20 Practical vs Tactical

[Mike in Oregon]

I have a new Savage Model 12 LRVP 204. The gun has never been shot and I'm already considering converting to 20 Practical for the rat patch. The major contributing factor is the cost of 204 brass vs 223 brass. And if I bring the 20 Tactical into the equation, I'm liking the 30-degree better vs 23-degree shoulder. I then tell myself if I'm considering a 20 Tactical, just stick with the 204. Need a little guidance here guys.

If I were to convert, it's just a barrel set back and rechamber to one or the other, right?

Mike...

 

[Tommie]

If you like the sharper shoulder then do a Tac. But keep in mind that it’s identical to the Practical performance-wise but requires custom dies. But really after you pay for barrel work etc you have spent enough to buy a good pile of 204 brass.
No matter what anyone says, a 20 based on a 223 case won’t run with a 204. Close but not equal.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

If you like the sharper shoulder then do a Tac. But keep in mind that it’s identical to the Practical performance-wise but requires custom dies. But really after you pay for barrel work etc you have spent enough to buy a good pile of 204 brass.
No matter what anyone says, a 20 based on a 223 case won’t run with a 204. Close but not equal.

I'm thinking the barrel cost won't be that much and I will already be ahead by converting. I hear you on the 204 vs 223. I'm only finding Hornady and Dogtown brass. The verdict is still out on the Dogtown and Hornady is expensive. 223 brass is plentiful and any cost range.

 

[Alguapo]

20 Prac no fire form. Free brass. I run mine at about 4000ft/sec. You can go faster but why ? Easy to form the brass. Super accurate.

 

[Fern]

Mike any relation or to Rick in Oregon? Back to your question that is a tough one. I have a 20 Tac, 204R and contemplated turning a 527 lux into a 20 practical myself but I don’t get enough rat or I dog action to warrant it.
The 20 practical makes the brass issue non existent so that gets a big plus in my book

 

[Mike in Oregon]

20 Prac no fire form. Free brass. I run mine at about 4000ft/sec. You can go faster but why ? Easy to form the brass. Super accurate.

It's all starting to come together. When doing my quick research. I missed that part. I do not what to fire form.

 

[Fern]

I'm thinking the barrel cost won't be that much and I will already be ahead by converting. I hear you on the 204 vs 223. I'm only finding Hornady and Dogtown brass. The verdict is still out on the Dogtown and Hornady is expensive. 223 brass is plentiful and any cost range.

Last week found a site that had 204r loaded Hornady black ammo for $26 per box of 50. Haven’t seen anything that cheap in forwver

 

[Skunce]

I ran a .204 reamer in short and shortened a .204 die and used LC 5.56 brass. You could probably just shorten the chamber end of your barrel and use a shortened .204 die.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Last week found a site that had 204r loaded Hornady black ammo for $26 per box of 50. Haven’t seen anything that cheap in forwver

I'll be shooting roughly 1k rounds a year. That adds up fast. I prefer load development and reloading with perfection.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Mike any relation or to Rick in Oregon? Back to your question that is a tough one. I have a 20 Tac, 204R and contemplated turning a 527 lux into a 20 practical myself but I don’t get enough rat or I dog action to warrant it.
The 20 practical makes the brass issue non existent so that gets a big plus in my book

No sir. Just a fellow Orygunian!

I have decided the 20 Practical is the one. I do not want to fire form. I will reach out to my smith and get a price check to convert.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Thanks guys. This is no brainer to me. I will look into the 20 Practical.

 

[Fern]

I'll be shooting roughly 1k rounds a year. That adds up fast. I prefer load development and reloading with perfection.

If you’re shooting that much I would probably lean towards the 20 practical. I wish I got a quarter of that action. Just about done doing load development with my new barrel on the 204 and p dog season closes at end of the month. Will have to wait couple months for it to open but will be loaded and ready

 

[Mike in Oregon]

If you’re shooting that much I would probably lean towards the 20 practical. I wish I got a quarter of that action. Just about done doing load development with my new barrel on the 204 and p dog season closes at end of the month. Will have to wait couple months for it to open but will be loaded and ready

Rick has brought me up to speed lastly. I completely sold-out 20+ years ago and in 2019 I started to build another varmint arsenal. A lot has changed here according to Rick. I have come a long way however in the past couple of years and even though I haven't been out to shoot yet, I know I'll be soon, just as soon as I retire! So, I want to do this right.

 

[JB10]

I have a 204r and a 20p. I do like that 20p and forming brass is so easy. I dont push mine hard at all just not needed for me. 40gr vmax in a 22in barrel it 3,760fps. My 204r is 3,880 with a 35gr berger. I have no regrets on the 20p and would do it again. I have a life time supply of free brass to form also!

 

[TheCZKid]

The combination of cheap brass over 204 Ruger, and the no fire-forming compared to the Tactical made me decide Practical. Plus, I just use a 223 S die with a 226 bushing to re-size after my brass is shot, and no custom dies needed. I'm interested in what the smith will charge to do the rechambering.

The other thing, since you're getting into a 20 Vartarg as well, my 20VT I use 32 grain bullets, and the 20P I shoot 40, both about the same speed, which is cool, around 3750

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I have a 204r and a 20p. I do like that 20p and forming brass is so easy. I dont push mine hard at all just not needed for me. 40gr vmax in a 22in barrel it 3,760fps. My 204r is 3,880 with a 35gr berger. I have no regrets on the 20p and would do it again. I have a life time supply of free brass to form also!

I thought the 20P didn't need to be fire formed???

 

[Mike in Oregon]

The combination of cheap brass over 204 Ruger, and the no fire-forming compared to the Tactical made me decide Practical. Plus, I just use a 223 S die with a 226 bushing to re-size after my brass is shot, and no custom dies needed. I'm interested in what the smith will charge to do the rechambering.

The other thing, since you're getting into a 20 Vartarg as well, my 20VT I use 32 grain bullets, and the 20P I shoot 40, both about the same speed, which is cool, around 3750

Me too! I'll call tomorrow.

 

[JB10]

I thought the 20P didn't need to be fire formed???

You dont have too, but i do see a slight point of impact differance from virgin formed brass vs fire formed brass. It is very minimal on paper, less than 1 inch. Group size is same eather way.

 

[TheCZKid]

I thought the 20P didn't need to be fire formed???

No fire-forming, just necking down from 224 to 204, good to go.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I thought the 20P didn't need to be fire formed???

Disregard, I mis read.