20 arc does anyone got one built

[D-mon]

Hi,
Since I saw the 22 arc, my thought are on a 20 arc. It would be good if hornady could standardise that one.
And also produce a slightly higher bc bullet… like a 45 / 50 gr eld/vt .
Anyone out there who has already built one?

 

[Kevin1990]

Might want to also look into the 20 titan, which is a 20 grendel. There was a very good write up on here about a build and load development. Also berger makes a 55gr 20 cal bullet. I imagine that'd be the highest BC bullet out there for a 20 cal. Could be wrong on that one though.

Thread 'New Howa mini build 20 Grendel'

Sep 22, 2024

Im starting a new ultimate varmint build using a howa mini build
Recently bought a Howa mini that had the bolt face and lugs trued. With some trigger work.
Mullerworks 20 cal 1-8 twist Remington varmint contour .830 at 26"
Doing a Howage barrel from Crownridge barrel works.
Chambered in 20 Grendel with a custom reamer for 55gr Bergers
Owner of the reamer is running them at 3960 fps currently!

Thinking of getting the Stocky's stock carbon fiber vg stock blem for 400

Oryx chassis for 429

Boyds pro varmint with pillars for 350

• 806guns
• Replies: 107
• Forum: Varminter & Hunting Forum

• 

 

[17VLD]

Hi,
Since I saw the 22 arc, my thought are on a 20 arc. It would be good if hornady could standardise that one.
And also produce a slightly higher bc bullet… like a 45 / 50 gr eld/vt .
Anyone out there who has already built one?

My thoughts exactly. Been thinking about turning my 17ppc XP100 into a 20 ARC. I've always thought if Ruger and Hornady came out with a 20 caliber ELD-VT to compete with the 55 Berger it would devistate varmints and another factory 20 would perpetuate more sales. Perhaps though they are satisfied with their 22 ARC. I'm not holding my breath however I will continue to shoot my 20 Dasher and 20BRAI with the 55 Berger, just always thought a ELD-VT in 20 caliber would be more effective on distant varmints.
Matt

 

[B23]

My thoughts exactly. Been thinking about turning my 17ppc XP100 into a 20 ARC. I've always thought if Ruger and Hornady came out with a 20 caliber ELD-VT to compete with the 55 Berger it would devistate varmints and another factory 20 would perpetuate more sales. Perhaps though they are satisfied with their 22 ARC. I'm not holding my breath however I will continue to shoot my 20 Dasher and 20BRAI with the 55 Berger, just always thought a ELD-VT in 20 caliber would be more effective on distant varmints.
Matt

Considering the twist requirements for the 22cal 62gr ELD-VT would it possibly even likely cause bullet failure issues because you'd be using such a fast twist to stabilize a very long high BC 20 cal ELD-VT but because it only weighed somewhere in the mid 50 gr range some of the larger capacity 20 cals could still launch them at pretty high velocities and all that bullet rpm could lead to self destruction mode before it ever reached the target.

 

[L.Sherm]

Has anybody tried opening up the tip on the 55's a tad? The speer TNT comes to mind there pretty explosive.
I know it might hurt the B.C some but if they shoot good and open better at longer range might be the ticket

 

[Tommie]

Nah. We already have one SAAMI 20 caliber. Doesn’t that cover every possible application?

Note my sarcasm here.

 

[GLShooter]

A 20 ARC is basically a straight neck down on the 6.5 Grendel the same as the 22 ARC. I shot the 20 LBC/20 ARC in 2011 in a 20" BHW barrel. I found that the speeds were not all that much over the 204 Ruger with 39's running at sane speeds and not hot rodding it. Accuracy hoovered around the 0.5 MOA level. Speeds were in the 3700 range. I did shoot a few 55 Bergers out of the 1:10 twist without really trying for speed. The bullet did stabilize well but I just shot around 20 rounds on it for a quick visit.

I have a brand new Rugage barrel setting in the tube ready to go but I'm currently shooting a 22 LBC on that platform both from Tactical Ordnance. Once I wring that one out, I'll put the 20 caliber on it and see what I get with a full-blown load development.

I've shot a few 20's like the 20X6.8 and the 20 TAC and PRAC and am working on one right now based on the 22 Nosler. The 22X6.8 works like lightning on prairie dogs with the 35 Berger. The others all run plus or minus 50 FPS between them and performance is about equal. The Nosler wildcat is running right up their with the 22-250 from what we've seen with excellent accuracy. We changed the shoulder angle on it so it needs a custom die compared to the others that are easily done with OTC gear. It will probably not be made available anytime soon by Tactical Ordnance who does all the rest I shoot.

Your call but since the 22 ARC woud be a straight neck down at this time it would be easy to do unlike me making my original ones from the full 6.5 case with bushing dies.

 

[Tommie]

Has anybody tried opening up the tip on the 55's a tad? The speer TNT comes to mind there pretty explosive.
I know it might hurt the B.C some but if they shoot good and open better at longer range might be the ticket

I’ve wondered the same thing

 

[L.Sherm]

I cant see the Arc, PPC and Grendel case being more than 50fps difference in any 20 cal especially the PPCAI case, the capacity being only 1 gr H2O difference all things be equal like barrel length, Hell different barrels can be 50fps

 

[jpx2rk]

Look at the 52g TNT HP, it's got a decent size opening on it, a bit more on the stubby side than their 50g TNT HP. I've noticed that the 50g TNT makes a bit more ragged hole in copy paper targets than the 52g TNT in some recent testing I've been doing.

 

[searcher]

My thoughts exactly. Been thinking about turning my 17ppc XP100 into a 20 ARC. I've always thought if Ruger and Hornady came out with a 20 caliber ELD-VT to compete with the 55 Berger it would devistate varmints and another factory 20 would perpetuate more sales. Perhaps though they are satisfied with their 22 ARC. I'm not holding my breath however I will continue to shoot my 20 Dasher and 20BRAI with the 55 Berger, just always thought a ELD-VT in 20 caliber would be more effective on distant varmints.
Matt

I'd like to see that too, though there are so few barrels out there in .20 with a fast enough twist, they wouldn't get the sales volume they would want.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Has anybody tried opening up the tip on the 55's a tad? The speer TNT comes to mind there pretty explosive.
I know it might hurt the B.C some but if they shoot good and open better at longer range might be the ticket

I have thought about doing a nose ring cut like Tubb

 

[SD guy]

I question if someone were to build a 20 ARC, Is there really any significant benefit of building this off of the 22 ARC Over the 6mm ARC cartridge length? Granted necking down the 22 ARC may be a bit simpler. As someone who recognizes the practicality of the 20 Vartarg vs the 204 Ruger. For a 20 ARC built off the 6mm ARC VS the 22 ARC, I may see the 20 ARC as the more practical of the two in terms of case capacity.

 

[Tommie]

Ok gotta disagree with the nay-sayers. A 20ARC would have a case capacity approximately 12% greater than the 204 Ruger. All other things being equal, that would translate to a velocity increase of at least 100 FPS with 40 grain bullets which is a definite advantage as distances stretch out. But IMO the real opportunity lies in it’s ability to drive the long dreamed of 50 grain VMax/Blitzking. Rumors swirled last year that Hornady was going to legitimize the 20ARC, but alas, nothing yet. I feel like Ralphie dreaming of a Red Ryder BB gun.

 

[17VLD]

Pretty happy with the 20s I have I just figured from a marketing standpoint Hornady might like to grow their ARC lineup to include the 20 caliber shooters.
Do we need it,no, but I always thought a 48-52 grain ELD-VT would work out well in a 9 twist with some of the bigger 20s for distant varmints. Perhaps modification of the 55 Bergers is the path to take currently. I always loved the level of speed and accuracy I got with the 20 caliber 50 grain Berger bullet. Unfortunately they are long gone as is the support for the idea of some more offerings for a few more 20 caliber bullets.
Perhaps I need to remain content and just use 32s in the VT for colony varmints and 40s in the 204 for a bit further out varmint. B23 you have a very valid point but I can't help but think an 8 or 9 twist for such a 20 could work out well and I sure wish we had some new bullets to try, heck I'd settle for a 48 VMax or BlitzKing.
Matt

 

[17VLD]

Ok gotta disagree with the nay-sayers. A 20ARC would have a case capacity approximately 12% greater than the 204 Ruger. All other things being equal, that would translate to a velocity increase of at least 100 FPS with 40 grain bullets which is a definite advantage as distances stretch out. But IMO the real opportunity lies in it’s ability to drive the long dreamed of 50 grain VMax/Blitzking. Rumors swirled last year that Hornady was going to legitimize the 20ARC, but alas, nothing yet. I feel like Ralphie dreaming of a Red Ryder BB gun.

Couldn't have said it better my friend, I am Ralphie ....

 

[Skunce]

I don't think we'll see a ELD-VT 20 caliber bullet from Hornady unless they introduce a new cartridge with a fast twist to go with it. I emailed them awhile back and asked if a 20 ARC was a possibility and their reply was that no that they didn't have any plans at this time to build a 20 ARC.

If they get enough inquires maybe they will consider it.

 

[L.Sherm]

Ok gotta disagree with the nay-sayers. A 20ARC would have a case capacity approximately 12% greater than the 204 Ruger. All other things being equal, that would translate to a velocity increase of at least 100 FPS with 40 grain bullets which is a definite advantage as distances stretch out. But IMO the real opportunity lies in it’s ability to drive the long dreamed of 50 grain VMax/Blitzking. Rumors swirled last year that Hornady was going to legitimize the 20ARC, but alas, nothing yet. I feel like Ralphie dreaming of a Red Ryder BB gun.

Everything i find Tommie says there's about 1.0- 1.5grs of H20 between the 204 case and 22 ARC. I dont have either case just what I dig up

 

[Tommie]

Everything i find Tommie says there's about 1.0- 1.5grs of H20 between the 204 case and 22 ARC. I dont have either case just what I dig up

Man I don’t want to start a pissing match. Here’s my data:
The 204 has 30.6 gr water capacity, 22 ARC is 34.6 so 4 grains of water capacity increase over the 204 Ruger. Info sourced on Nosler’s load data site. Obviously water and gunpowder aren’t the same thing but the ARC is much closer to the BR’s capacity than the 204. YMMV.

 

[L.Sherm]

No pissing match with me, just everthing researched said 33. Not my intent too.
Just curious if what I've researched is wrong or is there that much difference in case brands.