need advice on bullet seating depth for .204 Ruger

[p5200]

With my Savage 10fp .223 and also my Tikka 25-06, I used my Hornady OAL gauge along with the bullet comparator and seated the bullets .010" off the lands and got pretty good groups. Using the same tools except,for the modified .204 case as I did with the other two calibers I found that the 39grn. Sierra Blitzking bullet was barely in the modified case when I went to take the measurement to the ogive. This is with the Rem. 700 vtr for sure I'm going to have to back off way further than .010" my question is what is a good starting point for COAL with with this particular deep throat? I have a box of Hornady 45gr. factory loads my dealer gave me with the gun. should I start at their length then try slightly longer I realize they are different bullets than I am using though. Or, suggestions on a starting length are sure welcome as I don't feel my gauge did me much good in this case so, I'm kind of at a stand still. Thanks.

 

[wfjames22]

Re: need advice on bullet seating depth for .204 Ruger

Ive got a Rem 700 VLS in 204 Ruger and I had the same problem. I am using 32gr Sierra blitzkings and with my modified case, the bullets would come out of the brass. Apparently, the throat is long on a lot of Remingtons in 204 according to my rifle as well as my buddy's, also all of the research I did on the web. I just loaded mine to max mag length for my rifle and ran my load development. It was easy to find a load (they all shot great) and the one I stuck with was 27.4gr of Benchmark seated to 1.958" measured with my Stoney Point gauge. This load runs slower than I had been shooting for (3905fps), but shoots lights out-10 shot groups at 100yds average .60". This same load works great in my buddy's gun as well.

From what I have found, load them to mag length and with a little testing, you should be able to find one that shoots to your liking.