pet loads for a Savage LP Varmint in 204?

[ccoker]

just picked up one up and bought a few factory Hornady 40g boxes to break it in and for the brass

first few rounds were touching at 100 yards, cool

I will be using Varget and have read the published load data

anyone have a pet load for one of these using the 40g Hornady pills?

I will probably start in the middle of the powder range and set the COL to the same as the factory...

thanks in advance

[pigkiller]

My Savage VLP doesn't like the 40g v-max at all. So I'm not much help there. My favorite hunting load has been the 32g v-max with 27.5 g H322 which is MAX. They will go an average of 3950fps. and will shoot 1/2" groups consistently. Tried some 39g Blitz Kings yesterday and all I can say is WOW!! What a difference, the 40g v-max would be luck to be under an 1" while the two groups of 39g BK could be cover with a dime at 100yds. Tried Varget and Benchmark with the 39 both did really well, although they were relatively slower at 3600 fps. Time to tweak this one to see if it performs consistently. Good Luck!

Scott

[Ifishsum]

I've used Varget in the .204 with good results but I tend toward BL-C(2) because the accuracy is just as good and the velocity is better.  In both cases the best loads were right at or a half grain shy of book max, and my 12FV shoots the 40gr pills just as well as the 30-35s.

My best groups ever were with Varget and a Berger 40gr HP - 3 consecutive 5 shot groups averaging .4 @100 yds.  I was shooting really well that day and haven't been able to quite duplicate the feat....too bad they won't feed from the mag into the barrel without hanging up or I'd use it as a coyote round.

[Old English]

Pigkiller, I use Varget and Benchmark myself. Your groups looked superb but I couldn't read the data. Could you post the details? Thanks