Cost to build 20 tac in the AR?

[matticus0314]

I am curious what it is going to cost to get into a decent 20 tac or practical(I am not 100% sold on one over the other yet) in the AR platform? I have never built a gun or dealt with a gunsmith on anything so I am not sure if there are "hidden" costs that I am not thinking about.

I am not looking for a top of the line competition rifle, this is what I am looking for:
- shoot .5 moa or better @ 100yards
- nice trigger pull
- heavy barrel to take the abuse of shooting PD's(average I would shoot 250 rounds in an 8 hour day with one rifle.)

I am not asking about glass that is for another time and I have a good handle on what a good scope can cost.

I guess I am wondering if anyone can lay it out what it would cost to get a setup like that? I know there are many options out there, so if you could tell me where I can save money and where I need to spend it that would be much appreciated.

 

[ab_bentley]

Rigid Raiding Craft, huhh.


It will run you from 1000$ min to 5000$. Check out White Oak Armory and 6mmAR.com. Adam

 

[RonS]

Have you considered a .204 Ruger? You can get a complete upper with carrier from Model 1 Sales for under $600.00. The only way I know to get a 20TAC or 20Pracitical is custom. I have heard a lot of good things about the two 20's but have actually shot the .204 out to 200 yards at under 1MOA from the bench.

 

[A_Gamehog]

1). Common sense, you don't need to spend over 1,000 on an AR-15 in 204 Ruger.

2). DPMS Panther in 204 ruger 900.00+ heavy barrel, fluted (a must when rapid cooling is required) 1-12 twist, shoots the 26 Barnes to the 40 Vmax.

3). Redding full length 204 dies 30.00.

4). Reloader 10X powder, Federal 205m primers, 34 grain .204 generic bullets from Midsouth, 40.00 per 500 on sale.

5). Hornady brass, buy the loaded ammo on sale in the winter for 27.00 per 50 rds. (the brass alone costs that much). Shoot the ammo then reload the cases. win-win!

6). Work your own trigger down to where you want it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-orO4-omgMc

My rifle shoots 1" or better with hand weighted loads out at 200 yards...JP trigger filed down to about 1.5lbs makes the difference. Any lower is not safe in an AR-15 with most.

204 ruger Barrel from Midway 199.00$
added to a shot out used rifle buy?

or after you get this one barrel shot out, buy a custom 20 Prac. or Tact. for 400+$

Good luck!

 

[matticus0314]

Thanks for all the replies!

I will look into the 204's, they seem like they may be a great place to start. I think my main interest in the 20 Practical was the ballistics looked a little better as well as good barrel life. but what I am finding is that the 204 may fall in that boat without the pricey custom setup.

Does anyone know any downfalls to the 204 over a 20 Practical?

-Matt

 

[A_Gamehog]

Matt,

There really is no down side to any 20 cal. rifle to me. Google Todd Kindler.. http://www.woodchuckden.com/VarTarg.aspx

1). 20 praticle, 400+ for just the barrel if you can find one chambered, able to use any .223 brass made, Including Lapua or Nosler.

2). 20 tacticle , uses it's own headstamp brass made by Lapua. It's cheap for the quality of the Brass.

3). 204 Ruger has Nosler, Winchester, Remington, Hornady for brass, and it burns clean with the right loads. Case stretch is minimal.

The idea you had for the 20 Prac. and tac. is what I wanted also. It's easier to just buy a 204, and when the barrel is gone, just re-barrel it. Anyone with a 35.00$ barrel wrench and vise can change an AR-15 Barrel. There is no Headspace adjustment, let me repeat that, no adjustment is made or can be made. No other rifle is like this, as long as the upper and bolt is from the same maker and it's not interchanged between different uppers it will last 5,000-10,000 with new rings and parts occasionally. I shot 600+ rounds in one day last spring at squirrels, I cleaned it once. It still shoots 1/2MOA with the right loads.

Just get a 20 cal, and see the visible difference on small game and you will be hooked on the 20's like some of us. White Oak armory, Les Baer, and many others make Mill spec rifles. Most all parts interchange. But keep it simple and stay with one maker and you will not have issues some others have with failure to fire loads, unable to chamber loads. Full length size each time, and you will have many days of trouble free shooting. You don't want to hike 2 miles from your truck, get into a good dogtown, and have a round stuck in the chamber.

25$ 204 Ruger factory loads for 50 rds.
http://www.grafs.com/


Don

 

[RonS]

Matt, check out http://www.dtechuppers.com/ar-15-upper-receivers.html if you already have an AR-15. Hope it helps

 

[matticus0314]

Thanks Shootr!

I do not have an AR yet but I know a guy that is starting to build them so hopefully I can talk to him and he could make it happen.

Has anyone here used the dtech uppers before. I am curious what they think of them and if there are any pro's and cons to them?