Need 20 BR guidance..

[R.Morehouse]

It's almost winter here in western Pa. And time to pull the trigger on a small project. I have decided to chamber a barrel for a nice duel port action I have here sitting in a Tracker stock. I am going to do a 20BR set up for the 55G Bergers. Berger says an 8 twist....Does that seem like the best way to go? I was thinking of the barrel finishing at 28....Does that seem like the best way to go?....I want to buy the reamer from PTG, is there a suggested print that would be optimum for the 55's ? And lastly does anyone have some load data you could help me out with including some of your chrono #'s. ...Thank you for your input......Rick

 

[charlesasmith]

You may want to post on saubier.com for helpful info for this particular chamber/bullet/load combination.
Chuck

 

[kjcpoint]

I have used all 9tw barrels on the bigger 20 cals. 20br, 20-250, 20/47L.
PAC-nor, benchmark and hart barrels. The 9tw does a great job with 55's.
The 55 Berger shoots the best in the low 3800 fps. Mid 3900 to over 4k and they come apart. A 26 inch barrel will get you all the velocity that bullet can handle.

I can get you reamer specs and load details this evening.

Kyle

 

[R.Morehouse]

Thank's for the input...Glad to hear that 26" would do the job. Looking forward to reading the load and reamer info. Have you used a brake on the 20BR? I am looking to finish mine out at around the 16lb mark w/optic..

 

[Phil]

R-15 / 9 twist / .010 freebore

 

[rickiesrevenge]

The one I have has a 0 freebore. I think it needs a bit more. I'd go with about .050" for the next one. It would keep the bullets out of the donut area and still leave lots of neck to chase the lands if needed. I use Varget in mine. Mine is a xp-100 pistol and has a 17" 1in8" barrel. I get 3300fps with about 29gr.

 

[thekriebles]

You may want to post on saubier.com for helpful info for this particular chamber/bullet/load combination.
Chuck

Chuck is right. Saubier.com forum has a ton of info on the small calibers including the 20BR.

 

[kjcpoint]

.233 ND and 0 FB.

30gr of 8208xr

 

[R.Morehouse]

Thank you.....

 

[johnmyers]

You should check with Todd Kindler at the Woodchuck Den in Baltic, OH. Todd used to publish Small Caliber News and I think he is still making bullets. He was one of the first ones if not the first to use the 20br and he is very helpful. 330-897-0614 Todd had an article in his magazine about the 20br a few years ago. Good luck
John

 

[65WSM]

I realize this thread is old but I now have two barrels of experience with the .20 BR. I had PTG build a reamer for the 55 gr Berger when they first became available. I bought 1500 bullets in 100 boxes all in one lot as soon as I saw them (Sinclair). I chose an 8 twist 4-groove 28 inch Mcgowen. The next 20 cal barrel I replace will also be McGowen. The length is an advantage because their is enough powder capacity to warrant it. I have tried powders in the Varget to H4350 burn rate with success. My reamer allows 2.20" OAL with the 55 Berger. I find it holds 34.6 gr of H2O when injected into the case through the primer pocket with a syringe, bullet seated to the lands. Most charge weights I choose are between 30.5 and 32.5 of powder. My best groups have been with Reloader 17, under 3 inches at 540 yds (end of the range). My goal has been to stay under 3600 fps with the 55 gr bullet to get more barrel life. Unless I see 3500 fps I would choose another powder or higher charge. Since it has become available, I have shot 4 pounds of R-16 and that may be better than Reloader 17. VV N-550 has also been a good performer but it gets close to my imposed 3600 fps limit easily. I have been pleased with MR-2000. It runs cooler and can power the 55 Berger to the mid 3500s without breaking a sweat. IMR-4451 developed just over 3300 fps and was rejected. Always shoot coated bullets and nitrocarburize barrels to make them last a little longer.

 

[RegionRat]

@65WSM , nice post, you mentioned you like to treat your barrels, would you care to comment on your impression of this combination of a heavy 20 cal bullet and the treated barrels?

Do you have an opinion on the treatment in terms of performance? Any anecdotal observation in terms of accuracy life?

The 20 cal 55 grain Berger isn't common. I am only just now starting a project dedicated to that bullet. Other than the BR you chose, the 20-250 is an alternative a few friends of mine use. They like the feed on repeaters and felt they had a better chance of smooth operation with the 250 case. I was really hoping the 20 Nosler brass would go into production, but it has been a few years since their announcement and still nothing. I am debating between 204 R, 20 BR, and 20-250 but I should take the plunge on one of them and was interested in your experience to help select the first guess.

I would be interested in your opinion of if the BR wildcat was worth the trouble or if you would say the 204 Ruger is good enough for this bullet?

 

[JSH]

Also interested in barrel coating info. I have a 22BR in the works.
I have studied on the 20BR and 20-250, a bit. I thought no the 55’s are where it’s at with those case sizes. There are some folks shooting custom bullets that are even heavier, with exceptional results.

 

[65WSM]

I spoke to a Savage technician at the Puyallup Sportsman's Show when their two "Modern Sporting Rifles" were introduced in 224 Valkyrie. The heavy barrel model was Nitrocarburized. I see that they paint them now and the barrel is only 18 inches instead of 22 inches as introduced. Anyway, Savage had disappointing results until they used Thermal Technologies in Phoenix. They are closer to the Left Coast, shipping 7 pound barrels is expensive and I have sent them 3-5 barrels at a time for $250. Shipping often nearly equals that. I have two virgin barrels waiting for the next batch. Other people that I have used to do nitrocarburizing are in Ohio or the other coast. I had "Rubber City Armory" do a barrel last year. I believe they send barrels out to be treated. I have sent barrels to Phoenix from used rifles as well as unfired barrels with good results. I use HBN as a bullet coating but I believe that the Combined Technologies coating is great and is moly coating if you clean your barrel. Molybdenum disulphide attracts water and the sulfur forms sulfuric acid. Nitrocarburized barrels and no naked bullets!

 

[65WSM]

I also shoot three .204 Ruger chambered rifles. A Mcgowen barreled Vanguard, factory Savage and a Shilen 24 inch AR barrel, all of which have been Nitrocarburized. I have played with the Berger Twist Calculator and there is no way to get a .204 Ruger cartridge to shoot a 55 Berger at what Berger calls "Optimum" from an 8 twist barrel. So we have to look for 7 twist barrels. Pac-Nor and Hart both show them as possible on their website, but I have never followed through. I have no experience with Pac-Nor. I have a Hart barrel on my 6mm PPC , purchased used, and it is wonderful. I have shot more ground squirrels with the .204 Ruger cartridge than any other. I have been it more accurate and easier to find tack driving loads for that the .223 Remington, AR or bolt. I will always carry a .204 Ruger when away from home but not to shoot bullets over 40 grains.