Let's Talk 20 Tactical

[20VarTarg]

I dropped off my CZ 527 chambered in 223 to my gunsmith along with a 10 twist 20 cal barrel. He has a SAAMI Spec reamer. In two weeks he will have it all done up and I'll be ready to head to the range. A couple years ago I snagged about 400 pcs of Dakota 20 TAC Brass. This is what I will be using for this rifle. So what is real world numbers on the 20 Tactical. I have Todd's Terrific Twenties Book. Just curious if his numbers are close to what I will see. Are there any PET LOADS out there for the 20 Tactical? I plan to shoot 39 Sierra Blitzkings, 40 VMAX, and 40 Berger. My 20 VarTarg will continue my 32 grain bullet shooting. 20 PPC will cover the 55's. Please tell me all about your 20 Tactical Rifles!!!!!

 

[chuckshooter]

I own a few 20 tactical's and will look up my load info in the morning but, I did not know the 20 tactical was a saami cartridge??

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Hodgdon has 20T load data available online.

 

[Hiredgun81]

Sierra and Hornady have data also

 

[fourpower]

I have a cooper in tac-20 and it is my most fun gun I own. I load 26grs H-335 with 32gr v-max and out of my barrel which is 26in it does 4000fps. my 3 buddys that have shot my gun have had me built them custom guns in same caliber. We all love them! My gun will shoot 39gr bullets but not 40gr go figure! I have shot a lot of rock chucks at 500yds and a car load of sage rats. I have over 30 real nice guns that all are great but this is my favorite.

 

[chuckshooter]

my loads are (1)cooper 12t 24.1gr 322 32vmax (2)cooper 12t 23.8gr 322 32vmax (3)rem xr100 11t 24gr benchmark 40 vmax (4) rem 700 11t 23.5gr 2015 40vmax . (5) savage 11t 23.5gr 2015 32gr nos. attached is a copy of my reamer print. some might say it's the most popular version, but not a saami approved cartridge. when people ask me what cartridge I recommend for squirrels and prairie dogs. I say either a 20 vartarg or a 20 tactical. hard to beat. Of course, your 10t is going to produce different results. Good luck.

 

[Matt_3479]

I have 2 20 tax barrels, a 1:11 and a 1:10 24”. Both different manufacturers as well. I don’t know if I got lucky or if the 20 tac brass holds pressure like crazy but my barrels are fast as hell.

I was shooting the 39’s in my 1:11 at 3980fps, for a few years and I got the 1:10 spun up when I stumbled across a sale. I’ve switched to the 35 gr bergers mainly for pelts but have a bunch of 39’s still. I ran a ladder on Wednesday with them and my old load is right at 4020fps in this barrel, and had them up to 4100 fps with no signs of pressure still. I stopped there though

 

[GLShooter]

I own a few 20 tactical's and will look up my load info in the morning but, I did not know the 20 tactical was

That's because it isn't.

 

[Hntnhrd]

The plan was to have a 20 tactical built on a rem 700 action. Then I stumbled across a great deal on a 20 practical already built.my load is a 32 grain Nosler ballistic tip in front of 26 grains of AA2460 at an average of 4002 fps. My friends I shoot P dogs with named it the “ Soul Snatcher 4000”.
The original build got changed to a 20br and that I am shooting the 40 grain nosler or 39 grain blitzking.

 

[L.Sherm]

If the gunsmith is telling you he has a saami spec 20 TAC reamer you might wanna ask him some questions.
Maybe he's confused with a 204 Ruger and you don't end up with something you did not intend too.

 

[TRSR8]

I have two Dakota 20TAC’s, a Predator and model 10. Lucked out, both have English walnut stocks.
I have shot several powders with N133 being good, but Todd is right, nothing beats R10X, which he developed the TAC around.
Both have 1:11 Liljas @26”. The bolt gun runs 25.4 gr R10X @3920 fps with a40 Vmax that shoots small .200’s and the SS with 32 Vmax.
That Lapua TAC brass is gold.

 

[jepp2]

Please tell me all about your 20 Tactical Rifles!!!!!

No 20 Tac's, but several 20P's. Quickload lists them under the same listing. Probably more difference in WC between different brass than one shot in a 20 Tac vs a 20P chamber. What I found was there is a significant amount of load data on the web for the 32 gr bullets, and very little for the 39/40 gr bullets. So I ran a set using the powders I had on hand. Using the Ba (burn rate I had calculated with previous use in a similar size cartridge), I calculated a mid pressure load. Something I knew would be safe, but would let me compare how close my measured velocities were vs QL calculated.

I found a lot of data on the web that is far beyond what I would want to subject my rifle to during my PD hunts. YMMV. I'm very content with a 32 gr bullet leaving my barrel around 3800 fps. Yes, I can get over 4,000 with most of the powders, but per my calculations you are above the pressure I feel is the max. And it is even worse for the heavier bullets. So my summary shows what I found on the web, basis, and compared with 204 R load and 223 loads with the WC listed. Should be a reasonable starting point to help you. And it might identify some of the excessive loads that are out there.

PM me if you don't understand my summary. I also ran the same for the 32 gr bullets.

 

[Bill K]

You will enjoy the 20 tactical, but a word of caution. Work up with any of Todd's load data from his book, as he loads very hot and you may not reach his loads without seeing pressure before.

 

[20VarTarg]

I think what the smith was referring to as SAAMI Spec was just a standard 20 TAC reamer. No extra freeborn or such. He is very competent and built me a 17 TAC last year and is doing a 6PPC barrel for my BAT as well. I think the 10 Twist is the perfect barrel for shooting 39 and 40 grain bullets. Thanks everyone for shooting me some load ideas.

 

[chuckshooter]

I think what the smith was referring to as SAAMI Spec was just a standard 20 TAC reamer. No extra freeborn or such. He is very competent and built me a 17 TAC last year and is doing a 6PPC barrel for my BAT as well. I think the 10 Twist is the perfect barrel for shooting 39 and 40 grain bullets. Thanks everyone for shooting me some load ideas.

I think what some of us are trying to tell you is, if it's a saami apoved cartridge then there are plublished standards. If it's not a saami approved cartridge, it's considered a wildcat and there are no "standards" however there can be the most popular versions. Often the name of the first person who designed it is associated with a particular version. Like the Todd Kindler,s version. I realize it's being a bit picky and I'm not trying to be a jerk, just trying to clear up the phraseology.

 

[20VarTarg]

I think what some of us are trying to tell you is, if it's a saami apoved cartridge then there are plublished standards. If it's not a saami approved cartridge, it's considered a wildcat and there are no "standards" however there can be the most popular versions. Often the name of the first person who designed it is associated with a particular version. Like the Todd Kindler,s version. I realize it's being a bit picky and I'm not trying to be a jerk, just trying to clear up the phraseology.

That is pretty much what I was saying as well. At least we are on the same page. I actually think in Todd's book there is a print of the "standard" reamer.

 

[L.Sherm]

There is no " standard" in wildcatting.
I think if you look at Tod's 20 vartarg reamer print his is a .226nk and .374 base i believe but if you wanna not turn necks or run Lapua brass isn't gonna work.

 

[Dan Hall]

I am in the process of picking up another Dakota Predator in 20 Tactical and have just found a couple hundred pieces of Dakota/Lapua brass. I’m looking forward to another great shooting Predator, I already have a 20 Vartarg, 6PPC and 6BR.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

20 TAC is my Favorite Cartridge as i own 3 of them!200-340 yard shots off tripod. 40gr BIB at 3780 fps!

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

40gr BIB at 3715 fps