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

[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