.20 Nosler 32gr Lead-Free Accuracy

[RAG]

Has anyone had good accuracy with these bullets? Looking to build a rig around them for shooting in Lead-Free zone...the BC appears to be same as lead counterparts of same weight, so as long as they shoot...all good. However, my convern is that I haven't been able to get the Nosler Lead frees to shoot near as well as the Hornady NTXs in my .223 AI.

Thanks! Ryan

 

[DiRTY DOG]

If anyone is still looking, they are on sale at MidwayUSA.

 

[searcher]

I have shot thousands of them in my .20 Practical rifles and have found the 32 grain lead free ballistic tips to be just as accurate as the leaded version - and more accurate than the NTX. Matching the lead-free bullets to a powder that your barrel likes is more critical with the lead-free bullets in my experiences in working up accurate loads. I don't have any experience with the .20 Nosler, but I can attest the bullets are fully capable from an accuracy standpoint. I had bought a quantity of the NTX bullets years ago and after getting less accuracy in every loading I tried them in (with a few different barrels), I only use the Nosler bullets in lead-free in that caliber. Every barrel is different.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

The 20gr NTX can shoot varmint accurate too, here in my Criterion 20 Practical. I was just hoping a a little better performance in the wind with the 32s.

 

[searcher]

I never tried the 20 NTX as most shots we take on the squirrels are out past 250 yards and the heavier bullets just do better in the field. I just looked at some of my test load targets and saw, in one of my .20 A/R's the best average grouping (average of several 5-shot groups) was with a 32 leaded V-Max at .280", while the lead-free Nosler 32 came in at a respectable .303". The 32 NTX was over .410". Not bad - just not as good in that rifle - or my others. That differential varied between rifles, naturally - but the 32 NTX was always in the shadow. I did find that the .20 cal. lead-free bullets tend to start yawing or otherwise getting "weird" out around 350-400 yards as compared to the leaded. No doubt due to the longer-for-weight bullet.