20 br for bench rest?

[hot range]

Hey everybody I'm fairly new to this forum. I would like to hear your opinions on using the 20 cal berger 55 gr bullets for a 600 yard benchrest gun. I'm going to build a 20 br with 1:8 twist barrel to shoot these bullets. If anybody has any experience with these I would appreciate hearing your thoughts. I want try something new and have decided with this cartridge so don't worry about mentioning just getting a different cartridge like the 6br cause I already shoot one. I would like to hear some groups sizes at longranges and also any loads that you would have been using. You can give me any reason why the 20 be won't compete or why it will. Thanks

 

[Phil]

Send Doc a PM , he has killed prairie dogs out to 1000 yards with a .20 BR and the 55gr. Berger.


voldoc is his handle here...

 

[boltfluter]

Nor sure but the lack of BC may be a problem. Not sure how fast you can drive them but you may recoup some with sheer speed. Good luck. Sounds like a fun project. 8)

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[17VLD]

You should be able to reach 3650fps safely.VolDoc's story is good reading,a search in the article archives should produce the desired result.Good luck with your project.
Matt

 

[mshelton]

Search on the the 20 Comet, guy in NC I think) used to compete in long range benchrest with one and did fairly well.

I think Woodchuck den may have the article tucked away somewhere.

 

[vargetman]

A 1/9 twist barrel will stabilize a 55 Berger. A 1/8 twist barrel will blow the bullets up at 3600 fps. or faster. Ask me how I know this. Berger is kinda conservative in there twist rates. You can drive a bullet 3750 fps in a 20 BR very easy. I have shot it to 600 yards with no problems. I use Varget and RL 17. Be careful with you loads.

John

 

[Tommie]

I'm a big fan of heavy 20's.

As you shoot a 6BR you're already aware that the 20BR will be more affected by wind conditions. The upside will be less drop at 600 yards. Whether you would do better doping wind than calculating bullet drop is a question only you can answer. The coolness factor is off the charts but go into the project accepting the fact that you'll be at somewhat of a disadvantage.

 

[LHSmith]

^^^^^ If the OP is looking at benchrest competition then never winning a shoot is a BIG disadvantage....why even show up if you don't give yourself a chance to win? If it's just for fun, it should provide lots of it.

 

[stansrifles]

The guy shooting the 20 br comet a slightly improved case is cable of 3750 fps with a 9 twist like the one guy posted earlier you can not run 3600 plus in a 8 twist you will lose bullets the gentlemen shooting the 20 comet is tim gardner of douglas barrels I have two 3 inch targets hanging on the wall in front of my desk he shot at Whitehorse range in west Virginia if you want good info about the 20 calibers you can pm me for contact info.
Stan

 

[hot range]

Thanks for the opinions and facts very interesting just keep them coming.

 

[swd]

In a 10 mph breeze at 3650fps a Berger 55 drifts about 6" more than a 105 Berger Hybrid at 3000fps out of a Dasher at 500 yards. So just in that regard you would have to be better at doping the wind than the guy shooting the Dasher next to you. Sounds like a fun project but you would be at a disadvantage right from the start for a competitive rifle. And your stuck with just 1 bullet that has enough BC to even be in the ball park. Barrel life will suck too.

 

[Tommie]

Maybe before submitting any further responses some clarification may be in order. Why are you considering a 20BR for 600 yard competition?

 

[hot range]

Basically I just want to experiment with it. I'm not gonna be in any major competitions just some local matches around my area. I like to try new stuff and try to get new ideas out there.

 

[stansrifles]

I want to explain something about 20 cal a lot of you don't know the ballistics says one thing I am going to tell you another I witnessed at Whitehorse 1000yd match with the 20 br comet against 300 Ackley improved shooting at least a 210 gr berger against a 55gr berger at 3750 they pulled the sighter targets an sp otted shots they were both in the middle an the wind picked up the shot that they shot seconds a part landed in the 7ring in the same spot the 300 Ackley shooter said to me they is know way those bullets should not be in the same place because of BC they shot again the same results so explain that to me the gentlemen wanting to shoot a 20 br at 600yd I think you will do fine I probably shot the one of the first IBS matches with a 20 using the old 50gr bullets and shot MOA an that was not practical at all.
Stan

 

[LHSmith]

I want to explain something about 20 cal a lot of you don't know the ballistics says one thing I am going to tell you another I witnessed at Whitehorse 1000yd match with the 20 br comet against 300 Ackley improved shooting at least a 210 gr berger against a 55gr berger at 3750 they pulled the sighter targets an sp otted shots they were both in the middle an the wind picked up the shot that they shot seconds a part landed in the 7ring in the same spot the 300 Ackley shooter said to me they is know way those bullets should not be in the same place because of BC they shot again the same results so explain that to me the gentlemen wanting to shoot a 20 br at 600yd I think you will do fine I probably shot the one of the first IBS matches with a 20 using the old 50gr bullets and shot MOA an that was not practical at all.
Stan

^^^^^ One great target does not win matches.....Aggregates win matches

 

[Tommie]

I want to explain something about 20 cal a lot of you don't know the ballistics says one thing I am going to tell you another I witnessed at Whitehorse 1000yd match with the 20 br comet against 300 Ackley improved shooting at least a 210 gr berger against a 55gr berger at 3750 they pulled the sighter targets an sp otted shots they were both in the middle an the wind picked up the shot that they shot seconds a part landed in the 7ring in the same spot the 300 Ackley shooter said to me they is know way those bullets should not be in the same place because of BC they shot again the same results so explain that to me the gentlemen wanting to shoot a 20 br at 600yd I think you will do fine I probably shot the one of the first IBS matches with a 20 using the old 50gr bullets and shot MOA an that was not practical at all.
Stan

Brother,

I think I get your point. But maybe not. Spell Check and some punctuation would really help.

Anecdotal accounts are interesting but the laws of physics are hard to bend. Given enough velocity, a 55 grain 20 caliber could beat anything. The problem is the bullet can't be driven fast enough.

 

[Ga. Dawg]

Mr. Tommie, apparently you have very litte experience with this particular project. Mr. Stan Taylor on the other hand has vast experience in this project and I have to wonder just how many 600 and 1000 yard targets you have shot, especially with a 20 cal. And furthermore, while Mr. Taylor's spelling and punctuation may not be up to your standards, he happens to be one of the finest GENTLEMAN in the IBS. I guess down south we have more respect for our friends!

Respectfully, Mike Wilson

 

[mshelton]

Dern quiche eating yankees.

 

[jrkotz]

x2 on Mr. Stan Taylor. He's been a consistent top finisher in IBS competitions for decades in WV. Last weekend he placed 2nd at the 600yd match for light and heavy gun Ag. against over 20 very good shooters. The 20's are interesting. Stan and Tim Gardner of Douglas barrels have been working with Todd Kindler of the Varmint's den for years on the small calibers. I'm very new to competitive BR shooting, and have been very lucky to have these gentlemen as council for my 20 BR improved project. I've seen Tim's 20 Comet (3.091" 5 shot IBS 1000 yd grop) and 20 Dasher 1000 yd targets, and a 30' wall covered in Stan and Tim's trophys, these guys sure know their business. Punctuation aside, Mr. Taylor and the guys at Douglas are an unbelievable wealth of knowledge.

I'll second that a 9 twist is the way to go for the 55's in a 20 BR, and I think you can be as competitive with it as any other bench caliber. Be careful with the 20's, there extremely addictive.

Check out VolDoc's gun of the week write up on his 20 BR, he's getting 3590 fps out of the Berger 55's in a 9 twist with incredible accuracy and a 1000 yd PD kill - http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek0103/

For kicks - a picture of a section of the trophy the wall @ Douglas

 

[michaeljp65]

^^^^^ If the OP is looking at benchrest competition then never winning a shoot is a BIG disadvantage....why even show up if you don't give yourself a chance to win? If it's just for fun, it should provide lots of it.

I used to shoot 6PPC in comps years ago. My rifle was up there with the best but it came down to me, the shooter, i was always in the bottom half of the field. The winners, were always up there in the top 10 for a reason. Whether it was their reloading experience or reading the wind or both. The OP here probably wants something different, he probably knows he is not going to win but want to be different. Im doing the same thing here, I'm getting a 20VT built for 100-200 yd BR comps. I know I'm not going to win, but i don't care. There are shooters who have been shooting in comps for as long as i been alive and have never won a comp, its all about having a go.