You guys know me. I am always up for a good conversation!! Anyway i have been invited to a prairie dog hunt this coming spring. I have never been before and i am pretty excitted to say the least. I have a stiller predator action and a tooley MBR that i can do something with, and i am think i need the ultimate prairie dog rifle. I am not a huge 20cal fan, but i did have a 204 that shot pretty good. Anyway i am thinking a 20BR might be just the ticket for the visual pleasure most folks look for. I found a barrel that pretty affordable but it a 12twist. I have read that most folks want a 9 twist so they can shoot 50gr berger. I am thinking i would like to shoot the 40gr v-max or 39gr sierra. will the shilen 12 twist do the job at 20br speeds? Also i need to mention that the barrel is going to be chrome moly. I will try to lap this barrel myself as i feel i can do this once i gain the knowledge to do so. Cant be that hard. I may be wrong in my way of thinking, but i dont want to burn up a 300$ krieger blank hunting prairie dogs. the shilen is only 130 bucks. I read an article from Mr Green ( bartlein barrels) that there is nothing wrong with Chrome moly it just takes a bit longer to brake in and it may copper a bit more. Accuracy will not be effected by going with chrome moly if the barrel is made right of course. So will the 12 twist be ok for 40gr bullets? What about dies? I can use my redding bushing die for FL sizing, but i dont know what route to go with for a seat die. I will also have to buy a reamer. Anyone have any certain reamer they would recommend for the 40gr bullets. any info is appreciated. I am not 100% sold on this idea as of yet. if i dont go 20cal it will be a 22BR. I already have one of those though. My other 22BR is a super accurate barrel and i hate to burn it up, so i really just dont know what route to take. the 20BR seams pretty interesting. Thanks lee
20BR lets talk!!! LOL!!!
- Thread starter skeetlee
- Start date
......And Mine is a 1-9 Lilja. I think the 20BR just beggs to shoot 50 and 55's. I love the 55's, but I am a long distance nut. I also hunt coyotes a bunch too, and so far 10 dogs shot at and 10 dogs DRT!!! ;D
The 20BR and 55 grain Berger combination is just flat out awesome, and it will give my custom 7WSM + 168 Bergers a run at 1000 yard steel!
The 20BR and 55 grain Berger combination is just flat out awesome, and it will give my custom 7WSM + 168 Bergers a run at 1000 yard steel!
My buddy has a 9 twist 20br and I reload the 55 Bergers for him. It will out shoot my 6brx most of the time at 500 yards with groups always under 2".
I just put my 22br on and it is UNREAL. Its a 7 twist Krieger and I am shooting 90gr. JLKs. It shoots in the 3s or less at 300 and in the 1-2" range(or better) at 500 with no load development.
From my experience, you can't go wrong with either one.
I just put my 22br on and it is UNREAL. Its a 7 twist Krieger and I am shooting 90gr. JLKs. It shoots in the 3s or less at 300 and in the 1-2" range(or better) at 500 with no load development.
From my experience, you can't go wrong with either one.
skeetlee said:
Absolutely. I built mine going in kind of blind, but my goal was to get something in the .204 caliber that would do better than my .204 Ruger (now sold) past 500 yards. So, I went a head and built it with a fast twist with the 55's in mind. Boy, am I glad I did. I couldn't be happier. It's a bonus that the 55's work so well on coyotes too. You may not get the best blowups on PD's, like you would with ballistic tips though. I would still go with a fast twist; that way you could still shoot the lighter V-max's, SBK's and such.
I know I'm touting 1000 yard stuff alot, and that probably isn't the best reason to build your gun, but I just wanted you to know how cool and versitle the 20BR is when going with the 55 Bergers. And oh, 8 out of the 10 coyotes that I have killed were under 200 yards.
Dont you risk the possibilities to spin the jackets off the 32gr and 40gr v-max with a fast twist barrel at these velocities? 4000fps is smoking fast!! I want total prairie dog mayhem!!! I think i will go the traditional 12 twist and shoot either the 39 sierra or 40gr v-max. What about seating dies? I dont see any for sale at sinclairs unless you buy the hole set of redding comp dies. Lee
skeetlee said:
I'm just assuming that I could still shoot the lighter bullets....I haven't tried yet, so I can't give you any insight of the over spinning stuff. I personally haven't ever seen that happen (I guess it could I just haven't seen it). I really have no desire to even try them. For what it's worth, I have a couple of buddies shooting 20BR's with 12 twist and they can't wait until it's time to re-barrel so they can go with 9 twist.
Here is my own opinion and please don't hate me for it. ;D The BR case capacity is begging for 50's and 55's. As much as I absolutely, positively love the .20BR, if I wanted it just for PD's at mostly shorter distances (500 yards and in), I don't think I would do a 20BR. This is because there are other .20's and or .17's that do an awesome job at those distances that also feed very well and easier to make cases (I think the 20VT would be awesome). I see that you are not new to the BR case, so feeding will not be a surpise for you. I've had the modifications done for feeding, but still....once in a while....
One day I want to build a .17 to do just what you are asking.....17 Predator, .17 FireBall,.17 tactical, .17 practical....... ;D
SongdogHunter
Gold $$ Contributor
I shoot the 50's with a 9 twist out of a 20 dasher. It is so accurate it's almost boring!
SDH
SDH
Lee I love my 20br it started out as a test gun with a take off 204 brl from a remy I had a remy trued and all the little tricks set the brl back chambered with a sami remer and atarted shooting I DO LIKE the 40 grn bulletts and dont plan on shooting any thing hevier with the br with a 12 twist (I have a 20-250 with a 9 twist). But the more I shoot it the more I like it and I realy do like it I am almost exsited to shoot this brl out so I can screw on a new shilen.
So if the 40 are the top of the list then I would say go for the 12 twist If you want to shoot 50s go for a faster twist (My 9 twist WILL NOT SHOOT A 40 GRN BULLET) .
Good Luck Kevin
So if the 40 are the top of the list then I would say go for the 12 twist If you want to shoot 50s go for a faster twist (My 9 twist WILL NOT SHOOT A 40 GRN BULLET) .
Good Luck Kevin
SongdogHunter
Gold $$ Contributor
it doesn't make much sense to only shoot one bullet weight in my mind., there are other cases that will will approach the same velocity with less powder, unless your intention is driving the 40's at real high speed.
there comes a point of diminishing returns, why use more powder than needed when a slightly lower capacity round will do the same or very close to it.
I think the PPC is nearly ideal for the 40's
SDH
there comes a point of diminishing returns, why use more powder than needed when a slightly lower capacity round will do the same or very close to it.
I think the PPC is nearly ideal for the 40's
SDH
This sounds like a great round!! Great components to make it a good round. I think that the 55 Bergers in a quick twist premium barrel would make it shoot like a laser at any range. the only thing that i see a problem--which can be solved--is forming the brass, when necking down, a lot of runout is or can be created. But fireforming should iron that out.
I would love to build a rifle in this chambering, but then i would also like to have a .50 BMG, .408 cheytac, mk 19, dillon aero chain gun.......
I would love to build a rifle in this chambering, but then i would also like to have a .50 BMG, .408 cheytac, mk 19, dillon aero chain gun.......
isnt speed whats its all about with the 20BR. The speed equals red mist with 40gr bullets. The accuracy will be there regardless, if the rifle is built correctly that is. If i do this project, and i think i will, the 39 sierras and 40gr v-max will be my bullets of choice depending on what one shoots the best. I bet the 39 sierras will!!
I want mayhem on those little critters!! The 12 twist will be ideal for this. If i want to shoot 50gr bullets i will use my 12 twist 22BR. Thanks for all the replies, this has been fun. Keep them coming! Lee
I want mayhem on those little critters!! The 12 twist will be ideal for this. If i want to shoot 50gr bullets i will use my 12 twist 22BR. Thanks for all the replies, this has been fun. Keep them coming! Lee
Red mist eh?
I've had 35g Bergers to 4,300 w/benchmark. You might check with some of the folks at Saubier. Seems I recall some of them shooting the Berger 50's in slower twists (slower than 1:9).
For some reason, I was thinking some were saying they got the 50's to stabilize in a 1:11 twist......don't quote me on that though. If that's the case, you may have the best of both worlds!
I've had 35g Bergers to 4,300 w/benchmark. You might check with some of the folks at Saubier. Seems I recall some of them shooting the Berger 50's in slower twists (slower than 1:9).
For some reason, I was thinking some were saying they got the 50's to stabilize in a 1:11 twist......don't quote me on that though. If that's the case, you may have the best of both worlds!
I also shoot a 20 classic and as my br I do like this round it almost mirroes the ppc. the 40 grainers do vart well with this gun MGM Brl on a tc I will not kick the ppc IT IS a good round but hit a timithy ground squrel at 300 plus with a 22 lr a 20 ack hornet a 20 classic a 204 and a 20 br then translate this to a rock chuck Thay all are fun but the br with 39 grn sieras are Vary Grafick.
I am going to try midway dogtown 34 grners if a few weeks thay do ok in the ack hornet vary grafick I will see what thay do in the br for some cheep fun
Kevin
I am going to try midway dogtown 34 grners if a few weeks thay do ok in the ack hornet vary grafick I will see what thay do in the br for some cheep fun
Kevin
I have a 1 in 9 Bartlien on my 20BR, I found 40gr VMAXs breaking up at 3600 or so. Or at least I think that was happening, they went through teh chrono but did not arrive on a 2 foot square target. Groups at 3500 were about 1.5" at 200 yards.
I have just got hold of some 39 gr Sierra BKs to try this spring.
I found the Berger 50s to be very accurate (all 200 weighed either 50.0 or 50.1gr, astounding), best results accuracy wise (.2 at 100 yards) were at between 3300 and 3500 fps with the 50s. This is off a shooting bag not a pivot rest set up.
A
I have just got hold of some 39 gr Sierra BKs to try this spring.
I found the Berger 50s to be very accurate (all 200 weighed either 50.0 or 50.1gr, astounding), best results accuracy wise (.2 at 100 yards) were at between 3300 and 3500 fps with the 50s. This is off a shooting bag not a pivot rest set up.
A
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