New Gun And Reloads Differently Than Other Calibers I have.

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AccurateWayz

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New Gun And Reloads Differently Than Other Calibers I have.
I recently bought a Rem 700 in 204 Ruger and I got to say its much different than other calibers I reload for. Plus Needs its own tools since most tools are made for 22cal and up.. ANYWAY my question is since 204's have such a big jump to the lands and you want your cartridge generally around .02" from the lands and if I did this the bullet has almost no part in the case. (Using the Hornady OAL Gauge to discover this) I was wondering what is the minimum amount of bullet you can have in the case so it holds safe enough but yet gives me the most Length I can get? BTW I am new to this site and exited to find it! My Set-up should hopefully give me under an inch groups at 500 yards so its great to find new techniques!! :cool:
 
LOL!!

Ok, I'll answer one of your questions... the minimum length of bullet in the case is the minimum length that allows you to pick it up without the bullet falling out. There are no "safety" issues, just the mess of rounds coming apart if the bullets tend to fall out of the reloaded case.

You get that BadBoy down there where it holds under an inch at 500yds and you best find yerself some competitions and go clean house until that barrel wears out. Schucks, with even one inch groups at 500yds you'd be in the running with most guys! 'At's downright com'petitive right thar!

:)

al
 
I had the same concerns as you when trying to seat the bullets to the lands. Had some fall out when using 32 gr. V-max bullets. I read Todd Kindler's book The Terrific Twenties, Had my Rem 700 trued and rebarreled, stocked and a Jewel trigger placed. Went with a Tactical Twenty caliber. No trouble reaching the lands with lots of bullet in the neck. Now it is a great shooting Praire Dog rifle out to about 500 yds and you can see the bullets hit. Love that. After you barrel gets shot out, you might consider doing that to your rifle. Be sure to use a Benchrest quality gun smith. Have fun and good shooting Don
 
Amen to what Al and Jackie said.

About all I shoot anymore is paper and prairie dogs, and although I'm sure that shooting prairie dogs at 500 yards is done, I'd be willing to bet that it's not a one shot one kill proposition. Don't want to start an argument, but when the wind is blowing over broken ground at unknown speeds even 300 yards is pretty far out for me anyway. If the wind isn't blowing it's some easier though.
 
Well Thanx thanx for the replies I preety much spent my life savings on a piece of shot I guess. I thought i did plenty of research on the caliber but i guess not :(
 
If you based your purchase of the Rem. 700 .204 based on what you read on the internet I can see why you are disappointed.
This is the best site I have been on for getting accurate usable information. Some of the other sites have people blowing smoke and shooting
keyboard groups and I suspect that is the only kind of groups they shoot.
The Rem. 700 is a nice foundation to build a rifle and a lot of them shoot decent hunting type groups, but, if you want bench rest quality you have
to buy benchrest quality.
The .204 is a good cartridge and even with the long jump will shoot good enough to shoot most of the prairie dogs you see. As Larry Elliot said, "I'm sure that shooting prarie dogs a 500 yards is done." However I venture a guess that most prairie are shot at less than 400 yds. and beyond 300 yds. the kill ratio drops
way below 70%.
I have shot prairie dogs for over 40 years and would bet 80% of what I shot was under 250 yds. and I will not embarass myself by telling how much I have missed.
I have had the best accuracy out of my Rem. XR-100 .204 using Benchmark Powder, Win. SR primers and Sierra 39 gr. Blitzking or Hornady 40 gr. V-Max. The Sierra shoot better but the Hornady blow up better.
 
Honestly assuming I find the perfect load what can I expect at 200 and 500 yards out of this gun. And also what can you expect from the 204 in general. Did I waste money?
Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .204 Ruger
Leupold Cross Slot Base and Rings
Leupold VX-3 CDS Scope 4.5-14

My last gun I bought was a Browning X-Bolt Medalian and I love it just wish they had it in 204
 
Unless something is wrong with the barrel I would expect no greater than one inch groups at 200 yds and two and one half inch groups at 500. But to qualify that statement, it would be under ideal conditions including no wind, proper rest and proper shooting technique. Remember that even a slight breeze and especially if it is gusty or switching will wreak havoc on groups, the longer the range the more havoc.
Shooting groups under one half inch at 100 yds is much easier than shooting one inch groups at 200 yds if it is windy.
Shoot it and have some fun, you will be surprised what you can hit if you are using it for a hunting rifle.

Has the barrel been free floated, the action bedded, trigger worked on or replaced, scope rings lapped, and more things than you can imagine that will help?
 
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