My 20PPC with 1:12 shoots the 30-35 gr. bullets very well. I'm already thinking ahead to the next barrel and want to consider a twist ideal for the 40 gr. Berger The new barrel will be a 26" PacNor Q what twist and what kind of average velocity can I expect? Thanks Al
We've got a 20-caliber page in the works. Don't have load data for the 40gr Berger, but John of Varmintsforfun.com is getting 3950 with the 40gr V-Max and 27.8gr of VV N135 in a 9-twist barrel. I bet you can match that with the Berger. By contrast, John is getting about 3600 fps with the 50gr Berger. BTW, we're looking for shooters' opinions on the various 20-caliber bullets. Which pills have you tried and how would you compare them in terms of performance and accuracy?
I've loaded 40gr. VMax with satisfactory groups averaging about .300" @ 4,000 fps with 26.5 grains H322 This was quick development for penetration tests in comparison to 33 Vmax and Berger bullets sized 30 and 35 grains. My 1:12 twist isn't the ideal twist for 40 grain bullets. Meantime it's grouping the lighter bullets from .190"-.220" if I do my part.
Al, As it was stated earlier, 40 grain is on the edge of stability for a 12 twist barrels. It seems to work for some, but not others. I know one shooter who is doing really well with a Lilja 1 x 12" twist shooting 40 grain bergers in his 20PPC. You may want to invest in one box and give it a try. If you are willing to try something else, the Sierra 39 grain BlitzKings may work for you. Several shooters have told me that while their barrel would not shoot any 40 grain well, it did like the 39 grain BK. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Kory
