New Low Cost 20 PPC Build

[Ledd Slinger]

Just finishing up a new 20 PPC. Based on a Howa Mini action that came barreled in 6.5 Grendel. Pulled the new barrel off and put on a 20 cal 1 in 10 twist, LV contour, finished at 24". Boyd's varmint stock with full action bedding in Marine Tex. Also a picatinny rail bedded with Marine Tex, JB Weld bedded scope rings, and new low weight trigger springs. Topped off with a Japanese built Barra Optics 5-25x50 scope.

It's currently chambered with a .226" neck from a reamer that I used from 4D rentals. I decided I didnt want to turn all my brass so I'm ordering a new reamer from JGS with a no-turn .232" neck and some other modifications like making the neck a little longer. Once that arrives I'll hand turn the chamber and Wilson seating die to the new reamer and go test her out.

Also planning on buying the aluminum trigger guard assembly since I'm not crazy about the factory plastic junk. The cheap trigger guard is the only thing I didnt like about the Howa Mini. Other than that, it's a hell of a lot of action for the money. Should be a hummer when shes ready to start throwing ledd down the pipe

 

[JB10]

Nice lookin rifle

 

[jacksaligari]

Yep very nice

 

[ARW]

Good looking rig, I bet it will be super accurate too. There is not much that can match the excitement of a new rifle, enjoy it.

 

[Ramblerman]

Just finishing up a new 20 PPC. Based on a Howa Mini action that came barreled in 6.5 Grendel. Pulled the new barrel off and put on a 20 cal 1 in 10 twist, LV contour, finished at 24". Boyd's varmint stock with full action bedding in Marine Tex. Also a picatinny rail bedded with Marine Tex, JB Weld bedded scope rings, and new low weight trigger springs. Topped off with a Japanese built Barra Optics 5-25x50 scope.

It's currently chambered with a .226" neck from a reamer that I used from 4D rentals. I decided I didnt want to turn all my brass so I'm ordering a new reamer from JGS with a no-turn .232" neck and some other modifications like making the neck a little longer. Once that arrives I'll hand turn the chamber and Wilson seating die to the new reamer and go test her out.

Also planning on buying the aluminum trigger guard assembly since I'm not crazy about the factory plastic junk. The cheap trigger guard is the only thing I didnt like about the Howa Mini. Other than that, it's a hell of a lot of action for the money. Should be a hummer when shes ready to start throwing ledd down the pipe

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I think the 20 PPC might be the coolest 20 cal....nice rifle!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I really like the Boyds Pro Varmint stocks. Good lines. I modify them by flattening off the bottom of the forearm so they ride bags and truck window rests better and usually have to open the barrel channels for heavier contour barrels. Not perfect inletting, but it's pretty close and can be mostly corrected with the mill and some elbow grease. For the money you cant touch the quality of these stocks with anything else. I have 3 of them on varmint rifles now and plan to use them on all my future varmint rifle builds.

 

[TravisC]

I contemplated building a .20 PPC, but I have so much 224 Valkyrie brass that I decided to build a . 20/224 Valkyrie. I'm curious how different in performance these will be.

 

[jpx2rk]

Good to hear about the Boyd's Pro Varmint as I've got one coming this week for a 20 Practical build I'm doing. Nice setup, enjoy.

 

[xring]

Ledd : That's a great looking Rifle and especially the Stock Colors . Who Marked the Barrel Caliber ? That is nice and how was it done ? Never heard of the Barra Scope . I always look forward to your Scope evaluations . Will you be doing an evaluation of the Barra ?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Ledd : That's a great looking Rifle and especially the Stock Colors . Who Marked the Barrel Caliber ? That is nice and how was it done ? Never heard of the Barra Scope . I always look forward to your Scope evaluations . Will you be doing an evaluation of the Barra ?

I did that marking myself. The smith who chambered the barrel used stamps and I really dont like the way they look, plus he stamped it too high which is why the new marking is so far above the stock line. I machined a flat over the stamps with my mill, made a custom clear tape label, taped it off and coated over the label with a thick epoxy type hard coat.

I like how it turned out, but I might make it a little smaller next time. Have a few more with stamped barrels that need re-labeling so I'll play with it some more.

The Japanese glass on the 5-25 Barra is really nice. Very crisp and clear edge to edge on all power settings. Comes with scope caps which is also nice. Downside would be limited reticle options. That scope has a SFP mildot reticle, but it's nice and thin so it doesnt bother me. Not planning on holdovers anyhow. The turrets are pretty good, but not the most tactile of clicks when compared to high end optics and the lines dont match up which kinda drives me nuts. But for what I paid I'm not complaining because the glass quality makes up for that little manufacturing mistake. Might call Barra and see if they'll do something about it. Comes with a lifetime unconditional warranty like Vortex. Probably wont do a full evaluation on this scope because it's kind of just another run of the mill mid priced optic. Tho the glass is probably a cut above mid grade and it's not made in China so that's a plus

 

[JSH]

I agree the actions are slick. After market supposed for these are making some headway also. It is slow but there is some good quality items now from folks who care about what they have as a finished product.

I like the mini enough that I now have three. I decided to down some parts swapping. By the time I bought DIP bottom metal and another stock the price for the MDT chassis was the same or a bit better. Never had a chassis so I tried one. It has some what I consider to be quirks, yet from what I now know most chassis are like this.

222,223 and a6.5 Grendel. The 222 and 6.5 both shot well out of the gate. The 223 may or may not have quit the vertical string problem with some barrel pressure some where. Just going to barrel it in 22 Nosler. Folks try to compare it to 22-250, I am more inclined to think of it as a 222 magnum +P with a twist that will handle heavy bullets. From what I tinkered with the Nosler sure acts like it will feed from the Grendel magazine.

My last low cost/cheap build I had about $1800 in before glass, lol. She sure shoots good though.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I agree the actions are slick. After market supposed for these are making some headway also. It is slow but there is some good quality items now from folks who care about what they have as a finished product.

I like the mini enough that I now have three. I decided to down some parts swapping. By the time I bought DIP bottom metal and another stock the price for the MDT chassis was the same or a bit better. Never had a chassis so I tried one. It has some what I consider to be quirks, yet from what I now know most chassis are like this.

222,223 and a6.5 Grendel. The 222 and 6.5 both shot well out of the gate. The 223 may or may not have quit the vertical string problem with some barrel pressure some where. Just going to barrel it in 22 Nosler. Folks try to compare it to 22-250, I am more inclined to think of it as a 222 magnum +P with a twist that will handle heavy bullets. From what I tinkered with the Nosler sure acts like it will feed from the Grendel magazine.

My last low cost/cheap build I had about $1800 in before glass, lol. She sure shoots good though.

Nice. I'm about $900 into this build including the scope base, but not the rings or scope.

Tho I suppose if I consider the new $250 reamer I just ordered from JGS, the Wilson inline seating die, and Whidden bushing FL sizer, the cost is a lot more. Still a heck of a lot cheaper than some of my other custom rifles.

 

[nakneker]

Looks like fun fun fun! Nice job!

 

[Bill73]

Great Build Ledd Slinger, I guess it feeds just as well as the original grendel chambering ? how does she shoot ?

 

[JLDavid]

Bumping this up. Plan on starting a project like this soon. Great looking rifle.

 

[Pyscodog]

Whose barrel and trigger guard are you using? I sold my factory stock and trigger guard and If I go Boyds, I'll need another trigger guard.

 

[JLDavid]

I plan on using the DIP bottom metal and shortened factory magazines when I build mine. Can't decide on a chambering yet but I have a 6mm ARC barreled action coming from Brownell's so it looks like it will be on a ppc case of some sort.

 

[Pyscodog]

My mini is a 6.5 Grendel in an Oryx chassis. I plan on leaving it Grendel but want a different stock and will need a new trigger guard. I sold the original along with the factory stock so it will need replaced.

 

[JLDavid]

PM sent

 

[JLDavid]

Ledd,
I keep going back to this thread and studying it. How does your rifle shoot? Anything you would do different? Any info would be appreciated.

David