Lookin to build a new coyote gun and will also be for bobcat. Ive got 500pcs of lapua 223 brass, 10 lbs of 8208 and 5lbs of benchmark. Id be very happy with a round that feeds good, low recoil, and can push a 40gr around 3800. Does the 20 tac fit this? 204 ruger is out I hated the brass for it, ive had tons off 223's so looking for something diferent. Oh and this is a bolt gun. Thanks!
20 tac or???
- Thread starter vmaxpro
- Start date
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
Never had either so I can't say for sure but wouldn't a 20 Practical be a little easier and give the same or slightly better performance that a 20 Tactical??? Isn't a 20 Practical just a straight necked down 223 aka 20-223 and the 20 Tac requires fireforming, yes/no???
After a little reading, it sounds like a 20 Practical would suit your needs quite nicely.
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek061.html
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NCVarhtr
Gold $$ Contributor
I have several 20 Tac rifles and it is a great cartridge. 3800 fps is easy with the 40 Gr bullets and IMR 8208 XBR is the best powder that I have found for the 20 Tac. I haven't tried all the powders in that range but Benchmark is good and so are a few others but 8208 gave me the highest velocity and very small groups. It is a very good Coyote cartridge and I have killed around 50 or so with mine in different states. I'm using the Dakota/Lapua brass but the Lapua should work just fine.
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
I've done several 'wildcats' and by far the 20 P was the easiest one.
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
I've got a 223AI that shoots better than any other rifle I've ever owned, it's almost boring to shoot it shoots that well, BUT, there is so little performance gain when you "AI" a 223 case I doubt that I'd ever do anything based off an "improved" 223 case.
What all is involved in forming 20 tac brass? Is the dakota brass still available?
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Whoever tells you that Fireforming is needed on the 20 Tac don't know jack!!! And I'd guarantee they've never owned one. If they do own a 20 Tac and still tell you to fireform, they dont know what they are doing.
You just neck down 223 cases with one stroke in your 20 Tac FL sizer die, load, and shoot. The shoulders will sort themselves out while you're having fun shooting and hunting. It's only a 7 degree change in angle. I've shot hundreds of 20 Tac rounds this way. Didn't have to re-tune the load after firing either. Never any safety or pressure issues. Piece of cake.
Performance is about the same between the 20 Tac and 20 Prac. The advantage of the 20 Tac is slightly longer brass life due to a slightly steeper shoulder angle. Doesn't stretch as fast. 30 degrees for the Tac and 23 degrees for the Prac. Other than that they are pretty much the same.
Both are just as easy to load and shoot.
You just neck down 223 cases with one stroke in your 20 Tac FL sizer die, load, and shoot. The shoulders will sort themselves out while you're having fun shooting and hunting. It's only a 7 degree change in angle. I've shot hundreds of 20 Tac rounds this way. Didn't have to re-tune the load after firing either. Never any safety or pressure issues. Piece of cake.
Performance is about the same between the 20 Tac and 20 Prac. The advantage of the 20 Tac is slightly longer brass life due to a slightly steeper shoulder angle. Doesn't stretch as fast. 30 degrees for the Tac and 23 degrees for the Prac. Other than that they are pretty much the same.
Both are just as easy to load and shoot.
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^^^^^^ this!!!!! I use mine on coyotes and bobcats. I bought a savage, barrel change myself( shilen prefit) and presto. Awesome cartridge.
chuckshooter
Silver $$ Contributor
I have had an ad up for 20 tac dakota brass for some time and was able to get what I wanted for one of my 20 tac's, the other one I am using lapua 223 brass. it is so easy to form, in my opinion, you don't need to look for the dakota brass. I have three 20 practical's and the two 20tac's. I can't tell the difference in accuracy or anything esle. if I handed you a loaded rifle without telling you which one it was, I don't think you could either. I shoot 32 vmax's in some and 40gr vmax's in other's. x-caliber, krieger, pac-nor, CBI and cooper(wilson), all shoot better than me. 11t and 12t. as you can tell I love my 20's
In a bolt gun I believe there is no advantage to either cartridge, AR platforms the Practical may feed thru the action smoother...I built my Tac 20 many years ago in a 1-11 twist Pac-nor barrel on a nice older Sako 75 Varmint..Dakota brass is nice, load & shoot, Lapua 223 for reforming works as well...I do a two step neck down process.....Easy enough..My gun shoots both 32 & 39 gr bullets very well...My Fav load is 39Gr Sierra & Benchmark powder..mike in Ct
chuckshooter
Silver $$ Contributor
one of my biggest regrets is cutting my barrel to short on my first 20vartarg I built. I can't stand to look at that rifle because of the short barrel. it shoots just fine, it simply bugs me.
My biggest regret was fluting a 28" barrel and then wanting it shorter.
GAnderson
Gold $$ Contributor
EXACTLY what is said above...I have seen all kinds of posts about having to "make" and "fireform" 20Tac brass and oh what a pain it is(The 20Tac is not an Ackley cartridge and doesn't really do a lot as far as forming, as stated by Ledd Slinger above). Then they post about how easy it is to make 20 Practical brass and how they have to run it thru their die 3 times...Really! Redding makes a 20Tac form die...lube the 223 brass, run it in the form die(1 time), load it and shoot it...it's that simple! (or do as Ledd Slinger and run 223 thru the FL die)No change in powder charge or anything...same load from the first shot to the next, to the next, to the next.
I have had a 20Tac from as far back as when the only bullets available were 33gr Vmaxes(YES 33gr, 32gr vmaxes weren't even made then) and 37gr Berger MEF's...40gr bullets weren't in existence and I don't think Sierra was even making 20cal bullets back then. So, the 20Tac is every bit as easy to do as the 20Practical and when it is all said and done, there isn't a nickels difference with the exception of the 20Tac using less powder to achieve right at 204 velocities. And, if you believe the velocities printed on the boxes of Hornady 204 factory ammo, run them over a chrono...you WILL be disappointed.
None of this is directed at anybody specific, so no need for anyone to get offended. I just felt the same sentiments as Ledd Slinger after reading so many posts about the 20Tac "issues". Thanks
Gene
I personally like the 24 inch kreiger #4 11 twist on my 20tac. Nothing wrong with either, it's up to you as you can always shorten not vice versa. As mentioned above that Dakota brass was the cats ass just make sure your chamber can handle it. Yes Gene, it was a match made in heaven, a 788 in a McMillan stock chambered in 20tac, a coyote hunters dream rifle.
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