20 Practical in a Custom Action?

[Mark M.]

Looking to build a 20 practical wondered what you guys thought about a custom action, I guess what I'm asking, is the 20 practical as a cartridge, (accuracy) worth of the expense of one of those little jewels, obviously there's cheaper ways to go, thoughts please, thanks

 

[7887mm08]

I built one off a savage model 11. ACCURATE AND FUN! If you got the $$$ i say go for it.

 

[pdhntr]

Looking to build a 20 practical wondered what you guys thought about a custom action, I guess what I'm asking, is the 20 practical as a cartridge, (accuracy) worth of the expense of one of those little jewels, obviously there's cheaper ways to go, thoughts please, thanks

The 20P for me occupies a specific function. It works very well in an AR platform, and used with a thermal scope and 35 gr. Bergers, I am able to make accurate hits up to 300 yards without knowing the exact distance. To me it's better than the 223 without the issues of the 204R (in an AR).

I have played with the 20P in a truck gun for prairie dogs and have eventually gone to the 204 Ruger for everything from the truck. My thought process is (for a bolt rifle) why would I make the process of loading for a truck gun more complicated, when the 204R is already formed and a little better ballistics.

The light 20 cal bullet is going to get blown around in the wind, that is inevitable, I don't know that you would see any accuracy benefit up to 300 yards, after that you would have to read the wind.

Just my opinion.

Jim

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Tikka action and put the money in the barrel and the build.

 

[B23]

Looking to build a 20 practical wondered what you guys thought about a custom action, I guess what I'm asking, is the 20 practical as a cartridge, (accuracy) worth of the expense of one of those little jewels, obviously there's cheaper ways to go, thoughts please, thanks

I'd say it depends on what you want from the gun. If this is a BR build and you're trying to squeeze every ounce you can out of it a custom action from someone like BAT may be in order but if this is a varmint/PD/ground squirrel build some of the factory actions will serve you well.

I'm a Rem 700 fan and I have many trued/blueprinted semi custom Rem 700 builds. My 20-222 and 20-250 are both on trued 700's and I don't know how they could shoot any better if they were full customs, at least not in my hands.

Tikka is known for making really good stuff so a Tikka T3 semi custom build would be a fine choice as well.

 

[Matt_3479]

Not a 20 prac but did a custom 20 tac. Absolutely love it. If I didn’t already have dies would considered the 20 prac

 

[Tommie]

The 20 Prac is a superb chambering and fully deserving of a custom action.

 

[Edd]

Looking to build a 20 practical wondered what you guys thought about a custom action, I guess what I'm asking, is the 20 practical as a cartridge, (accuracy) worth of the expense of one of those little jewels, obviously there's cheaper ways to go, thoughts please, thanks

I bought a Model Seven length Defiance Tactical Action for a 20 Tactical build.

 

[Mark M.]

I bought a Model Seven length Defiance Tactical Action for a 20 Tactical build.

You're with your set up what kind of accuracy were you getting

 

[jepp2]

I guess what I'm asking, is the 20 practical as a cartridge, (accuracy) worth of the expense of one of those little jewels

I have on on a Panda action. This is how it shoots at 100m.

 

[Edd]

You're with your set up what kind of accuracy were you getting

My barrel should be here in April.

I doubt a custom action will make a lot of difference in accuracy. I bought it because I liked it.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Rem 700 will not disappoint

 

[Alguapo]

If you have the money then why not. We have built 4 20 Practicals off the Savage 12 FV Actions and all 4 are fun accurate killing machines.

 

[TheCZKid]

If you are planning on having one built for you, then you could choose any action, including custom or from a donor gun. If you want to build it yourself and install the barrel and build the gun, then a Savage 11 or 12 action be a great choice. You can head-space your barrel, along with choosing any option of a stock, maybe pillar bedding the action, etc. Quality of barrel is probably first consideration.

 

[RegionRat]

20P is an awesome way to go with the 20 cal.

You probably already have 223 brass so the logistics are very easy.

If you wanted to treat yourself, many good custom actions are available in repeater options which are vast improvements over the original REM700. You won't regret the money spent on a good 20 cal.

While they are still available, I would grab a copy of the Terrific 20s book for background.

https://www.pierceengineeringltd.com/custom-steel-actions/

https://www.pierceengineeringltd.com/custom-titanium-actions/

https://defiancemachine.com/actions/tenacity/

https://defiancemachine.com/actions/anti-x/

https://bordenrifles.com/custom-actions/alpine-and-timberline-actions/

http://www.woodchuckden.com/catalog/page8.pdf

http://www.woodchuckden.com/

 

[jpx2rk]

I built a 20P on a R783 action with a Xcaliber barrel, everything I've tried in it (powder & bullet combo) has been sub moa with very little load development. Shoots the 26g pretty good, the 32 & 40's very well, even trying the 34g dogtown's in it for fun, and they shoot about .75 groups on a normal day. All loads are mag fed as the 783 port is smaller than other actions, and PITA to single feed. Only downside to the build.

 

[searcher]

In my experience, a well-built, purpose-built heavy-barrel .20 Practical varmint A/R will shoot 1/3" when tuned with a good load. That is usually the best one can realistically expect in most cases when shooting varmint bullets, though there are exceptions. A well-built bolt gun will usually do better. To expect it to shoot even .100" with varmint bullets is a huge stretch in my opinion except with an exceptional load from a new/newer barrel. I'd hope to get .200". So - I'd really be looking at about a .100 spread between a well-built A/R which might cost around $2,000 (optics excluded) to build, doing it myself with quality components, as compared to a custom bolt gun which may cost from $1,600+ for lower cost action (buying pre-chambered tube, do-it-yourself head spacing), to $3,500 + for a top-notch action like a BAT, good tube, trigger, decent stock, pillar and/or glass bed, minimal gunsmithing for chamber and brake, etc. I don't think one needs go to the top action makers to get a .200" rig. I have a Remington 700 in .223 and a Ruger .243 Winchester varmint model that will do that (both with factory barrels). I think the best value would be to find a used target rifle with a .385" bolt face and get a good .20 caliber barrel to get chambered for it. That said - I did recently buy a BAT VR action to build another .20 Practical. In short - I don't think there is any over-riding merit to spending the money on a good bolt gun over an A/R. But bolt guns are easier and faster to clean......

 

[SmokinJoe]

Another good action or donor rifle would be a Howa. Sometimes they can be had pretty cheap. They make a nice rifle with very smoothe bolt operation and there are good triggers available if you don't care for the HACT trigger. Think asian Sako, very similar designs.

 

[sundance]

I got a Bat B off this site 10 years ago in 6 br for a very good price. It then became a 6mm Ackley and now it is a 20 Practical. It shot great in all of the calibers . 20 Practical doesn't need a custom action to shoot great but I do like that Bat.

 

[EvanB]

So very happy to see others interested in the .20 Practical. Wishing for a factory rifle in it is not likely to produce. But...., There is a builder , RWSgunsmithing on gunbroker with an A+ rating for over 800 reviews that will do many action custom barrels for about $400. Consider what bullet you want to shoot before you determine your twist rate. Might also closely conside the availability of that specific bullet. Now if only someone would make a die set!!!