20 BR build questions

[tacgnut]

I'm thinking about putting together a 20 BR and have some questions.
I've read many posts concerning necking down 6Br Lapua brass and most guys use the Redding or Forrester sizing dies.

Do I just need to buy the 22 Br die set and then buy the appropriate neck sizing bushings to step down from the 6Br?

Is inside neck turning required or just outside?

And once you get all your brass fireformed, do you then order a Wilson hand die set? If you just use the factory set, is the standard seater accurate enough or do you prefer the comp seater?

Who would you recommend for a rifle smith to do the build?
I had a name of a guy that I believe is out of Texas but lost it somewhere. Todd or Tim something?

I have a custom 204 with a Shilen 10 twist that shoots pretty well with 35 and 40 gr. pills. Is there a reason to use any other twist rate?

What can I expect, as far as top velocity goes with 35 to 42 gr. bullets?

I know, lots of questions for someone with single digit posts.


thx

 

[billmo]

P M sent. Bill

 

[Alycidon]

You are thinking about Todd Kindler, the Woodchuck Den.

http://www.woodchuckden.com/default.aspx

I am currently having a 20BR built and can recommend Todd, he has helped me and supplied gear to me at fair prices. I think his published loads are maybe a bit hot but 39/40 grains should be doing around 3,900- 4,000 fps through a 1 in 12 twist.

Just using bushing dies will not reduce the necks all the way down to the shoulder. I have got my smith to make up a die to take them all the way down to the shoulder then we will inside turn the necks on a lathe to remove any internal donut and correct the neck thickness at the same time. Don't yet know if I am wasting my money as most guys seem just to bush down, load and shoot.

I have settled on a 26 inch 1 in 9 twist for the 50 gr Berger bullet, this combination is capable of stunning accuracy as it is better suited to the larger capacity of the Lapua BR case. Velocity I expect to settle on will be around 3700-3800 ish. I have seen clover leaf groups at over 400 yards with a heavy match barrel. Todd says it is good for 800 yards, that may be stretching things but it certainly has more legs than the 39/40 grain pills. These run out of steam at about 600 yards from a BR case. The extra velocity you would get from a 32 grain bullet would not really be of any significant benefit and would run of steam even earlier. If you go below 26" barrel length you will loose significant velocity. I guy over here,England) has built one on a 22" barrel and is currently struggling to get the 50 grain bullet above 3300.

Another thought is primers, I have seen side by side tests with BR4 and Fed 205 match. The BR4 had a much closer shot to shot consistency. This may be different with current batch's but is worth investigating.

Talk to Todd.

A