My 20 Cal Reloading Results

[JamieZ]

Im sure there isnt many of us but I believe I know a couple that use 20 cal and they both predator hunt. Shoots100 and Tisto.

I know Shoots100 reloads but not sure of Tisto.

Anyways,, This weekend I had the need for speed, so I loaded up some 26gr Barnes Varmint Grenades using IMR XBR8208.

I love this powder. Max loads give me my most accurate rounds. All loads were shot through a Seekins AR with a Lilja 20" 12 twist barrel. Cal. is .204

26gr Bullet with 29.5 grs of IMR 8208= 4150fps (very accurate)

32gr V-max with 29grs of IMR 8208=3900fps (very accurate)

32gr Sierra Blitzking 29grs of IMR 8208= 3975fps (very accurate)


I remember measuring 32gr V-max Super Performance manufactured rounds out of this same barrel and I wasnt getting the velocity Im getting with the IMR8208
Its a great powder and labeled temperature stable.

Just thought I would let others know

 

[Deplorable Me]

Love those velocities.

 

[JamieZ]

Love those velocities.

I love them too!! Its the biggest reason why I leave the thermal on the 204. because those speeds make it a flat shooter and its hard for me to judge range with thermal at night. I have no more than a 2.9 inch difference from 25yds out to 300yds.

Target: Slope angle, degrees: 0.0 Cartridge: 8208 Grenade, 26.0 gr., Barnes Zero offset: 0.00/0.00 MOA Velocity, corrected to current temperature, f/s: 4150 Ballistic coefficient: 0.131 (G1) Bullet weight, grains: 26.0 Bullet length, inches: 0.636 Bullet diameter, inches: 0.204 Adding spin drift to results: OFF Adding vertical deflection of crosswind to results: OFF Adding Coriolis effect to results: OFF Gyroscopic stability Factor: 0.88

Rifle: 204 Ruger AR Zero Distance, yards: 50.0 Twist Rate, inches: 12.0 (Right hand twist) Scope height, inches: 2.5 Vert. click, MRAD: 3.4 (11.69 MOA) Hor. click, MRAD: 3.4 (11.69 MOA) Reticle: #4, Super Hogster, Bering Optics Reticle is in the Second Focal Plane (SFP) Min. magnification: 2.9 Ranging magnification: 2.9 Max. magnification: 11.6 Current magnification: 11.6 Zeroing weather. Enabled Humidity, %: 87.0 Temperature, °F: 28.0 Pressure, inHg: 29.63

Weather Temperature, °F: 36.0 Humidity, %: 88.0 Pressure, inHg: 29.37 Wind speed, mph: 0.0 Wind direction, degrees: 48.0

Distance, yards​	Elevation, inch​
25.0​	U1.2​
50.0​	D0.0​
75.0​	D1.0​
100.0​	D1.8​
125.0​	D2.4​
150.0​	D2.8​
175.0​	D2.9​
200.0​	D2.8​
225.0​	D2.2​
250.0​	D1.3​
275.0​	U0.1​
300.0​	U2.1​
325.0​	U4.7​
350.0​	U8.0​
375.0​	U12.0​
400.0​	U17.2​

 

[Shoots100]

I love my 20 practical and like you, reload to get the most out of it.
I use H4198, as I like to use the heavier projectiles.
I was able to push a 40gr Vmax and NBT fast enough to disintegrate about 10 ft from the muzzle.
With plenty of room in the case for more speed, I'm all set if someone makes a solid 20 cal projectile that I can maybe push to 5,000 fps !
I ended up settling at 4,100 fps, because as you said, no holdover needed out to 300.
Super accurate, minimal recoil, but if I keep shooting over the 4k velocity, I'll need to re barrel in a couple of years.
If we didn't live in a prison state, I would've built a 20 practical SA to compliment my bolt rifle.
Your always going to lose some speed with a SA rifle.
Hope to see pics of some coyotes you've shot with your newest loads soon.

 

[Tisto]

You're correct, I do shoot a .204 Ruger. I have two of them. The first one I bought is a TC Venture bolt action, all decked out in snow camo. It has a 5R barrel, and it shoots wonderfully. Unfortunately, I found it impossible to mount my nightvision scope on. That lead me to build a .204 rifle on an AR15 platform. I used a 18"stainless barrel from Wilson Combat. Originally, I had some issues with it not cycling correctly. It would shoot incredibly well, but would short-stroke the bolt. The BCG would travel rearward far enough to eject the shell, but not far enough to strip a new case from the magazine. It didn't matter what ammunition I used, either. I tried various weight buffers, and replaced the original adjustable gas block with a non adjustable one, but it continued to short cycle. I wound up sending the complete upper to Wilson Combat. They wound up drilling the gas port out and sent it back. Since then, I have had no cycling issues, but I have lost some accuracy. Not enough to matter to a coyote, but on paper, it's a little disappointing because I know how well it shot before.

As far as reloading, yes, I do reload. I've been reloading for over 40 years. The .204 Ruger happens to be one of the few cartridges I don't currently load for. I have been saving brass since the first box of ammo I bought, so I have a few hundred pieces of it on the shelf, but I got a smoking deal on a 1000 round case of ammo a while ago. Both of my guns seem to prefer the 40 gr V max load from Hornady. Some day I'll come across a great deal on dies, and I'll go down that road, but for now I hunt with factory ammo. Besides, I'm still trying to find pet loads for a couple other guns. It might be a higher priority if I shot the .204 more than just hunting.

 

[Xae289]

Very cool. I just learned about the .204 Ruger on Vortex's podcast. Seems like a sweet round to load for and shoot. Those are some real screamer velocity readings.

 

[JamieZ]

You're correct, I do shoot a .204 Ruger. I have two of them. The first one I bought is a TC Venture bolt action, all decked out in snow camo. It has a 5R barrel, and it shoots wonderfully. Unfortunately, I found it impossible to mount my nightvision scope on. That lead me to build a .204 rifle on an AR15 platform. I used a 18"stainless barrel from Wilson Combat. Originally, I had some issues with it not cycling correctly. It would shoot incredibly well, but would short-stroke the bolt. The BCG would travel rearward far enough to eject the shell, but not far enough to strip a new case from the magazine. It didn't matter what ammunition I used, either. I tried various weight buffers, and replaced the original adjustable gas block with a non adjustable one, but it continued to short cycle. I wound up sending the complete upper to Wilson Combat. They wound up drilling the gas port out and sent it back. Since then, I have had no cycling issues, but I have lost some accuracy. Not enough to matter to a coyote, but on paper, it's a little disappointing because I know how well it shot before.

As far as reloading, yes, I do reload. I've been reloading for over 40 years. The .204 Ruger happens to be one of the few cartridges I don't currently load for. I have been saving brass since the first box of ammo I bought, so I have a few hundred pieces of it on the shelf, but I got a smoking deal on a 1000 round case of ammo a while ago. Both of my guns seem to prefer the 40 gr V max load from Hornady. Some day I'll come across a great deal on dies, and I'll go down that road, but for now I hunt with factory ammo. Besides, I'm still trying to find pet loads for a couple other guns. It might be a higher priority if I shot the .204 more than just hunting.

Think I have previously asked you this question but dont remember. What twists are the barrels that like 40gr bullets? Are they 12?

 

[Shoots100]

I have a Criterion 1-11 twist on my bolt rifle.

 

[Tisto]

Very cool. I just learned about the .204 Ruger on Vortex's podcast. Seems like a sweet round to load for and shoot. Those are some real screamer velocity readings.

Oh, no doubt. Factory 40gr Vmax ammo is registering right around 3700 fps muzzle velocity as measured by my LabRadar chronograph from the TC, and only slightly slower from the AR. That's screaming. I'm rather convinced that I could push that even faster if I reloaded. Accurate 2520 looks like a good place to start. Win 748 as well.

I really like the little cartridge. It doesn't have tremendous range because of the very light bullet weights, but inside 200 yards it really plants whatever you hit. I have yet to get a good hit on a coyote that it didn't stop dead in it's tracks. It will turn a woodchuck inside out. What's really surprisingly nice is that it doesn't produce that ear splitting crack like a hyped up 5.56 round does. It seems ( to me ) like the report is much more tame. Good news for those of us that have hearing issues already.

 

[Tisto]

Think I have previously asked you this question but dont remember. What twists are the barrels that like 40gr bullets? Are they 12?

I'll look at them when I get home from work and let you know. I remember buying 2 boxes of every ammo I could find and putting them all on paper at 100 yds to compare, and both of them preferred the 40gr. I was hoping the 45 would shoot well, but it didn't. There was another one that shot well too. It was the 33 gr double hollow point from HSM. I still have a couple boxes of that on the shelf. Everything else got turned into once fired brass for future use.

 

[JamieZ]

Oh, no doubt. Factory 40gr Vmax ammo is registering right around 3700 fps muzzle velocity as measured by my LabRadar chronograph from the TC, and only slightly slower from the AR. That's screaming. I'm rather convinced that I could push that even faster if I reloaded. Accurate 2520 looks like a good place to start. Win 748 as well.

I really like the little cartridge. It doesn't have tremendous range because of the very light bullet weights, but inside 200 yards it really plants whatever you hit. I have yet to get a good hit on a coyote that it didn't stop dead in it's tracks. It will turn a woodchuck inside out. What's really surprisingly nice is that it doesn't produce that ear splitting crack like a hyped up 5.56 round does. It seems ( to me ) like the report is much more tame. Good news for those of us that have hearing issues already.

I have a linear muzzle brake on my AR and it pushes all the sound forward. Does it work like a brake is suppose to, barely but thats not why I put it on. I wanted to save my ears and it works excellent for that. Have one on every AR I have. Besides, 204 barely kicks anyways, so there is really no reason to have a brake work like its suppose to for muzzle jump.

Same here when it comes to knock down power. Out of the few coyotes Ive shot,, only one ran after being knocked down and it only went 25yds before it dropped again. Ive never had a fox take another step. Im thinking the speed of 204/20 cal has the knock down power because of hydrostatic shock.

 

[Shoots100]

My 40grn 20 cal load has never disappointed me, but I usually keep my shots within 100 yards.
I've never tried the lighter weight projos, as I was told that the 1-11 twist was made for 36-40 grain pills.
After load testing, I don't think I could possibly get anything more accurate, so I bought a lot of 36 + 40 grn projos and am putting them to good use.

 

[Tisto]

Think I have previously asked you this question but dont remember. What twists are the barrels that like 40gr bullets? Are they 12?

The TC Venture sports a 1-10 twist.
The Wilson combat barrel is stamped 1-12.

I don't know how much difference it makes, but the TC has 5R rifling while the Wilson has a standard cut ( I'm assuming button rifled 6 groove right hand twist )

Neither rifle has any sort of muzzle device. Both are recessed target crowned.

 

[Tisto]

If you ever find it, buy a box or two of that HSM ammo with 33gr Calhoon double hollow points. I remember shooting a woodchuck and one coyote with it and they both were turned into vapor. Not exactly fur friendly, but if you're on a seek and destroy mission instead of taking home fur, they are impressive. I only ever saw it a few places though. Not easy to find.