20 practical reloading help

[Vash1322]

Good evening,

This is my first post on this forum and am looking for guidance whether on reading groups or reloading for the 20 practical. I am not new to reloading but new to wildcatting/20 practical. Below is the load data/shooting conditions that took place the first time:

• 65F - no wind - sunny - shot this summer
• Platform: AR15 20" WOA barrel with a suppressor (Barrel has 100 rounds through it)
• Starline brass (NEW but resized)
• Federal 205M SRP's
• 40 grain vmax
• 25.2 grains of ramshot xterminator
• 3572 FPS with ES of 8.4 and SD of 3.2

Now below are the groups shot to confirm the previous load is solid. The only difference was 31F. I did nothing different and my SD's and ES's went wonky aswell as lost 120 FPS... Any help is much appreciated.

Below are the groups:


I am sure that my shooting is suspect and I even double guessed it but shot a Ruger American chambered in .223 for a friend and shot a .46 group with some factory ammo so i don't think it is me. Maybe I'm doing something wrong in my sizing of the brass or SOMETHING but I guess I don't know where to start. I thought about switching powders. I have some SBK's waiting in case i cant get these to group but I'm hoping. I also thought about trying some Varget but not too sure yet. Please any good insight would be appreciated and thanks for stopping and looking!

 

[nmkid]

My .20P shot great with H-335 at 25.0 grs. I never tried any other powder.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I shoot Xterm in my 20p, although I believe xbr8208 is better(I was saving it for my 204R). I run a 205AR primer and about the same charge weight with 40 vm, 40 BT, 40 Berger. The Sierra 39 shoots well also, but I don't trust it for coyote(same for the 32 vm). The 35 Berger is good and you can push them a bit faster. I have a 22" 10 twist BHW barrel. I have not seen an accuracy change like that, except when changing the rear bag setup. Some butt stock supports(bags, so can a bipod) will really dial up the vertical dispersion in AR's. Did you change you setup?

 

[JB10]

Im using N133 in my 20p. Its a bolt action though. 22in barrel shooting suppressed and getting 3750fps with 40gr vmax. I might try a different powder charge to see if anything changes in ur favor. Maybe it was a good node at a different temperature?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Forgot, I have seen that with an AR that I assembled. My torque wrench was out of calibration and the barrel nut was not getting torqued to manufacturer spec. Rifle would shoot well after torqued, but next range trip groups would open up. Didn't figure it out until I checked the torque wrench. Recalibrated it and hit the barrel nut and it has been great since(2+ years).

 

[Gundog]

To take the temp out of the equation, I've kept loaded rounds in my pocket with a handwarmer. After a couple rounds the barrel is warm enough to do some testing for accuracy. I've seen some real differences
between summer rounds and winter rounds especially with smaller caliber rounds.

 

[CSLR grandpa]

Vash 1322 check out the 20 cal page left side of main page. A lot of different powders work, your charge probably needs tweaking, I have the WOA 20“ and shoots very well with IMR or H 4895./7-1/2 primers/ 24 gr. NTX, 32 Vmax, 40 Vmax, 39 sierra’s all shot very well.
CSLR grandpa

 

[hogpatrol]

Series​	4​	Shots:​	5​	​
Min​	3539​	Max​	3553​	​
Avg​	3543​	S-D​	5.6​	​
ES​	14​	​	​	​
​	​	​	​	​
Series​	Shot​	Speed​	​	​
4​	1​	3541​	ft/s​	25.5​
4​	2​	3541​	ft/s​	​
4​	3​	3541​	ft/s​	BEST GROUP​
4​	4​	3553​	ft/s​	​
4​	5​	3539​	ft/s​	​

 

[hogpatrol]

Above post is with 25.5 of XT, BR4s, .010 jump, R-P brass, with 40 grain Bergers, 1-10 Muller bolt gun. Magnetospeed chrono-ed.

 

[hogpatrol]

If you really want to push the envelope, try the 35 Bergers with XT. This is out of an R. Whitley AR upper on an el cheapo lower, IMI brass, Fed 205 match, .010 jump. Primers left the building any higher.

Series​	12​	Shots:​	5​	26​
Min​	4025​	Max​	4053​	205GM​
Avg​	4032​	S-D​	11.6​	​
ES​	28​	​	​	​
​	​	​	​	​
Series​	Shot​	Speed​	​	​
12​	1​	4025​	ft/s​	​
12​	2​	4025​	ft/s​	​
12​	3​	4030​	ft/s​	​
12​	4​	4053​	ft/s​	​
12​	5​	4030​	ft/s​	​

 

[hogpatrol]

Good info here:

You are being redirected...

I would try a lesser load and jumps of .005 & .010.

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[Bill K]

On the main page, on the far left side, clic on the 20 caliber section. Some good info on the 20 Practical there, which might aid you also.

 

[AWS]

I won an AR in 20P and it was made by reputable maker with a good barrel. On the bench it shot 1.5 groups. A lot of shooting and snooping the gas block would touch the hand guard when the rifle was on the rest. Cleaned that up and groups were cut down to .5. I had a heavy scope on it. Off the rest there was clearance between the handguard and gas block.

 

[L.Sherm]

Put a Rem 7.5 primer in it and try it.
A different primer can do wonders, if you have some AA2230 around might be worth a try also ive had great luck in 3 with 34-39 bullets and 7.5

 

[Bill K]

You might also give the 39 gn SBK a go instead of that 40 vmax.

 

[jwv2001]

I shoot a Cooper M21 in 20 Tactical. My load is 26 gr. TAC with a 32 gr. anything.

Below is a link if you want pictures of the groups I get:

.20 Tactical First Kill

Well I have dat a .20 Tactical for a few years. I have shot it a bunch the last 3 years. I have only killed paper. I have worked up several loads with different bullets. I decided to take it ground hog hunting. I let my son (13) shoot the first ground hog with it. 125 yard shot. I let a buddy...

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[L.Sherm]

My load is 26 gr. TAC with a 32 gr. anything.

I dont think i would be substituting 20 Tactical loads for 20 Prac ones

 

[jwv2001]

I don't think I said anything about substituting loads, I was merely pointing out how well my load shoots in my rifle. The difference in the cases is minimal, the difference is the angle on the shoulder. Everything else is the same.

 

[TheCZKid]

With an AR 20 Practical, and 40 Vmax or 40 Nosler I have good loads with 8208 XBR 24.9 at 3674 fps, and 25.0 grains 3793 fps. Have had good results with H335 25.3 to 25.7, and N133 23.4 3688 fps to 25.0 3859 fps, low SD's.

 

[Richard Jones]

I won an AR in 20P and it was made by reputable maker with a good barrel. On the bench it shot 1.5 groups. A lot of shooting and snooping the gas block would touch the hand guard when the rifle was on the rest. Cleaned that up and groups were cut down to .5. I had a heavy scope on it. Off the rest there was clearance between the handguard and gas block.

@AWS

I can understand this somewhat, but shouldn't happen. Makes me want to go look at all of mine!

the gas block would touch the hand guard when the rifle was on the rest.

I don't understand this:

I had a heavy scope on it.

So you had the front scope ring on the handguard rail? That the weight of the scope forced the handguard into the gas block?
Confused a little bit here....