 0.5
29.2 0.5
29.3 0.5
29.4 0.5
29.5 0.5
29.6 1x
29.7 1x
29.8 1x
29.9 1x
30 1x

[turboed350]

i have a model 12fv and just found a load for it tryed lots of powders and primers and bullets what works best in my gun is H4895 27.5gr / 39gr seirra Blitz Kings/ CCI 450 primers and i set the bullet around .009 off the lands i put a 3/8 group @ 100yrds out of five shots together on this load and i was just shooting off of a concret slab standing with poor weather soo i think it could pull a tighther group not to sure yet but it seems to be the only load i found under 1/2" group for me. i would start lower on the powder charge and work your way up. i have no high pressure indications and it seems to work well in my gun i have not yet checked the fps like i said the weather was poor and the crono didnt pick up but im sure its around 3800 fps. i also would like to say that the h4895 works well in different weather and is not affected as much as like the ball powder in the win 748 so it is a good all around load if you ask me but every gun is different.

[bootsmcguire]

Mine likes RL15 and 40gr V-Max. WSR primer in Winchester brass. I can't remember the charge weight or OAL off the top of my head as I have had a few other of my Savages taking up my time and have not loaded any for it in like 5 months, but I was getting .25 to .3125 at 100yds for 5 shots with perfect weather conditions. Mine is a Savage barrel off of a 12FV, but i put it in a 110 (that was a 223 sporter gun) with a Choate UV stock and a great 3-screw.

[1Shot]

..30.1grs of BLC, 39gr Sie, 205M prs..

[kkeene]

Max charge of H4895, 39 gr BlitzKing, BR4 primer. Often under 1/2 inch at 200 yards. Almost never over 1 inch at 200 yards and that is probably the shooter.

I won't give a power charge as I have seen large lot to lot variations in the density of H4895. I throw charges by volume and even when the last two lots of H4895 were more dense (about 3% more dense as I recall) I kept the same setting. All lots of H4895 were equal accuracy so far.

FYI - I tried a couple of other bullets, no joy in my Savage VLP.

Keith