This data is being presented for informational purposes only. Care in reloading is a function of knowledge and skill. I suggest reading several reloading manuals before attempting reloading for the first time. I try to always consult at least 4 reloading manuals/sources before loading a cartridge for the first time. I found good 204 Ruger data on the Hodgdon and IMR web sites. Sierra and Hornady technical services sent me loading information via e-mail. Web copies of most commercial loading data may be found at 204 Ruger.com. Top loads in any reloading data are just that, don't exceed. Always go with the recommended starting loads found in the manuals. With few exceptions my quest is for the load that provides: 1) top accuracy, 2) case life and 3) velocity. I consider them in that order. Sometimes I'm lucky and get all three. Loads in Green are the most accurate for that bullet. Loads in Red are maximum in the guns. Loads in Gray are factory ammo. Loads in blue are potential hunting loads.

204 Ruger
Last data added 3/11/08

CZ 527 Varmint TC Encore

Thanks to my friend Bill for helping generate the CZ 527 data. Bill was nice enough to shoot over half of that data using my loads and gun while I was recovering from shoulder surgery. I have included loads shot in his CZ's (in orange below). After shooting my gun Bill went out and bought two CZ 527 Varmints in 204 Ruger.

204 Ruger 223 Remington 204 Ruger

32 grain Vmax 55 grain Vmax 40 grain Vmax

CZ 527 Varmint

This data was generated with a CZ 527 Varmint that has a 25.6 inch barrel. Scope used is a Nikon 6X18 "Buckmaster" set in standard CZ rings. Loading dies are Forster Benchrest. Trigger pull; unset 2.5 pounds, set 1 pound 1 ounce. Hornady brass was used for initial testing. Average weight of Hornady brass is 94.0 grains with a total variation of +/- .5 grain.

Both 32 & 40 grain factory Hornady ammo shot under 1 inch at 100 yards in less then optimal conditions (windy). Velocities of factory ammo is 100 fps slower than advertised. Notice in the picture above that both Hornady loads have the neck crimped into the bullet.

After three firings on the Hornady brass there is little sign of case growth after sizing. The dies and chamber must be fairly close and/or the 30 degree shoulder doing it's job.

This rifle has a fairly significant leade or freebore in front of the chamber that allows bullets to be seated 0.171 to 0.210 farther out than is listed as the maximum overall length for this cartridge. See OAL's listed below along with a warning about using this OAL data in your rifle.

Several other conclusions with this gun:

shooting off a bi-pod was not detrimental to group size or point of impact
barrel fouling was minimal, even in early testing, and what fouling was there, easy to remove
alignment of the bore and centerline of the CZ rings was outstanding, requiring 2 moa horizontal change from bore sighting to actual zero at 100yards.

Bullet	Manufacturer	Powder	Amt	Case	Primer	Velocity	Accuracy
32	Hornady	Factory		Hornady	Factory	4109	.790@100
40	Hornady	Factory		Hornady	Factory	3813	.901@100

Bullet	Manufacturer	Powder	Amt	Case	Primer	Velocity	Accuracy
32	Hornady	H322	26.0	Hornady	F205M	3806	.968@100
32	Hornady	H322	26.5	Hornady	F205M	3908	1.06@100
32	Hornady	H322	27.0	Hornady	F205M	3977	.910@100
32	Sierra	H322	27.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	4071	.374@100
32	Hornady	H322	27.3	Winchester	F205M	4017	.505@100
32	Hornady	H322	27.5	Winchester	F205M	4101	.877@100
32	Hornady	H322	27.5	Hornady	F205M	4018	.582@100
32	Sierra	H322	27.5	Hornady	F205M	4031	.478@100
32	Sierra	H322	27.5	Winchester	F205M	4107	.317@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	26.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	3710	1.08@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	26.5	Hornady	Rem7.5	3759	1.01@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	27.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	3856	1.53@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	27.5	Hornady	Rem7.5	3920	.617@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	28.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	3998	1.44@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	28.0	Hornady	CCIBR4	3641	1.06@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	28.0	Hornady	F205M	3732	.936@100
32	Hornady	H4895	26.5	Hornady	Rem7.5	3641	1.04@100
32	Hornady	H4895	27.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	3732	2.24@100
32	Hornady	H4895	27.5	Hornady	Rem7.5	3799	1.11@100
32	Hornady	H4895	28.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	3858	.805@100
32	Hornady	H4895	28.4	Hornady	Rem7.5	3984	1.30@100
32	Hornady	XMR2015	25.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	3662	.186@100
32	Hornady	XMR2015	26.0	Hornady	Rem7.5	3841	.586@100

Bill's loads

Hunting loads

Most accurate with that bullet

Maximum charges

Factory loads

Bullet	Manufacturer	Powder	Amt	Case	Primer	Velocity	Accuracy
39	Sierra	BL-C(2)	30.0	Hornady	F205M	3815	.440@100
39	Sierra	H335	25.9	Hornady	F205M	3599	.667@100
39	Sierra	H335	26.4	Hornady	F205M	3674	1.13@100
39	Sierra	H335	26.8	Hornady	F205M	3750	.315@100
39	Sierra	H4895	27.5	Hornady	F205M	3750	.406@100
39	Sierra	Varget	27.0	Hornady	F205M	3535	.859@100
39	Sierra	Varget	27.5	Hornady	F205M	3615	.845@100
39	Sierra	Varget	28.0	Hornady	F205M	3634	.608@100
39	Sierra	Reloader10	24.5	Remington	Rem7.5	3637	.590@100
39	Sierra	Reloader10	24.7	Remington	Rem7.5	3687	.751@100
39	Sierra	Reloader10	24.9	Remington	Rem7.5	3712	.550@100
39	Sierra	Reloader10	25.1	Remington	Rem7.5	3763	.658@100
40	Hornady	H4895	26.5	Hornady	F205M	3547	1.22@100
40	Hornady	H4895	27.0	Hornady	F205M	3661	2.05@100
40	Hornady	H4895	27.5	Hornady	F205M	3729	.806@100
40	Hornady	H4895	27.7	Hornady	F205M	3749	.834@100
40	Hornady	BL-C(2)	28.5	Hornady	F205M	3639	1.70@100
40	Hornady	BL-C(2)	29.0	Hornady	F205M	3693	.918@100
40	Hornady	BL-C(2)	29.5	Hornady	F205M	3749	1.21@100
40	Hornady	BL-C(2)	30.0	Hornady	F205M	3849	.771@100
40	Hornady	RL15	26.0	Winchester	F205M	3389	.837@100
40	Hornady	RL15	26.5	Winchester	F205M	3463	.445@100
40	Hornady	RL15	27.0	Winchester	F205M	3546	.876@100
40	Hornady	RL15	27.5	Winchester	F205M	3610	1.14@100
40	Hornady	Varget	27.0	Hornady	F205M	3531	.586@100
40	Hornady	Varget	27.5	Hornady	F205M	36.3	1.06@100
40	Hornady	Varget	28.0	Hornady	F205M	3691	.414@100

TC Encore

Data in this section was generated using a Thompson-Center Encore with a heavy twenty six inch barrel. Scope used is a Weaver KT15 with a Weaver base and Leupold PRW rings. Trigger pull is 2.5 pounds.

Winchester brass will be used throughout testing. The brass was weighed, separated into 1 grain lots, chaffered and had the flash hole deburred. Average weight of the Winchester brass was 96.4 grains. After trying the 40 grain Hornady Vmax it will be eliminated from further testing in this gun as several bullets key-holed in the target at 100 yards. Most loads were tested between 70 and 90 Deg. F.

This rifle has a fairly significant leade or freebore in front of the chamber that allows bullets to be seated 0.173 to 0.201 farther out than is listed as the maximum overall length for this cartridge. See OAL's listed below along with a warning about using this OAL data in your rifle.

Warning: Loads below in red are maximum in the TC Encore. I do not plan on exceeding them or even using them for hunting.

Bullet	Manufacturer	Powder	Amt	Case	Primer	Velocity	Accuracy
40	Hornady	Factory		Hornady	Factory	3757	1.83@100
40	Remington	Factory		Remington	Factory	3721	.502@100

Bullet	Manufacturer	Powder	Amt	Case	Primer	Velocity	Accuracy
32	Hornady	AA2230	25.0	Winchester	F205M	3617	1.68@100
32	Hornady	AA2230	25.5	Winchester	F205M	3754	.972@100
32	Hornady	AA2230	26.0	Winchester	F205M	3766	.1.28@100
32	Hornady	AA2230	26.5	Winchester	F205M	3888	.970@100
32	Hornady	AA2230	27.0	Winchester	F205M	3909	.589@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	27.3	Winchester	Rem7.5	3859	.598@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	27.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3925	.774@100
32	Hornady	Benchmark	27.8	Winchester	Rem7.5	3976	1.18@100
32	Hornady	H322	27.0	Winchester	F205M	3990	.963@100
32	Hornady	H322	27.3	Winchester	F205M	4038	.381@100
32	Hornady	H322	27.5	Winchester	F205M	4075	.650@100
32	Hornady	RL10x	25.0	Winchester	F205M	3790	.926@100
32	Hornady	RL10x	25.5	Winchester	F205M	3919	.500@100
32	Hornady	RL10x	26.0	Winchester	F205M	3962	1.23@100
32	Hornady	TAC	26.5	Winchester	F205M	3713	.768@100
32	Hornady	TAC	27.0	Winchester	F205M	3885	.699@100
32	Hornady	TAC	27.5	Winchester	F205M	3951	.682@100
32	Hornady	TAC	26.0	Winchester	Rem7.5	3637	.800@100
32	Hornady	TAC	26.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3674	.900@100
32	Hornady	TAC	27.0	Winchester	Rem7.5	3751	.760@100
32	Hornady	TAC	27.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3831	.550@100
32	Hornady	TAC	28.0	Winchester	Rem7.5	3866	1.00@100
32	Hornady	TAC	28.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3919	1.03@100
32	Sierra	Benchmark	27.3	Winchester	Rem7.5	3914	.602@100
32	Sierra	Benchmark	27.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3935	.704@100
32	Sierra	Benchmark	27.8	Winchester	Rem7.5	3972	.664@100
34	Midway DT	H4895	27.5	Winchester	F205M	3898	.774@100
34	Midway DT	H4895	28.0	Winchester	F205M	3961	.589@100
34	Midway DT	H4895	28.3	Winchester	F205M	4026	.445@100
34	MS VNEx	H4895	27.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3924	.857@100
34	MS VNEx	H4895	27.9	Winchester	Rem7.5	3991	.449@100
34	MS VNEx	H4895	28.2	Winchester	Rem7.5	4041	.645@100
34	MS VNEx	BL(C)2	28.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3752	.527@100
34	MS VNEx	BL(C)2	29.0	Winchester	Rem7.5	3837	.647@100
34	MS VNEx	BL(C)2	29.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	3903	.979@100
34	MS VNEx	BL(C)2	30.0	Winchester	Rem7.5	3970	.394@100
34	MS VNEx	BL(C)2	30.5	Winchester	Rem7.5	4094	.752@100
40	Hornady	BLC-2	29.0	Winchester	F205M	3644	1.15@100
40	Hornady	BLC-2	29.5	Winchester	F205M	3700	1.24@100
40	Hornady	BLC-2	30.0	Winchester	F205M	3776	1.23@100

WARNING: the OAL information below is for these guns only and may be different even if you own the same model rifle.

Bullet	Loaded OAL#	B.C.	Max. OAL	Gun
32 Hornady Vmax	2.325	.210	2.426*	CZ
32 Sierra Blitz King	2.325	.221	2.446*	CZ
34 Midway Dogtown	2.317	.149	2.347*	CZ
39 Sierra Blitz King	2.325	.287	2.460*	CZ
40 Hornady Vmax	2.325	.255	2.421*	CZ

Bullet	Loaded OAL#	B.C.	Max. OAL	Gun
32 Hornady Vmax	2.330	.210	2.423*	TC
32 Sierra Blitz King	2.410	.221	2.451*	TC
34 Midway Dog Town	2.301	.149	2.331*	TC
34 Midsouth VNxtreme	2.300	.149	2.326*	TC
39 Sierra Blitz King		.287	2.446*	TC
40 Hornady Vmax	2.400	.255	2.427*	TC

** Used a Sinclair OAL measuring tool to determine the maximum OAL for all of the above bullets. The maximum OAL is well beyond the length that can be used in the factory magazine. Maximum for the CZ magazine is 2.325 inches . That leaves .010 between the tip of the bullet and the front of the magazine.

## Warning: all the above OAL's are much longer than those given in Hornady's and Sierra's loading data (2.245-2.250"). It is recommended that you measure the actual OAL for each of the bullets to determine proper overall cartridge length in your rifle.

Results of a woodchuck hunt with the CZ527 Varmint in 204 Ruger.

204 Ruger Last data added 3/11/08

CZ 527 Varmint TC Encore

204 Ruger
Last data added 3/11/08