20 Practical Reloading Issue

[lgwatson]

Have a new 20 Practical: Stiller Predator Action, Lothar-Walther 9 twist barrel, 0 free bore. Using Redding 20 Practical full sizing die, Redding .223 Remington seater with VLD micrometer seater and Sinclair .203 expander. Using New Lapua .223 brass necked down. Fired about 20 rounds of Berger 40 and 55 Berger Varmint BTs to break in barrel. Loaded 15 rounds of the 55 Bergers, 3 each of different BTO lengths in new brass using 22.7 grains of N540. Two of the groups were great (photos attached).

After cleaning and annealing the once fired brass, I full length sized again. During the sizing (Hornady One Shot lube), some of the brass went through the sizer with no problem. Part of the brass was very tight in the die and difficult. When that began, I cleaned the die and and Imperial lube and the problem continued. When done the shoulder bump and OAL were good. The cases fit in the rifle. When seating the bullets using a Redding VLD micrometer seating die (.223 Remington) with VLD stem), the neck tension seemed very tigh, and I did not get consistent BTO lengths. Some were .008" short and they varied. I am considering getting some mandrels to decrease my neck tension and using a .223 Remington busing die. Any advice or input would be appreciated.
Lonny Watson

 

[Hal]

Lg

Looks like it’s going to be a shooting machine.
Keep us poster. I’ve always been interested in the 55 gr bullet

Hal

 

[ricco1949]

Measure your interference fit and adjust from there as needed with a bushing die. Although it seems that you would not be experiencing "very high neck tension" after using the .203 expander.

It sure wants to shoot.

 

[lgwatson]

Lg

Looks like it’s going to be a shooting machine.
Keep us poster. I’ve always been interested in the 55 gr bullet

Hal

If I can get the kinks worked out on loading. Berger recommends 8 twist for that bullet, and I heard they discontinued it. I hope not. It's a higher BC than a lot of .224 55 grain bullets.

 

[L.Sherm]

My guess is your necking gown the Lapua brass alot then pulling the expander ball back through trying to size your necks its what 95% of my dies are bushing. Take out the expander ball size a case then measure your neck then after the expander is pulled through

 

[L.Sherm]

If I can get the kinks worked out on loading. Berger recommends 8 twist for that bullet, and I heard they discontinued it. I hope not. It's a higher BC than a lot of .224 55 grain bullets.

You dont need a 8 twist.
Theres 20VT out there that shoot 55's with a 9. This 8 vrs 9 thing has been beat to death.
Numbers are just that real world experience is what counts and thers several people on here that shoot 9's with great success including me.

 

[lgwatson]

Measure your interference fit and adjust from there as needed with a bushing die.

It sure wants to shoot.

Please explain interference fit to me. I'm not familiar with it.

 

[ricco1949]

Please explain interference fit to me. I'm not familiar with it.

The difference between the neck diameter OD before and after bullet seating.

 

[L.Sherm]

What does a loaded round neck dia. measure with your Lapua brass

 

[lgwatson]

My guess is your necking gown the Lapua brass alot then pulling the expander ball back through trying to size your necks its what 95% of my dies are bushing. Take out the expander ball size a case then measure your neck then after the expander is pulled through

I will try that. Thank you. I have a Redding .223 Remington Competition bushing seating die. I will try that also. My plan is to neck size only until the case gets to tight in the chamber. It's very puzzling that I got that much resistance on the size down stroke. I also ordered the Redding micrometer seater for 20 caliber.

 

[L.Sherm]

Bushing seating die?
I'm confused here, do you have a Bushing FL sizing die?

 

[lgwatson]

What does a loaded round neck dia. measure with your Lapua brass

.230 and .231

 

[lgwatson]

Bushing seating die?

Bushing seating die?

My bad. I meant sizing die.

 

[L.Sherm]

My bad. I meant sizing die.

Ok what size bushing are you using?
Lapua is thicker than most brass, most brass
.225 or .226 is what you want but maybe not Lapua. My guess is your .230 or more on a loaded round neck with Lapua

 

[Hal]

Lg
I think Berger makes a run of the .20 55 gr. Once a year for one of the big gun stores.
One of these guys should know.
Keep up the good work.

Hal

 

[L.Sherm]

Grafs has the 55's

 

[Rick300]

Did you put a 20 cal seating stem in the seater die?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Running different bullets, seating depths meant your brass saw different pressures. Doesn't surprise me sizing felt different as you worked through them. Are you full length sizing without the expander(die gutted) I would expect that since you are using a sinclair mandrel?

 

[chuckshooter]

in your post you said "after cleaning" what kind of cleaning? if stainless steel pin tumbling. brass needs to be re chamfered or seating will be very hard. I like using a mandrel, but if you are over working the brass, that's not good either. bushing die and or trimming the neck might be needed.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

^^^^ beat up the case mouth enough causing problems further down the process. No pins for me.