question on how to find the right load

[HPBTMTCH]

Scooterman, the .204 is sometimes a tough cartridge to work with. Whenever the powder charge and the bullet get close to being the same weight, it`s a pretty touchy affair. Anyway, what do the groups look like ? Do you have fliers ? Is that 3, or 5 round groups ? Did you say groups are less than 5 inches from center to center ? Thats quite large if thats what you mean, a good group for a varmint caliber is 3 rounds, center to center, less than half inch apart. Take a flashlight and look in the end of the bore after you clean it, do you see any copper ? Are you using moly coated bullets now ? Remember unless you have a stainless barrel, the moly will rust things up unless you clean it after each day you shoot it. And it could be that neither barrel cares for varget, my first suggestion is try a different powder. Hodgdon offers the 4 powder mini jars at the same price as a regular pound, you might try those.