20 practical questions

[Kevin1990]

Been wanting a .20 cal Semi for target and occasional varmint.
Been reading on the 20 practical a little, and with the holiday deals around the corner, I’d like to build or purchase one.

What would be your expectations for accuracy of this cartridge?

What brass are you using? Is Lapua necessary to get the highest accuracy potential?

Is there a barrel or upper you prefer? Looks like WOA has a good deal on a complete upper. Just curious what everyone uses.

Thanks fellas.

 

[RegionRat]

What would be your expectations for accuracy of this cartridge?

My expectations for AR accuracy in 20 cals have been based on WOA Varmint uppers. John knows what he is doing with the chambers, so you will wish you had done it sooner...

What brass are you using? Is Lapua necessary to get the highest accuracy potential?

Lapua is of course very good, but it isn't necessary for a 20 Practical. You don't want to waste your time on low quality brass either.

When we used to be able to purchase virgin Lake City brass, we sorted/filtered it and it performed equally well. Something along the lines of decent Lake City, IMI, Starline, Norma, etc. will make good 20 P brass for the AR.

You won't be able to wipe the smile off your face. You will love it, the prairie dogs are going to hate it.

 

[jpx2rk]

I built a 20P on a R783 action with a X-Caliber 24" 10T IIRC, is not the least bit picky about what I feed it whether LC/FC/PMC brass, or bullet weights. I was looking thru the old targets for this gun when trying to figure out a starting point for my 2nd 20P , and noted that the XC barrel loves the 34g Dogtowns, so I just need to allocate the 34g's for this gun and move on.

 

[L.Sherm]

Just realize if you do go the Lapua brass route you will need a .234 nk chamber minimum a .235 is better if you want a no turn neck.
Other brass .232 is fine. If you go LC brass same year headstamp you will be fine.

 

[JB10]

Im i process of building one myself. Just need to get the barrel. Mine will be a bolt action

 

[Rick300]

Try the 39gr. Sierra's. They will put a smile on your face!

 

[RabbitSlayer]

You don't need to worry about lapua brass, because its been unobtainium for a while now. Besides, destroying lapua in a gas gun is silly. Try some starline 556. I had a woa 204 upper that shot great. When I bought it I didn't reload, or I would have got a 20p. I'm about to rebarrel a tikka to 20p.

 

[CSLR grandpa]

WOA is fantastic 20” works, I’d imagine 24” will too, any brass will do in a gas gun good results with Win., LC, Nos., I’ve only shot IMR 4895 so far, Rem 7-1/2, Hornady 24NTX, 32’s and 40’s; Sierra 39’s all shot very well.
A good trigger, decent glass and Harris bi-pod makes a good squirrel set up.

 

[GLShooter]

Tactical Ammunition for my barrels. Bolt or auto. The bolt guns are unreal and their autos are extremely good in all the chamberings I have from them.

 

[Kevin1990]

I have 200 pieces of virgin .223 starline brass. So I’ll use that. What’s the brass life like on the 20p?

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I think I’ll be going the WOA route.

I’ll check out tactical ammunition as well.

 

[Webster]

Been wanting a .20 cal Semi for target and occasional varmint.
Been reading on the 20 practical a little, and with the holiday deals around the corner, I’d like to build or purchase one.

What would be your expectations for accuracy of this cartridge?

What brass are you using? Is Lapua necessary to get the highest accuracy potential?

Is there a barrel or upper you prefer? Looks like WOA has a good deal on a complete upper. Just curious what everyone uses.

Thanks fellas.

New move to get rid of AR type rifles. Hope you don't have to turn it in after buying it. Bolt action are the most accurate and they will never be confiscated in our life time

 

[Kevin1990]

New move to get rid of AR type rifles. Hope you don't have to turn it in after buying it. Bolt action are the most accurate and they will never be confiscated in our life time

What do you mean? Is a new law trying to be passed, or are you talking about recent events and what you think is coming?

 

[Tesoro]

+3 for John's White Oak uppers for 20p. No way want to use lapua in an autoloader!! I used uniformed and matched LC brass and had great results. Shot my best group ever with above setup and 39gr. Was his 3 groove PacNor.

 

[Webster]

What do you mean? Is a new law trying to be passed, or are you talking about recent events and what you think is coming?

Based on the recent shooting in Maine many politicians are talking about banning ARs again. May not happen?

 

[JohnD]

Agree with everything said. I use LC brass and prep it. Mine are bolt actions and will shoot 3-4/10’s reliably but have shot the low 2’s occasionally.

John

 

[Tesoro]

Agree with everything said. I use LC brass and prep it. Mine are bolt actions and will shoot 3-4/10’s reliably but have shot the low 2’s occasionally.

John

Due to cost of components I gave up precision shooting fun with autoloaders!! Or maybe it was just from seeing my beautifully worked brass look like an UFC fighter's face after one shot.

 

[pdhntr]

I have 200 pieces of virgin .223 starline brass. So I’ll use that. What’s the brass life like on the 20p?

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I think I’ll be going the WOA route.

I’ll check out tactical ammunition as well.

I remember the time I didn't have a 223 and now I have a bunch of them, bolt and semi auto. One of my ARs is 20 P and to help keep cases and loads separated so I know at a glance what I am looking at, I got a hold of some HSM used brass and that is the only case I use to make 20 P.

For instance, if I dump a bunch of 223 cases in my tumbler, I can throw in my 20 P cases and when sorting them out HSM is 20 P and everything else is 223.

Doesn't matter what the manufacturer is, just so it's different than all the other 223s I shoot. Works well for me.

Brass life isn't any better or worse than 223, and subject to the same limitations as any brass case that is reloaded multiple times.

Jim

 

[Kevin1990]

Due to cost of components I gave up precision shooting fun with autoloaders!! Or maybe it was just from seeing my beautifully worked brass look like an UFC fighter's face after one shot.

Ahhh, now you got me thinking! Maybe I do want this as a bolt action. And just when I’m done with my 6.5 Grendel soon, maybe I’ll put a 20p barrel on that.

 

[cb186]

The answer to shooting an AR but not beating up your brass.

 

[RegionRat]

@cb186 I see the cutout and a side charger style handle.
Can you explain a little more?

Also, is your set-up compatible with a brass catcher that mounts on the gun, or do you use something else?