remaking/duplicating an unknown load in 204 ruger

[Julian537]

I bought a nice gun in 204 ruger. It came with the dies and 200 rounds of 204 ruger only about 50 of them are still loaded. Neither one of the bullet cases has any information on it. I would like to duplicate this round. So far, I have pulled the bullet and weighed it. 40 Gr. It is black and moly coated. After scraping away the moly, it has a red ballistic tip. Appears to be 40 gr Hornady V-max. I weighed the powder charge, and it came in at 30.2 gr. I also found one of the fired cases had 30.2 written on it with a marks-a-lot.

The powder is a ball powder with different size shiny spheres. WHAT could it be? H-322, H-335 ? any other suggestions? I have ruled out H-322, because they do not list it in my 3 reloading manuals for the 40 gr bullets. H-335 is listed, but max load is 28.5.

Could he have loaded these with more powder, due to the moly?

Later this week, I will be shooting this load over the crony. This should tell me more about the round. Even if I dont know what the powder is, I can at least duplicate the speed of this round. I have some hBN coming and will lube some 40gr V-max with it and some moly. I will shoot them at my current powder load of 28.3 (H-335) and see if the moly or hBN drops my speed signifigantly. If so, I will work my way up and see if I can duplicate this round.

I will be using the bullet comparator to seat the new reloaded rounds to the same OAL as the unknown round.

Please share your thoughts? Am I going down the right path? Should I do something different?

 

[Swampman]

I assume that you have no idea who loaded the rounds you're shooting? Otherwise you could just ask.

Why the need to duplicate that particular load?

Even if it's super accurate, another load you develope may do better.

It's a good bet that the powder isn't H322, since H322 is an extruded powder.

It could be H335, but there are dozens of ball powders out there that look very similar. It may not even be a standard "canister grade" powder, it could just as easily be surplus or pulled military powder.

Could he have loaded these with more powder, due to the moly?

Possibly, but 1.7 grains seems like a lot of extra powder for that small a case, charge weight and bore.

There's only a one grain difference between my moly and naked 100 grain bullet loads in a .257 Roberts Improved, and that's burning close to twice as much powder.

Assuming that you have a reasonable amount of experience reloading for HP rifle, your methodology seems sound. But I am a little worried about your goal.

Personally, I only know of two people who's handloads I'll shoot, my son and myself. Honestly, until he proved himself over a number of years, it was just me.

I think it's a really bad idea to shoot handloads loaded by unknown people under unknown conditions with unknown levels of experience and BAC.

Hopefully someone who knows a lot more about the .204 Ruger than I do will be along soon.

 

[Sunray]

"...could just as easily be surplus or pulled military powder..." If you suspect that is the case, pull 'em all and pitch the powder.
Since you have no idea what powder it is (you cannot tell anything about a powder by just looking at it.), you should pull the 50 and load 'em yourself. Do not use other peoples reloads.
40 Gr. is the only part that matters. You load for the bullet weight, not a coating or who made it.

 

[gamestalker]

^^^ Both replies above are sound advice.

GS

 

[Clint M]

The large part of finding accuracy in a rifle is a bullet weight/type, and it looks like you have found that in the 40grv-max, but double check to make sure the bullet weight etc. All you should have to do now is look up load data for the cartridge, and pick a suitable powder, maybe search a little more finding what works best with the particular cartridge/bullet combo.

You mentioned having a chronograph which should make it even easier, find the velocity of the load you are shooting, then working up a load with new powder try to find that velocity while keeping under maximum charge weight, work 1gr above, and 1gr below in small increments after you have determined desired velocity/powder charge this should give you a quality handload.

Record the bullet seating depth, if you have a chronograph, the known bullet, and the rifle it should be easy to duplicate or better the loads you are now shooting. Work up to max load, work up at least .5 gr above the load you plan to shoot looking for pressure signs. Pay extra attention as pressure can/will sky rocket in a small case, small bore.

 

[Ifishsum]

I use BL-C(2) in the .204, with 40gr VMax I use 29.5gr which was slightly under max IIRC. It's all academic really, as unless you know for sure you shouldn't trust that is is so, but BL-C(2) is a possibility based on your description and the load (with a slight bump for the moly).

 

[scythefwd]

bcl2 is ball powder and has a max charge of 30 grs..