TC Contender in 204 Ruger 14" Barrel

Trying to find a good load. We loaded 40 gr Vmax with 24 Benchmark using CCI SR primers and the results were not quite what I expected. 2700 fps at best. I'm hoping someone out there has some info on using a faster powder. I know the 204 Ruger is called a rifle round but when shooting thru a 14 inch barrel kinda puts it in the pistol category, sorta. Has anyone ever tried duplex powder? I know one must be aware of pressure but surely there's a way to get this 40gr Vmax up above 3000 fps. Or maybe not but I'm hoping for somewhere to start. I'm actually hoping to reach the 3600 fps range.

Contender "Old Frame" with 14" T/C Bull barrel.

Darrell A.
USN (Ret)
D.A.V.
NRA Life
Redneck
K.I.S.S.

Welcome to Gunloads Darrell.

Kinda hard to believe you're losing almost 1000fps with 10" less barrel (I'm looking in the rifle section of the Lyman manual - the round isn't listed under Contender/Encore handgun data), but I guess the chrono doesn't lie. How's the accuracy? That would be the biggest issue for me as a varmint hunter or target shooter as I can always figure bullet drop as long as the groups are tight. Varget, H332 & 335, IMR3031 & 4895 are all good choices for the powder, too. Never had much luck with Benchmark in other cases in the .223 family (.223. 6.5TCU, 30/223), but I've not yet had a .204 to play with, and none of mine have short barrels.

Duplex loads are especially dangerous in small high pressure cases and I personally would not go there. They're iffy enough in larger cases with low pressure cast loads.

Honestly I would suggest a 24" carbine barrel if you feel you must have that extra velocity. Contenders are even more fun as rifles than they are as handguns.

We were about to test accuracy but this darn flu and the weather got the best of me. I post some more results as soon as I can. Thanks.
I know duplex powder is crazy, no way I would go there on my own. Sometimes you just gotta throw a bone and see what bites.

I had a .204 encore 15 in. the best group I've shot was dime sized with Re.15 with 32 grn.VmaxI was'nt happy with the 40 grns I tryed Re 15, win748, benchmark,and IMR 4198,Re 15 beening the slowest powder of the lot,tryed,rem 7 1/2 and fed 205m primer the fed 205 primer made a huge differance in group size speeds with Re 15 was also the slowest of the bunch at 250 to 350+ fps most people say the 40 grns would'nt group and they went with sierra 39 and it made a big differance 1 in 12 is slow for the 40 grns.

If you can find a load for it the 204 I would think would be one sweet load for a pistol.

Ken.