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20 Practical brass prep and source

Lefty2506

I'd like to build a 20 Practical, and I'm starting to collect the parts. Main purpose is prairie dogs out to 400 yds or so. I was originally planning on doing a bolt gun, but I think I'm going to do an AR instead. Anyway, regarding the brass, my plan was to buy 1000 pcs of new brass, run it through 223 sizing die with no expanding ball, and then run it through an Redding S die with the appropriate bushing. Is that good procedure, or are there extra steps that I should take?

Also, is there a recommended source for the brass? Obviously Lapua is good, but that's too $$ for my wallet, especially if I'm feeding it through an AR. My options are Starline 223 brass, Starline 556 brass, Winchester 223 brass, or a big mix of LC once fired brass that I'd need to sort through to see if I could find 1000 pcs with the same head stamp (ugh, lapua is starting to sound affordable at that point). Winchester brass looks to be out of stock everywhere, but I'm not in a hurry so I can wait to find some. I've never used starline brass, but nobody seems to complain about it (like the do about Federal and Fiocci brass). Also not sure what the difference is between Starline's 223 and 556 brass so if someone can clue me in there, that would be great.

Thanks,
Mark
 
Lefty2506 said:
I'd like to build a 20 Practical, and I'm starting to collect the parts. Main purpose is prairie dogs out to 400 yds or so. I was originally planning on doing a bolt gun, but I think I'm going to do an AR instead. Anyway, regarding the brass, my plan was to buy 1000 pcs of new brass, run it through 223 sizing die with no expanding ball, and then run it through an Redding S die with the appropriate bushing. Is that good procedure, or are there extra steps that I should take?

Also, is there a recommended source for the brass? Obviously Lapua is good, but that's too $$ for my wallet, especially if I'm feeding it through an AR. My options are Starline 223 brass, Starline 556 brass, Winchester 223 brass, or a big mix of LC once fired brass that I'd need to sort through to see if I could find 1000 pcs with the same head stamp (ugh, lapua is starting to sound affordable at that point). Winchester brass looks to be out of stock everywhere, but I'm not in a hurry so I can wait to find some. I've never used starline brass, but nobody seems to complain about it (like the do about Federal and Fiocci brass). Also not sure what the difference is between Starline's 223 and 556 brass so if someone can clue me in there, that would be great.

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...
I use all range brass for my 20 practical a little more work but it's fine for praire dogs and I did 8000 rds for last spring shooting dogs
 
I've read where others have processed their brass as you have described how you would like to do and it has worked for them. There is plenty of information on the 20 Practical in the archives. Once fired brass is also a good option for saving $$.
 
itchyTF said:
FYI
www.midwayusa.com

Winchester Lake City 5.56x45mm NATO Brass Bag of 250 (Bulk Packaged)

Winchester Reloading Brass is manufactured to extremely tight tolerances to ensure smooth feeding and positive chambering. Consistent case-to-case...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
Click to expand...
I can't access Midway's site from work so I wasn't sure what they had in stock. Is that going to have a Win 5.56 head stamp, or a LC head stamp? I seem to remember trying to work with Win 5.56 brass in the past and not having very good results from it. I used to have good results with Win 223Rem brass. Not sure what the differences are.
 
Blaster 1 said:
I use all range brass for my 20 practical a little more work but it's fine for praire dogs and I did 8000 rds for last spring shooting dogs
Click to expand...
What kind of accuracy do you get with mixed brass? I've tried doing that with my bolt gun (223 Rem). I've not been happy with the results with my 223, but 20 Prac might be more forgiving in that regard. If I work up a decent 1/2 moa load with Win 223 Rem brass and then try to use FC, the groups will double in size. I'm just picking on FC, but I've tried it with most of what you can find on the range. If I sort LC by year, I can get decent results. I also get really good results out of JAG brass, but it got hard to find after AMMO INC bought them, and I'm not seeing any AMMO INC brass coming off of our range.
 
I've tried new Lapua, and Top Brass. Also, Lake City, PMC, IMI and Remington, all range brass. Settled on the Remington. There are a lot of methods discussed on the site but I full size with a Redding .223 then do the necks in three steps with a Redding bushing neck die. How it works for your rifle boils down to the chamber reamer used.
 
Make sure you don't move the shoulder as new brass tends to be short at the shoulder. I would add Sig brass to your list of potential new brass. I do the same process for new and fired brass. Gutted RCBS FL 223 rem die, Redding neck bushing die(because I had these when I assembled my 20p upper).
 
I’d take a look at Lake City 223 brass, not 5.56 if you don’t want to trim. If you can’t find a deal on any I have a 1000 once fired I can sell. I’ve used that brass a lot and it’s the best deal I’ve found for quality and price. After I clean it and prep it it’s extremely consistent, when your seating bullets you can feel just how consistent this brass.

Note; I’m not out to sell this brass, just offering some to Lefty2506 if he needs some to get going. Lefty, if you want to try a 1000 I can send them your way unprepped, they will need to be cleaned and sized - 100.00 shipped for 1k.

I like Starline brass, I like this Lake City better for a 20 practical though. Either should work well though.
 
JB10 said:
I use LC for my 20p. Mix years. I size the brass just like you talked about, but i use 2 different bushings to step it down slowly. For me ive found after sizing it down on a bolt action its a little snug to close the bolt due to shoulder. After fireformed and resized your good to go.
Click to expand...
Any concerns that the tight closure could cause a feed issues on an AR? I'm guessing not because your bolt gun probably has a tighter headspace. Probably worth mentioning is that I plan on using my small base sizing die when I initially size it. I'm also kicking around the idea of setting my Dillion up with the case trimmer and trimming them all before doing anything else. I doubt that the brass would actually need it, but might as get it out of the way while its still in its 223/556 form so I don't have to buy extra tools to do it as a 20 cal manually.
 
nakneker said:
I’d take a look at Lake City 223 brass, not 5.56 if you don’t want to trim. If you can’t find a deal on any I have a 1000 once fired I can sell. I’ve used that brass a lot and it’s the best deal I’ve found for quality and price. After I clean it and prep it it’s extremely consistent, when your seating bullets you can feel just how consistent this brass.

Note; I’m not out to sell this brass, just offering some to Lefty2506 if he needs some to get going. Lefty, if you want to try a 1000 I can send them your way unprepped, they will need to be cleaned and sized - 100.00 shipped for 1k.

I like Starline brass, I like this Lake City better for a 20 practical though. Either should work well though.
Click to expand...
Thanks!!! That is a very generous offer. I was leaning towards the Starline 5.56. After their upgrades in 2021, it sounds like they are making some really good brass at a very good price. These days I'm always concerned about buying anything that Winchester is associated with. If you're getting good results out of the LC brass you have, that might be the easy button for me.
 
Lefty2506 said:
Thanks!!! That is a very generous offer. I was leaning towards the Starline 5.56. After their upgrades in 2021, it sounds like they are making some really good brass at a very good price. These days I'm always concerned about buying anything that Winchester is associated with. If you're getting good results out of the LC brass you have, that might be the easy button for me.
Click to expand...
Either way you’ll be good. I use to buy a lot of 5.56 Lake city, got tired of trimming it, found the 223 and liked it well enough to buy a good pile of it. The Starline I have works fine too, been using it in Sako and a CZ bolt, it doesn’t hold up like the LC brass but does a good job. I’m a fan of Starline but the LC is a tad more consistent out of the brass I have worked with but different lots vary I’m sure. I use that LC in my ARs, I did try it in a briefly owned 20 practical along with a few other brands, I liked it the best.
 
So one other question. Once the brass is formed, should I use a FL bushing die to size the brass, or a neck die? I'd assume that since I'm running it in an AR I need an FL die, but wanted to make sure I buy the right tool...
 
Lefty2506 said:
Any concerns that the tight closure could cause a feed issues on an AR? I'm guessing not because your bolt gun probably has a tighter headspace. Probably worth mentioning is that I plan on using my small base sizing die when I initially size it. I'm also kicking around the idea of setting my Dillion up with the case trimmer and trimming them all before doing anything else. I doubt that the brass would actually need it, but might as get it out of the way while its still in its 223/556 form so I don't have to buy extra tools to do it as a 20 cal manually.
Click to expand...
I didn't have time for a thorough read of all the posts, but... I recommend you wait till you have your new rig in hand and not bulk process until you have proof of a small sample passing functional tests first.

If your brass works from just being necked, then the small base is just more wear and tear on the brass.

You are really going to love the 20P in the field. Good Luck and in for the range reports!
https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/shop/complete-uppers.html?barrel_caliber=129
 
I don't have a 20p, but I bookmarked this post. I think it was the best instructions I found.

Tutorial of How to convert 223 cases to 20 Practical

I'm just getting back to working on loads for my 20 Practical, since 2018. I was reviewing my process of making 20P brass from Lake City cases. Today I was sizing my cases in stages, and noticed the concentricity was good from first FL die, then went way off with first bushing. So I called...
forum.accurateshooter.com
 
RegionRat said:
I didn't have time for a thorough read of all the posts, but... I recommend you wait till you have your new rig in hand and not bulk process until you have proof of a small sample passing functional tests first.

If your brass works from just being necked, then the small base is just more wear and tear on the brass.

You are really going to love the 20P in the field. Good Luck and in for the range reports!
https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/shop/complete-uppers.html?barrel_caliber=129
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's a very valid point. I have a fair amount of range brass that I've sorted by head stamp, including some LC, and it would be VERY easy for me to grab some more and sort it at no cost. There's no reason I can't pick a head stamp and work up a few pieces for functional testing before I go off the deep end with the brass.
 
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