Savage 12 Varminter Low Profile Single Shot .204

[McGee68]

I just bought a model 12 in .204. I need to pick up dies and related bullets and powders. Looking for suggestions on what's working for you guys. I currently have H335, TAC, IMR3031, 8208 XBR, Reloader 15 and Varget on hand.

Gun will be mainly target but hoping to get use on prairie dogs next spring.

-Thanks

[Don-T]

Mine is real partial to 27gr of 8208 and 39 gr Sierra Blitzkings. I get just over 3700 fps and will shoot bugholes at 100 yds. I BF6 coat my bullets so naked bullets might use a touch less powder.

[McGee68]

Thanks for the info Don. I bought a scope this morning and some rings and thru in a box of 39 gr Sierras to try out. What have you found for OAL when shooting the Sierras? Most of the SMKs I've shot like to be close to the lands. Ideas?

[McGee68]

Update,
This gun is shooting lights out and I'm loving it! I bought 100 rounds of Hornadys 32 grain vamx to break it in and for reloading brass. I shot 50 of them and never printed over 1". Reloaded those 50 with test loads for the 39 grain BK using TAC and 8208. Out of 10 different loads all printed sub .75" with multiple loads printing .25. Think I'm going to settle on the 8208 in the 26.5-27. grain spread. I have the trigger adjusted all the way down but it's still heavy compared to my other savage rifles. Hoping to lighten it and make these groups even tighter http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif

[bythebook]

McGee68 I have had 3 204's and used 32 or 34 gr. bullets in all of them. I have tried 8208, 10x, and BLc-2 and have always come back to BLc-2 it shoots great with those bullets. I figure if I need heavier I have a couple of 22-250's and 243's .

[rbp75503]

Here are my loadings with a shilen barrel



Black Rain Shilen 204 Ruger










Barnes 26GR












Barnes 26GR













Powder

C.O.L.

Start

Max

Most Accurate

Group








RL10X


24.0

26.5

24.0&24.1

.188"







NoGo

Benchmark


25.5

28.0

27.0

.399"







NoGo

H335


26.0

28.5

27.0

.463"







Untested

BL-C(2)

2.250"

28.9

30.7









Lot #

Caliber

Case

Trim Length:

Neck Bushing

Headspace DL

O.A.L.

Ogive

Primer

Type

Charge



B-26-RL10X-1

0.204

Norma

1.835"

.225"

1.557"

2.267"

1.965"

CCI BR4

RL10X

24.0
















Hornady V-Max 32 GR












Powder

C.O.L.

Start

Max

Most Accurate

Group







NoGo

H322

2.250"

25.5

27.5

26.9

.464"







NoGo

H335

2.250"

26.0

28.3

27.5

.483"







NoGo

IMR-4064

2.245"

25.6

27.5

26.5

.420"







NoGo

Benchmark

2.250"

26.0

28.0

27.0

.417"







NoGo

RL10X

2.250"

24.0

26.2


>1.00"







NoGood

RL10X

2.250"

24.0

26.2


>1.00"







Lot #

Caliber

Case

Trim Length:

Neck Bushing

Headspace DL

O.A.L.

Ogive

Primer

Type

Charge
















Sierra Blitzking 32 GR












Powder

C.O.L.

Start

Max

Most Accurate

Group







GoodToGo

H322

2.245"

25.2

26.2

25.5/26.1

.373"/.378"







Untested

IMR-4064

2.245"

26.3

27.5









Untested

IMR-3031

2.245"

23.0

26.2









Untested

Benchmark

2.245"

26.0

27.9









GoodToGo

RL-10x

2.245"

22.8

26.3

23.9

0.233"







Untested

Viht N135

2.245"

24.5

27









Lot #

Caliber

Case

Trim Length:

Neck Bushing

Headspace DL

O.A.L.

Ogive

Primer

Powder Type

Charge



S-32-RL10x-5

0.204

Norma

1.835"

.225"

1.557"

2.309"

1.925"

CCI BR4

RL10x

23.9



S-32-H322-6

0.204

Nosler

1.834"

0.229"

1.557"

2.306"

1.925"

CCI BR4

H322

25.5



S-32-H322-10

0.204

Nosler

1.834"

0.229"

1.557"

2.306"

1.925"

CCI BR4

H322

26.1
















Berger 35GR














Powder

C.O.L.

Start

Max

Most Accurate

Group








H335

2.240"

25.5

27.5

26.5

.457"








IMR-3031

2.240"

25.0

26.1C

25.8

.480"








Benchmark

2.240"

25.0

26.6

25.5

.257"







Untested

CFE223

2.240"

28.8

30.6









Untested

IMR-4064

2.240"

26.0

27.5C



Ogive

Primer

Powder Type

Charge



B-35-Benchmark-13

0.204

Norma

1.835"

.225"

1.556"

2.305"

1.965"

CCI BR4

Benchmark

25.5
















Sierra Blitzking 39 GR












Powder

C.O.L.

Start

Max

Most Accurate

Group







Untested

H322

2.245"

22.7

24.2









Untested

IMR-4064

2.245"

25.2

27.2









Untested

IMR-3031

2.245"

23.3

25.3









NoGood

Benchmark

2.245"

23.3

25.7

24.0

.704"








RL-10x

2.245"

21.6

25.1

23.0

.354"







Lot #

Caliber

Case

Trim Length:

Neck Bushing

Headspace DL

O.A.L.

Ogive

Primer

Type

Charge



S-39-RL10x-5

0.204

Norma

1.835"

.225"

1.557"

2.310"

1.925"

CCI BR4

RL10x

23.0
















Hornady V-Max 40 GR












Powder

C.O.L.

Start

Max

Most Accurate

Group







GoodToGo

H322

2.250"

23.0

25.1

23.0

.187"







Untested

H335

2.250"

25.0

26.8









NoGo

IMR-4064

2.250"

25.5

27.5C

26.0

.578"







NoGo

Benchmark

2.250"

24.0

25.7

25.5

.527"




















Lot #

Caliber

Case

Trim Length:

Neck Bushing

Headspace DL

O.A.L.

Ogive

Primer

Type

Charge



H-40-H322-5

0.204

Nosler

1.834"

0.229"

1.557"

2.285"

1.922"

CCI BR4

H322

23.0