.204 and TAC powder

G

getemduck

New member
OK i've been trying to find some recipes for the .204 tac powder and a .40 berger bullet. Berger tells me the max load is 26.1 so I started at 25.1 and worked up to 26.1 the 25 grouped much nicer but I read of people going up to 27 and 28.0 with TAC and getting nice groups.

So what are you guys running as a charge?
 
Are you sure that they are going that much with the 40's? Maybe they are going that high with the 35's. Either way, your gun may not like the 40gr Bergers.
 
I have a remington vtr with a 24" barrel, it did pretty good with the 40's and 25gr but opened up a ton at 26 on another forum a guy said it will tighten back up at 27 but I'm thinking that is a pretty hot charge and more then I need so I'm just wondering what others are using.

Thanks
 
I choose to not go over max loads, period! IMO, I think you should go back down to the 25grs and maybe play with the seating depth of the bullet or next chance you get pick up some 35gr Bergers. I use Ramshot X-Terminator for my 40gr pills with a charge of 26grs. 26.3 is the max suggested and I start getting nice groups around 25.6grs and after 26.1grs they start opening back up some. What primers are you using? Might try switching them up, also.
 
Over on Ramshot.com they list 27.0gr. as max for the 40 gr. Vmax. I know yo're talking about a berger but I thought I would throw that out as a reference. Given that, I think I might go higher slowly looking for pressure signs. All rifles are different so proceed with caution.
 
Mine liked TAC but with a 32 grainer.. Otherwise it is IMR3031 o IMR4895 so far.. N140 wasn't bad but the velocity sucked.
 
Ganderman, I take the majority of my reloading info from my Lyman manual. I also usually take the info from the manufacture of the bullets I choose and compare them. I have downloaded Bergers reloading info and come up with a max load of 26.3grs for the 40gr BT. I will also try to compare info from the powder manufacture I choose. I have no reason to push my reloads to extreme velocities. I do not use a chrony & when hunting, neither I nor the coyote can notice the difference in a couple hundred feet per second. I simply go for the most accurate loads for my rifle!
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Originally Posted By: Ricky Bobby. I have no reason to push my reloads to extreme velocities. I do not use a chrony & when hunting, neither I nor the coyote can notice the difference in a couple hundred feet per second. I simply go for the most accurate loads for my rifle!
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Ricky you're missing out on one of they key components of developing an accurate round. Consistant velocity or what is known as ES[extreme spread]. Without a chrono you will never know how consistant the velocity of your round is. Consistant velocity = tight groups generally . Nor will you be able to calculate trajectory..
 
Zilla, wouldn't it be safe to say or assume that when working up test loads and finding one that groups consistantly, that if you then shot it through a chrono it would more than likely show consistant readings? I'm just asking because I have no experience with one. I know that there are alot of folks out there reloading without them, just like me! I'm not going to say I never will use one, but at this point I'm only concerned with having good results on my targets. The velocity of my rounds isn't one of my concerns. Atleast right now! Also, I can look up velocity's in my manuals and somewhat have an idea of what one load might be doing compared to another, right? I guess perhaps I could be missing the whole point!
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Getumduck, I don't load over max due to the fact that I usually find my most accurate loads .4-.7gr below published max loads and hot loads tend to deteriorate my brass and potentially, my barrels...

That being said, there is nothing wrong with cautious upping the powder charge in search of an accurate load, as long as you accept the potential risks and check each round as you near max for excessive pressure signs...Keep your powder increases in .1gr increments, as more will drastically change the danger potential..

As suggested, in the .204, you might want to investigate changing primers, before moving to the extreme load spectrum...While standard small rifle primers work well in my .223, my .204 does much better with magnum primers...Seat your bullets long enough to just fit in your magazine to start and reduce by .002" at a time, if you find a group that shows promise..
 
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyZilla, wouldn't it be safe to say or assume that when working up test loads and finding one that groups consistantly, that if you then shot it through a chrono it would more than likely show consistant readings? I'm just asking because I have no experience with one. I know that there are alot of folks out there reloading without them, just like me! I'm not going to say I never will use one, but at this point I'm only concerned with having good results on my targets. The velocity of my rounds isn't one of my concerns. Atleast right now! Also, I can look up velocity's in my manuals and somewhat have an idea of what one load might be doing compared to another, right? I guess perhaps I could be missing the whole point!
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Ricky that's a whole nuther subject and I do not wanna hi-jack this thread. Lets just say i have found the book velocity to be generic at best and usually not accurate. You may find a good load without a chrono, but it is easier with one..
 
I have shot mostly TAC out of 3 204's..... i have also shot RL10X, h322, 4895 vn140. the combination of speed, accuracy, price and clean burning keeps leading me back to TAC... plus I do not have time to try different loads like i used to....Ramshot used to list 29.0 TAC with a 32 gr bullet.... I have loaded and shot that.. on two PD trips... too close to being too hot for me... max for me is 28.6 with 32's now....... the 27.0 recommended for 39 gr seems mild to me..... but shoots good.... I have not shot over that with 39 gr sierras.... 40 v-max do not shoot well for me... I have been shooting 27.8 TAC with 34 gr dogtown bullets....
 
Quote:I have loaded and shot that.. on two PD trips... too close to being too hot for me...ILMO,,,,Did you consider that when you get into a PD field/town, the sun usually will heat up any ammo that is sitting out and that can increase the pressure in the cartridges...

Usually, when we go, we keep our ammo in one of those cheap styrofoam coolers to cut down on the heat transfer problem..On our first trip, we learned not to load our ammo very far in advance of when we went, as stuff that was loaded in the Winter, could change pretty drastically when we actually started shooting it and it, on occasion, resulted in bolts that were on the verge of sticking...That's one of the reasons, aside from accuracy, that I seldom will load to near max data...

I will use X-Terminator and Winchester 748 for my .204s and reserve the TAC for my heavier bullets in the .223s...
 
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