20 VT brass question

[Jpete]

I am considering a 20 Vartarg build but have a question about brass. My gunsmith says he has a 20VT reamer but it is for Lapua 221 FB brass. I know that Lapua discontinued 221 Fireball brass and Nosler is available. Can I use brass formed from .223 cases or should I just buy the Nosler 221 Fireball brass?

 

[Bill K]

You can use the formed LC or any 223 brass and do very well. Of course, if you don't want to form your own from LC or 223, then buy the 221 FB and just run it into your 20VT die and trim. Either way there is some forming of brass and then fire forming to your chamber.

 

[SmokinJoe]

If you form from 223 you can still have Lapua , and you can turn the necks for the clearance you really want. That is a win - win, albeit with a little work required. Or you can find someone who makes 20VT from 223 and spec the necks.

 

[L.Sherm]

20 VT Lapua reamers are usually. 002 bigger at the base to avoid clickers and have a .235 or.236 Nk chamber. Like Smokinjoe says someone to make you brass to have .004 nk clearance would be the best option.
Nosler brass if you can find it you would work the nks more and end up probably. 006-.007 nk clearance depending on the reamer nk

 

[TheCZKid]

I've got a 20 VT and perfected the process of making excellent brass from LC, and that's very good brass compared to most, and inexpensive to do yourself, but time consuming. If you end up wanting to make some, let me know, and you can find the posting on the whole process on this site.

Midway has Nosler 221FB brass in stock right now, $133.99 per 100.
I have offered it for sale here for a while, I have some on here now, ready to load, annealed and trimmed, etc. For my chamber I turn the necks to .0125" thickness, but I have 200 available that have .013" thickness, which should be best for the Lapua chamber reamer.