20 practical or tac

[JB10]

I am still debating whether i wanna go 20 practical or tac at this time. I dont care about dies, ill buy dedicated dies eather way i go but my question is for the guys that have eather. What powders are you running for the 32, 35, 40 gr bullets? Id like a powder that i can get my hands on with some ease this day in age. I dont wanna stock pile the powder untill i know it works with my rifle. I like the idea of 40gr bullets since i will predator hunt coyotes with this sometimes, just not many bullets out there right now. I do have a stock of 35gr bergers i got about 3 years ago before they dried up i use in my 204R. I still have time on this project to gather things.

 

[JSH]

If you have plenty of brass for the 204, I don’t see any advantage of a Prac or Tac over the 204.
I have enough 204 brass I myself am looking at a new 204 barrel.

As far as the two you speak of, the TAC has a lot of followers, I think the Prac probably has the same amount of advocates today as the TAC does.
Powders and bullets, only the rig will be able to tell you that.

 

[jpx2rk]

You can use the load data from 20 Tactical for the 20 P. With my first 20P, I just tested each powder listed in the Hornady data, and got good results with almost everyone of the powders. IIRC, I'm using RL 7 for the first one, and testing exterminator in my 2nd 20P at this time.

 

[Mark M.]

I've had both, but still shoot the Practical, (cheaper to form brass) I find the N133 and 39gr Bltz. works the best for me

 

[jepp2]

What powders are you running for the 32, 35, 40 gr bullets?

I shoot more of the 32 gr than anything (I like the speed). H322, N133, LT 32 tend to be my favorites for the 20 cal.

If you don't care about dies (which I don't understand), then the next step in the decision for you should be brass forming. I view the performance of both to be equal. I started with the 20P so I stayed that route. But I like the 30 degree shoulder on the Tac.

Probably next in the decision would be pre-chambered barrel availability. I can buy a barrel from WOA and other sources in 20P but not 20 Tac.

 

[itchyTF]

N133, 32gr BK and 35 gr Berger.
My “wallet group” (AR15) -
Grid is 1/4”

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I wanted a 20 cal AR so I went 20p, don't care if I lose a case or 2 in the snow. My bolt gun 20 is a 204R. I like the Berger 35 with the 20p (10 twist), run 40 gr bullets thru the 204(10 twist). I'm shooting winter fur coyote. Exterminator for the 20p, saving the 8208 for the 204.

 

[farmerjohn]

Practical here, hate forming brass...... John

 

[Majday]

I have a practical as well. 40 vmax run well in mine, but also the only bullet I've used for it. Works well with yotes and rockchucks. Benchmark is what I use

 

[urbanrifleman]

Practical or 20 Sploder

I've never had one single person ask for a 20 tactical barrel. Not one. I'm not sure why anyone would ever use a 20 tactical. Or why it's tactical haha

 

[JB10]

I shoot more of the 32 gr than anything (I like the speed). H322, N133, LT 32 tend to be my favorites for the 20 cal.

If you don't care about dies (which I don't understand),

The way i look at the die situation is i already have redding type s 3 die set that is set up for a 223 with proper bushings. I dont want to take die apart and reset it up when going from 223 to 20 practical. Yes some of it is lazy and rest is oh crap, what did i load last time with it 6 months ago....so i would treat this like starting with a new cartridge that require a die set. I have about 6 five gallon buckets full of 223 brass that i can convert. I have enough 204 brass to last some time but was just thinking something different to try. Im open to other cartridges based of the same bolt face as long as there is no major brass prepping. I dont mind little steps like the practical, tac, or even the 6×45 i built last year. I just have a 233 that i was going to change up

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I full length size my 20p brass same as 223, to fit 223 ammo checker. That die (standard fl) brass is used for 4 different 223 rifles and the 20p(after neck bushing die step). No case issues, fitment problems, a lot of rds. So you probably would only be changing the bushing. Will take 3 bushings to move used 223 brass to 20p. At worse replace the lock ring to a micro adjustable and just click back and forth for headspace.

 

[SSL]

The way i look at the die situation is i already have redding type s 3 die set that is set up for a 223 with proper bushings. I dont want to take die apart and reset it up when going from 223 to 20 practical. Yes some of it is lazy and rest is oh crap, what did i load last time with it 6 months ago....so i would treat this like starting with a new cartridge that require a die set. I have about 6 five gallon buckets full of 223 brass that i can convert. I have enough 204 brass to last some time but was just thinking something different to try. Im open to other cartridges based of the same bolt face as long as there is no major brass prepping. I dont mind little steps like the practical, tac, or even the 6×45 i built last year. I just have a 233 that i was going to change up

No dog in the fight here, but I agree with having a dedicated die set for the 20 Practical if that's the cartridge you choose. I am patiently (!) waiting for my .17 Remington barrel to finally wear out so I can swap it out to a .20 Practical. Since I wouldn't dream of being without a .223 (did that once...never again) I will set up a separate set of dies expressly for the .20. Like you, I don't want to have to remember what I last loaded with a die set shared between the two cartridges.

 

[MikeT49]

My current 20P is easy sub .5 moa using IMI brass, 39 grain SBKs. ~25 grs of H4895 & BR4s. Labrador says ~3850 fps. Barrel is 26", 3 groove. 11T. If you can find some H4895, you will not be disappointed.

 

[searcher]

I'd go with the Practical and use Accurate LT32 or H4198 powder in them with those 32's to 39's.

 

[jpx2rk]

I have two 20P's, and have a die set for each. Just seems easier to do it this way.

 

[Rick300]

My current 20P is easy sub .5 moa using IMI brass, 39 grain SBKs. ~25 grs of H4895 & BR4s. Labrador says ~3850 fps. Barrel is 26", 3 groove. 11T. If you can find some H4895, you will not be disappointed.

Very similar to my load. Out shoots anything else I have tried. Waiting for H4895 to become available though, well I might just have to start trying alternatives when I run out

 

[Webster]

I am still debating whether i wanna go 20 practical or tac at this time. I dont care about dies, ill buy dedicated dies eather way i go but my question is for the guys that have eather. What powders are you running for the 32, 35, 40 gr bullets? Id like a powder that i can get my hands on with some ease this day in age. I dont wanna stock pile the powder untill i know it works with my rifle. I like the idea of 40gr bullets since i will predator hunt coyotes with this sometimes, just not many bullets out there right now. I do have a stock of 35gr bergers i got about 3 years ago before they dried up i use in my 204R. I still have time on this project to gather things.

Check the loading data and great info. Looks like a cartridge based on the 223 case would be ideal since free cases are always available.

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[JB10]

I have a few lbs of h4895. But an saving it for my 6br. I have not seen it in a while but have not spent alot of time looking eather.

 

[JB10]

Well im going to just go with a 20 practical. Thought about 221 or 17 fireball but info i looked up need to change up some stuff to work in a R700 223 action. I just ordered dies and a 20 cal decapping stem. Ill get the barrel coming soon