Seating depth test with the 204 Ruger...may need a mulligan

It was windy, may need to revisit this test...Overall I'm pretty happy.

[@alandavis5975]

I read an article on EAbrown I think that Berger is recommending a big jump on one of these bullets. That could be why the 44k was the group.

[@PileofBrass]

Definitely go with your .023 depth. That is a confirmed node with broader window. As your rifling moves forward, you will move into the tighter .026 window and still shoot great. The .044 depth is too tight a window and as your rifling moves, you will open up your groups.

[@PileofBrass]

Little late to this video and I know you've been concerned about wind with the .204 however, the .204 is so fast that it's post-barrel dwell time really minimizes windage inside of 100 yards UNLESS, you are experiencing a full value wind of +10 or more steady, at 100. My opinion of course but I have the .204 and have shot it a lot on the range and on Prairie Dog towns. Now, ranges over 100 yds with the same conditions and you'll start seeing a notable cumulative effect. Great video.

[@artfranz2273]

I agree with what you’re saying, it’s always nice to get your groups tighter, and you need to do what you think is right to accomplish that. So do up another batch of those pairs of groups-of-three, and see what happens when the wind dies off. I love my 204 as well, they are fun to shoot, it’s super annoying that they are so wind sensitive.

[@andy347495]

For ultimate accuracy and consistency I would use the .023-.026 off since it has the biggest window. I bet there is a good chance that if you fine tuned the powder your groups would get even smaller. But, since you have mag length issues you have to decide and hopefully that small window holds true. For shooting in the wind at a 100 yds I usually consider a anything vertical to be the load.

[@Rucksack57]

Man you got it down. Your doing great. Go with the 44k .125 group. Wind is wind every body misses. Enjoy the good hits.

[@pawild5594]

Thanks 👍

[@aaronunterseher1627]

44k is a vertical string... Good for short range grouping but you add range you'll feel it

[@pawild5594]

@@aaronunterseher1627 ya this was the first of 2 videos

[@jamespollard1670]

I'd reshoot on the first calm day the ones you're talking . Confirmation is needed .

[@Thorsaxe777]

Haha.. Maybe our study should be on the Coriolis effect. since the big bang, our universe has been riding waves of kinetic motion that is not consistent, Just like a leaf on the water riding waves, the surface tension, angle, and motion has an effect on its gravity. sense the Big Bang, things have moved further and further apart from the center of gravity, thus their speed in which they move accelerates and the universe expands. The speed is inconsistent as other factors, the gravitational pull of other bodies of mass (Planets changing their adjustments) has a minute effect on the speed of the universe spins. I believe this is the root cause of flyers and is overlooked by our community. -Dave

[@Rucksack57]

I had a .243 loved it. Dumped it when the .204 came out. It was all about economy. The .204 shoots hotter than the .223. The cost to reload is about the same. I had a 17 Remington it was fun but the Brass was expensive. I shoot a lot and the .204 make sense. I mostly kill ground squirrels. I tried on coyote, fox and Bobcat. It works great on all three. I keep it under 400 yards on Squirrels mostly. Having six rifles does drive me nuts having to keep the ammo separated. It is hard to give up a good shooting rifle. I live in California now I have to deal with the non lead issue. I have been using air rifle a lot lately they are quite. I would love to be able to use a silencer.

[@pawild5594]

What lead free bullets are you using for he 204? I'm wondering if that would help with blowing up foxes.

[@alainmiclette7634]

If you can borrow a speed check and correlate speed spreads with groupings perhaps it would indicate better which way to go, the second to last is the black sheep, was it fluke or not...

[@trevorkolmatycki4042]

For a hunting rifle clearly you must disqualify OAL that does not fit in your magazine. Don't even bother testing those. Start with the max OAL that fits your mag but is also > .020 shy of jam.

[@pawild5594]

Ya that's exactly what I do, check out the next video I talk about this in it.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Shooting very well. Way accurate for hunting. Shoot at 300 and see if you and the rifle can hold MOA. Collect dope data. It'll be more essential than load data at 100

[@pawild5594]

Definitely will be taking it to 300, once I get a dialed load at 100.

[@boydallen8059]

Question: Were you using wind flags? Have you considered that using some approximation of touch that is relatively repeatable might be a better approach when testing jump? Jam can vary with several factors, neck tension, bullet shank engagement in the neck, and the condition of the inside of necks.

[@pawild5594]

No wind flags, I think this method of finding jam and testing seating from there is the best way. You want your neck tension to be repeatable but even if it's not at some point your jam point is going to max out. I'm working with groups starting at 0.020"off of jam and moving away. Anyway there are more videos on this rifle, I've got it tuned really well. It is still performing great.

[@dhooter]

The 44k?

[@messcrank2693]

Barrel temps seem to affect my .204 print pattern considerably. Just curious if your allowing any cool down between shots.

[@pawild5594]

I really don't pecker around with it, if the barrel is hot to the touch I'll give it a few minutes but I don't wait around much. Keep in mind this is a hand lapped barrel, so it doesn't heat up like a factory barrel would. My Remington 243 gets really hot after about 6 shots.

[@6handicap604]

Perhaps I heard wrong, 20 thou off jam won't fit in the mag? Hard to believe that, factory ammo would not fit at all. Can't believe you have mags that won't accept sammi spec ammo.

[@pawild5594]

Saami spec ammo is fine, 20k off of Jam is way longer than Saami.

[@6handicap604]

@@pawild5594 Yup, sorry was thinking backwards, HEY its Monday. In my experience there are several seating depth nodes, my dasher runs about 45 thou apart. you should be able to find a depth that will work in the mags, depending on the bullet. I am running 65 off jam with Berger Hybrids,, which are not suppose to like to jump Groups are equal in size to 20 thou and 5 thou jam, the other nodes I found. Good luck to you.

[@pawild5594]

yup i did just that, the last video in this series covers the seating depth testing for mag length. That's my experience too, there are several seating depth nodes for a given bullet/load combo. Thanks for watching bud, i have more videos planned hopefully supplies become available soon.

[@pony_4759]

How will it shoot in the cold ? shorter may be better in the cold !! Just sayin , Good Luck !

[@pawild5594]

We'll see, 8208XBR IS temp stable and I have more than enough twist for that little pill. Current test is 1.3gn below max, this should guard against over pressure too.

[@ivobiancucci4528]

I load my Berger's coal 2.253 Tikka T3

[@aaronunterseher1627]

I'd vote 38k... Your horizontal rather then verticle and your shots are gonna be touching given human error.... My opinion if your strickley looking to fit it into the gun..

[@markmiles9581]

If your hunting with this rifle, just go hunt.

[@rogue5643]

R u in competition or a hunter ? The first group will kill every single thing you shoot.