.204 loading quandary

Perhaps I can get some help with you more experienced loaders. I've been reloading for about 5 years, 7mm-8, .223 (lots), .380 acp, 45 acp, 357 and 38spl. I just got a 12 FV in .204 ruger and I'm experiencing something I've not experienced before. The first 20 rounds was with Hornady factory loads cleaning after every third shot. Got my scope sighted in by third shot. Next day I tried some hand loads: 40 gr vmax, new and resized Win brass, cci 400 primers and started at 26.9 grains of imr4895 and went up .3 increments. starting with the 27.2 loads i noticed high pressures signs with the primers, ridges around the firing pin strikes. The 27.5 loads flattened primers as well so I stopped. These loads where under the Hodgden manuals max. I came home and rechecked the load data online and in my Hornady manual. So after some reading I was thinking maybe excessive head space but the factory loads looked very normal and shot very well (3/4" 3 shots). So then I thought maybe over resizing? Well here where it got weird for me and my limited knowledge, I tried chambering some of the fired factory cases with firing pin assembly removed from bolt and they were tight as expected. All of the fired reload cases went in as if the chamber was empty. I plan to order go-no go gauges and set of bump gauges but I never had a need previously. I load for three different .223 bolt rifles using different brass, bullet, powder, and primer combinations and never experienced anything close to this. Can anyone enlighten me? Please?
thanx

in my hornady manual for the .204 with 40 gr vmax and h4895 max load is 26.7 gr. looks like you started over max.

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Originally Posted by m12lrs

in my hornady manual for the .204 with 40 gr vmax and h4895 max load is 26.7 gr. looks like you started over max.

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I'm using IMR4895 and Hodgdon is 26.0 - 27.8.

I see hodgdon lists a 205m primer with the imr4895 load recipe where you show you are using a CCI 400, that could be the culprit.
Then again, some barrels just plain max out sooner than others therefore the reason for a starting load of 26.0 grs and "work up toward" max.

People really need to stop staring at brass and primers as some Deity in toast. Please tell me you chronographed the loads rather than just loading an amount in your manual?

Canister grade powders can have some.... Interesting, lot variations; that's why everyone prints a caution about "drop loads by 10% when switching lots". The specific charge weight you used may well be over pressure if the burning rate isn't identical to the book data. Since that book data doesn't list lot numbers tested, and by virtue of Hodgdon not doing much in house testing anyway.... Gotta know how fast they are running compared to book data, to know burning rate and thus pressure.

i've got the same gun and similar issues, check out my thread here:
http://204ruger.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11619


I don't know if IMR4895 and H4895 are the same but if they are, it appears you are over max on the powder charge.

I've read several comments about the CCI 400's having a thin cup and are not strong enough for the 204 except for milder loads. The Hornady manual I have states they used the Rem 7 1/2 primer. I've read several comments that the CCI 450's and BR 4's and 205M's will work better due to thicker cup, but no 1st hand experience. I've got limited reloading experience as well, so.....

Check out the 204 Ruger forum, some smart people there as well and hopefully will point you in the right direction.

They are not the same powder.
One is from Thales in Australia, the other General Dynamics from the Quebec plant.

Thanks jpx2rk. I also found this old thread out there:
http://www.predatormastersforums.com...&Number=404146

those primers in the photo looks just like mine. I do have some Fed 205m and cci SR magnum and BR-4 to try.

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Originally Posted by mondront

Thanks jpx2rk. I also found this old thread out there:
http://www.predatormastersforums.com...&Number=404146

those primers in the photo looks just like mine. I do have some Fed 205m and cci SR magnum and BR-4 to try.

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Did your primers look like those on the predatormasters thread or like the ones shown in my pics??

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Originally Posted by jpx2rk

Did your primers look like those on the predatormasters thread or like the ones shown in my pics??

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predatormasters. I went out with the same loads and shoot groups of 3 with the only change being the primers. I used BR4's and no problems at all. I had one group at 0.197. made a nice mickey mouse. So I will try some CFE223 loads next and some around that imr4895 load that was so good. Once I get the best 100 yrd group of those two I'll move to 200... then 300 yards and test.

mondront I am on my 3rd 204 now and have loaded many rounds for them. I learned long ago that CCI400's will not work for the 204, I use CCI450 with out any trouble. My guns shot so good with 32 gr VMAX that is all I use with BLC-2 powder.

thanks BTB. yeah the 204 is new to me so it will take a little time to learn the ups and downs. So far the BR4's are doing well. I loaded some more 39SBKs with imr4895 and some with CFE223 to test Thursday. I took the day off to get a little range time because weekends this time of year either you get there by 6:30 - 7:30 or you wait hours for a bench. My luck: they are calling for rain and 14 mph winds now.... should have taken tomorrow :( instead. oh well I may load up some 9mm and 380 instead.

Mondront I am lucky I have my loading room in the basement and beside it I have a garage door that I open to a 160 yd range. I can load 5 or 10 rounds, set up Chrono and test them. Them go back to the the other side and reload them. I also have a shooting bench right inside the garage door. I have been loading since 1964 and still do not know everything.I used 1 of the 204s in several egg shoots and did real well.

Man that is sooooo super awesome. I dream of that we leave in a town that calls itself a city and no shooting. Not so many years ago we could jump in our truck and drive 5 minutes in about any direction, walk in the woods and shoot all we wanted. Now days we have so few places. Nearest range is 45 minutes drive and what farm land that hasn't been sub divided mostly belong to folks that moved in from other states and are a bit hostile to us country bumpkins that likes those guns. The wife and I are hoping we can get a little land before retirement but the implants have driven the cost up probably out of our reach.

My model 12 was not real fond of the 40 grain V-max but it loves the 39 grian Sierra BK. Like others have mentioned it likes the CCI #450 primer the best. I run 27 grains of H335 for the most accurate load but another node right around 28 is fast but not quite as accurate. Of course start low and work up. I also hang the bullet out quite a bit and think I'm about .010" off the lands.