20 tactical input needed

[bobtails]

I am gathering parts to do a 20 tactical next spring. It will be built on a Rem 700 since I have a brand new McMillian stock sitting at home. I have procured my dakota brass. I want to shoot the heavies 39 and 40 grain bullets. Will a 11 twist do this or do I really need a 10 ? I would like to do either a 24 0r 26" barrel. What do you thin is best. this will be a coyote/ rock chuck setup.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

11 twist is perfectly fine for 40gr bullets.

 

[bobtails]

Sounds good lilja 11 twist it is then.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Check out X-Caliber barrels. They make an 11 twist 3 groove or 6 groove (your choice). Their barrels are every bit as good as Lilja barrels, probably even better, and a blank costs a third of the price. X-Caliber will also stand behind their product 100%, no questions asked. Try getting Dan Lilja to do that if you dont like the way his barrels shoot...

X-Caliber barrels are button rifled with continuous motion, drilled with the most advanced machinery in the industry, hand lapped, gauged for straightness and bore diameter, and stress relieved. You could dang near buy 3 X-Caliber barrels for the price of one Lilja. With my personal Lilja experience, id never buy one again. Every Lilja barrel ive dealt with is finnicky and tough to get shooting well in comparison to other high end manufacturers.

 

[bobtails]

Great info thanks. I've heard pf xcaliber being very good. Only complaint I've heard is the gather copper rather quickly. Whats been your experience?

 

[bobtails]

What powders should I try? I have 8208, Tac, 4895, varget, H335, Benchmark, Rl10x, Rl15, Rl17

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Great info thanks. I've heard pf xcaliber being very good. Only complaint I've heard is the gather copper rather quickly. Whats been your experience?

Nope. Whomever claims that probably does not know how to break in a barrel properly or didnt do it at all. If you dont smooth the throat out from chamber reamer marks, it will happen every time. Most any barrel will collect copper if you dont do a good break in. How badly a barrel collects copper and how easily a barrel breaks in is mostly due to how good of a chamber job was done on the rifle.

X-Caliber inspects EVERY barrel with a hawkeye for any imperfections after hand lapping. They are expertly hand lapped with the bore twist. They dont send them out the door til they are right.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

What powders should I try? I have 8208, Tac, 4895, varget, H335, Benchmark, Rl10x, Rl15, Rl17

All of those powders except RL17 will work.

Id try Varget or 8208 first just because thwy are known for temp stability and forgiving accuracy on ladder tests.

 

[bobtails]

Sounds great I am checking on one as we speak.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

My 204 Ruger loves RL15, but i haven't tried it in my 20 TAC yet

 

[bobtails]

What powders should I try? I have 8208, Tac, 4895, varget, H335, Benchmark, Rl10x, Rl15, Rl17

All of those powders except RL17 will work.

Id try Varget or 8208 first

as far as small rifle primers what kinds? Is a heavier cup like Rem 7 1/2 or BR4 needed?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

What powders should I try? I have 8208, Tac, 4895, varget, H335, Benchmark, Rl10x, Rl15, Rl17

All of those powders except RL17 will work.

Id try Varget or 8208 first

as far as small rifle primers what kinds? Is a heavier cup like Rem 7 1/2 or BR4 needed?

Just depends on how hard you can push it. But 6 1/2, 400, and 450s would work fine. I have all those primers, but I use Fed 205s in all my small rifles. Only because they always seem to give me the best accuracy. Might just be luck of the draw.

If you were gonna run the 20 TAC in an AR15, a thicker cup primer may be a good idea, but shouldnt really matter with that round in a bolt rifle.

 

[bobtails]

I just got off the phone with Hunter at xcaliber and I am going to get a 11 twist 3 groove #6 bull sporter.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Cool. I have the 11 twist 3 groove as well. I think you'll be very pleased. The 3 groove is supposed to give longer barrel life on the throat. I havent personally determined that yet, but it makes sense that larger rifling would have better wear properties.

 

[bobtails]

I have apartial box of the sierra 39 gr BK to try. Lots of all the above primers.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I have apartial box of the sierra 39 gr BK to try. Lots of all the above primers.

In my experience with various 20 cal rifles, the 39gr Sierra BlitzKing is hands down the most accurate bullet of them all. Very explosive on varmints as well. Win-Win.

 

[bobtails]

Any idea on how well they anchor coyotes? I shoot 32 gr blitz out of my 204 and they hammer coyotes.

 

[TrappernGa]

I shoot the 20 Practical a lot and have used about all the powders you mentioned and find that the IMR 4198 will shoot all bullet weights in the 20 caliber really well. I started using 20 Tactical info because there was very little 20 Practical, but they share loading info. I shoot an 11 twist and I have both a bolt gun and an AR15 in the 20 Practical caliber. You will love the 20 cal. The 2.20 on the Target was the OAL of the round.

 

[fredo]

Hey Rob, my .20TAC was a 1:10tw. That's enough twist, as I feel the case capacity doesn't warrant runnin' anything larger than a 40grainer.

Loaded H322 with 35 Bergers & Benchmark with 39Blitzkings & 40Bergers. Both were wonderfully accurate and plenty fast! Used WSR primers with no issue...

I tried 10x, based on preliminary research from Kindler's "Terrific Twentys" book. It shot plenty good & fast, but I found it burned dirty in an AR & was temp sensitive to boot...

Big fan of the .20TAC, and I miss mine! Prolly would do a .20Prac, or 20-223AI if the .20cal bug bites sometime again in the future, only for the ease of brass procurement.

Good to see you've got the goodies lined up already, you're gonna dig the .20TAC! Give it a chance to shine & do at least a 24" barrel. Mine was 23" and 35s were hummin' 4K+, 39s @3875fps...

 

[GAnderson]

My 20Tactical has a 12 twist Krieger and shoots the 39 Sierra's and 40 v-max's...I do know that some 12 twists can be marginal for the 40gr bullets...that is why I bought 2 x-caliber 3 groove, 11 twist barrels quite some time ago...had one chambered in a standard 204 and saving the other back for when the Tactical needs re-barreled. The 11 twist x-caliber in 204 "broke in" as quick and clean as any of my other custom barrels and shoots extremely well, so don't be afraid of x-caliber barrels just because they are cheaper than the others. As for the 20 Tactical and powders...RL10x, Ramshot X-terminator, 8208, Benchmark and probably my best powder for the 39 Sierra was AA2520(which has been unavailable for over a year now). 8208 is good as well and seems very forgiving on pressure...so don't be afraid to run it at max. I use Rem 7 1/2"s, CCI400 primarily for primers. You won't be disappointed with the 20Tac...very fun cartridge. A couple of other bullets that a lot of people don't know about is that Speer makes a 39gr...VERY effective on yotes and R. Robinet of BIB bullets makes a 40gr bullet...the BIB will need an 11 twist or faster and is VERY accurate with 8208 powder. Hope all this helps.

Gene