Experiment: Turning 20 Practical brass into 20 Tactical brass. Possible?

[Colt Kodiak]

The reason I ask that question is that I have over 700 loaded rounds of 20 Practical loads with the 32VMax and VV-N133. The loads are perfect and I've checked. I wanted a 20 Practical but a 20 Tactical will be coming my way. Both are using the .223 brass and the Practical only pushes in the neck to a .20. Would the Tactical dies go ahead and bring the shoulder around of the 20 Practical brass? Hell, maybe I should search for a used 20 Practical before taking all of the loads apart.

 

[L.Sherm]

If you have never wildcat ed before I would start with something simple like the practical

 

[Colt Kodiak]

If you have never wildcat ed before I would start with something simple like the practical

That was not my question and how do you know what I've been through. Anyway, too late. The Tactical is on it's way.

 

[chuckshooter]

Would the Tactical dies go ahead and bring the shoulder around of the 20 Practical brass?

I don't understand your question "bring the shoulder around of the 20 Practical brass"

if you meant will the 20tac die push the shoulder back to a 30 deg. angle so it will fit into a 20tac chamber, then the answer to your question is yes it will.
I have three 20p's and two 20t's and I make brass out of 223 for both, at this point I can't tell any difference in performance, but I think I like the 20tac case better, but it's a toss up.

I also have that redding forming die you are looking for. let me know on that

question for you, How do you know the load is perfect without the barrel?, all my 20p/t's use different loads tuned to each barrel.

 

[Colt Kodiak]

Would the Tactical dies go ahead and bring the shoulder around of the 20 Practical brass?

I don't understand your question "bring the shoulder around of the 20 Practical brass"

if you meant will the 20tac die push the shoulder back to a 30 deg. angle so it will fit into a 20tac chamber, then the answer to your question is yes it will.
I have three 20p's and two 20t's and I make brass out of 223 for both, at this point I can't tell any difference in performance, but I think I like the 20tac case better, but it's a toss up.

I also have that redding forming die you are looking for. let me know on that

question for you, How do you know the load is perfect without the barrel?, all my 20p/t's use different loads tuned to each barrel.

No, I meant "perfect" as far as power weight into the loads. You know how we feel about reloaded rounds. These were meant for another rifle and loaded on the light side, 24 grains of VV-133 and probably short OAL for a AR-15. I was just thinking if I ordered a 20 Practical, I would shoot these on the prairie dogs even though not the optimum load but figuring out a way for this summer. Probably a crappy way to do things.... But, now my gunsmith has been delayed on receiving the 20 Practical reamer and he already has a 20 Tactical. He thinks the 20 Tactical is a better cartridge, neck space, shoulder angle, etc. I'm leaving in a month and this one can arrive on time.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

You just shoot 20 Practical rounds in a 20 Tactical. Now you have formed 20 Tactical brass. Done.

Can't figure out why people still think making 20 Tactical is so difficult.... I literally neck down 223 brass in my 20 Tactical sizer die, which makes it into 20 Practical brass. Then load and shoot. It's only changing the shoulder angle 7 degrees. Nothing to it.

 

[Colt Kodiak]

You just shoot 20 Practical rounds in a 20 Tactical. Now you have formed 20 Tactical brass. Done.

Can't figure out why people still think making 20 Tactical is so difficult.... I literally neck down 223 brass in my 20 Tactical sizer die, which makes it into 20 Practical brass. Then load and shoot. It's only changing the shoulder angle 7 degrees. Nothing to it.

It's the same as any Ackley cartridge. Size, load and shoot. The shoulders will form to the steeper angle while you're at the range load testing or out having fun shooting. Just stay away from max loads until the cases have been fireformed.

Many Thanks! If these Practical loads fit into the Tactical (and they are light loads), fire-forming will happen.

 

[chuckshooter]

Many Thanks! If these Practical loads fit into the Tactical (and they are light loads), fire-forming will happen.

They will not chamber. 20 tac will fit into 20p, but not the other way around. And there would be headspace issues.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

They will not chamber. 20 tac will fit into 20p, but not the other way around. And there would be headspace issues.

Wrong. How would a 20 Tac with a 30 degree shoulder fit into a 20 Prac chamber with a 23 degree shoulder??? You have them backwards.

A 20 Prac is just a 223 necked down to 20 cal. No other mods to case design. I neck the entire neck of 223 cases down to 20 cal with my 20 Tac sizer then load and shoot.

It's possible his 20 Practical rounds won't fit due to the fact that they were sized for a different rifle chamber, but if they are to spec, they should chamber in a 20 Tac just fine.

There might be slightly varying designs on the 20 Tac, but mine is designed to keep the same neck shoulder junction of the 223 and 20 Prac then just blow the shoulder out to 30 deg.

 

[L.Sherm]

That was not my question and how do you know what I've been through. Anyway, too late. The Tactical is on it's way.

Your question was very confusing, so I took it as you have never fireformed before. MYBAD, nothing derogatory intended on my part.

 

[chuckshooter]

Wrong. How would a 20 Tac with a 30 degree shoulder fit into a 20 Prac chamber with a 23 degree shoulder??? You have them backwards.

A 20 Prac is just a 223 necked down to 20 cal. No other mods to case design. I neck the entire neck of 223 cases down to 20 cal with my 20 Tac sizer then load and shoot.

It's possible his 20 Practical rounds won't fit due to the fact that they were sized for a different rifle chamber, but if they are to spec, they should chamber in a 20 Tac just fine.

There might be slightly varying designs on the 20 Tac, but mine is designed to keep the same neck shoulder junction of the 223 and 20 Prac then just blow the shoulder out to 30 deg.

check the reamer prints. as I said in my post, I have several of both and I checked to see if either would chamber in the other gun before I made my post. A true 20 tac is formed by setting the shoulder back, not by blowing it forward like an ackey. and as you said yours sounds like a different design.

 

[Tommie]

check the reamer prints. as I said in my post, I have several of both and I checked to see if either would chamber in the other gun before I made my post. A true 20 tac is formed by setting the shoulder back, not by blowing it forward like an ackey. and as you said yours sounds like a different design.

This. The Tac neck is longer by pushing the shoulder back. Not arguing with anyone’s successful firing of Prac loads in a Tac but they do have different headspace dimensions.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

You guys may be right. The 20 TAC is still a wildcat so there is no SAAMI spec on it. Im sure many of the designs vary as they do with so many other wildcats. The 300 Norma Mag Improved reamer I designed is a little different than everyone else's as it uses even less body taper than the regular Norma case design, 35 deg shoulder, and a .339" neck. Won't be able to chamber my rounds in many other 300 Norma Imp chambers after my brass is fireformed. And brass from other chambers may not fit in my rifle unless the necks are turned down. But they are all still considered "300 Norma Mag Imp" chambers. My 20 TAC is built on an AR-15 so perhaps the headspacing is further forward to allow for more reliable feeding. Not sure, but I can just neck down 223 brass and shoot to get my fireformed cases. The OP may not be able to chamber 20 Prac cases in his 20 TAC. Just have to see.