New 20 Vargart coming

[ratbuster]

I'm new on this forum and have recently returned to shooting. I have a Savage Target Action and Shilen barrel on order which I plan on using for ground squirrels. My gunsmith is going to assemble and bed. I have never reloaded for a custom type chamber or wildcat and am looking for some direction.

My gunsmith wants me to send him a few loaded cartridges for assy and test firing. I have new Lapua 221 FB ordered and want to know what type of dies to order.

1. Does it make sense to run the cases through a Redding body only die first followed by a bushing neck sizer?

2. Do I want to bump the shoulder any?

3. Is the Wilson bullet seating die as good as or better than a Redding Competition Die?

4. I ordered the 10 twist barrel which both Hornady and Sierra tech says will do well with 32 grain bullets. Does anyone have experience shooting the 32's in the 20VT with 10 twist?

Thanks for your advice!

Phil Schmidt
Northern Cal

 

[6BRAckley]

If funds permit I would definitely order this set of dies

http://www.bullets.com/products/Category-III-Type-S-Match-Full-Length-Die-Set-20-Vartarg/BL5052

I have had other sets (including the redding set with neck bushing die, body die and competition seater) and this is the one I use --- including for the initial case forming.

Be sure to check with your gunsmith about the diameter of his reamer --- the lapua brass (unless the necks are turned) will likely be too big to use with the .232 neck diameter that is standard on a lot of vartarg reamers.

Get yourself a supply of H4198 or Reloader 7 and get ready to have a lot of fun.

JP

 

[SS427]

If you already have an arbor press, get the Redding Type S FL sizing die and a Wilson seating die. Wilson seating dies overall have given me better results than any other seating die. If no arbor press and no desire to get one...do as Jason suggested.

You need to know the neck diameter of the reamer before you can do any dummy rounds, and even then I would have concerns. With my Cooper 20VT, it took a few tries with the sizing process to get the brass to fit the chamber prior to fire forming. I had to cam over my press slightly to get the shoulder bump I needed. You could make some dummy rounds ahead of time and then they not even fit the chamber.

If you go with a .232 reamer, you will have to turn the necks on both Lapua and Norma/Nosler brass. Not a lot but you will have to turn.

H4198 is the only powder I had to try. Awesome accuracy. I mostly use Hornady Z-max 32 grain bullets and they shoot great and explode on sage rats...and they are cheap. For extreme accuracy I use Berger 35 grain bullets, but with your twist the 40 grain bullets might be what you want.

This is my favorite caliber to shoot now. Have fun.

 

[LCazador]

You don't need the body die. Order the Redding bushing full length die and just run the Fireball case through the full sizing die without bushing or the guts. After you can insert a bushing and size down in increments. I use three bushings for my .230" chamber, a .240, a .232, and a final .226". Lapua brass runs .013" neck giving a loaded diameter of .230" with no neck turn. Check you chamber neck diameter before ordering bushings. I use a Wilson chamber seater and in my opinion it's as good as the Redding competition and the micrometer adjustment is available for the Wilson if you want the convenience when doing load start up. Once you arrive at your seating depth, you'll probably not utilize the micrometer very often. The 10 twist is an excellent choice as it will really spin the 40 grainers as well as the 32's. I don't shoot the 32's anymore. I found the 40's quite superior at the 400 plus distance. My powders of choice are AA1680 and AA2200, both deliver exceptional accuracy, excellent velocity, and great ballistic uniformity. My rifle is a Sako L461 repeater.

 

[ratbuster]

Thanks for the tips guys. I got a copy of the reamer specs from Shillen the other day and it is indeed a .232 neck dia. I've never turned necks before, something new to learn....

My gunsmith wants to test fire the gun after assembling so I need to make some rounds ahead of time. So I need to have .002 clearance per side on the necks?

 

[6BRAckley]

I would recommend at least .003 total clearance (.0015 per side). Neck turning can be a pain in the butt for a varmint rifle, especially if you want to have more than 100 or 200 cases.

A few places have good deals right now on Nosler, weight sorted 221 fireball brass. From talking with others using the .232 reamer, I don't believe you have to turn necks when using that brass for Vartargs. All 900+ of my cases are Remington 221 Fireball but if I had it to do over again I would start with a .235 neck reamer or use the Nosler/Norma brass.

My experiences mirror that of Otter --- best accuracy is with H4198 and the cheap Hornady 32 zmaxes. They even shoot better than the Bergers for me.

JP

 

[ratbuster]

If the Nosler brass can be used without neck turning I think I am going to send the Lapua brass back and get Nosler. I see Brownells is offering it for 72 cents. Any cheaper sources out there?

 

[JohnHenry]

Cabelas has it on sale for $59.99 per 100. Also $5 shipping on a $99 minimum order using promo code 85FLAT..

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Noslerreg-Custom8482-Rifle-Brass/731922.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dnosler%2B221%2Bfireball%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=nosler+221+fireball

 

[Phil]

Phil,

Welcome to the forum.............Where in N.Ca. are you at????

I`m in the S.F. Bay Area, quiet as it`s kept......

Phil.

 

[Dan Hall]

I have a Dakota Predator with a 10 twist Douglas barrel that shoots 32 grain v-max bullets into .1" &.2" 5 shot groups at 100 yards. A 10 twist will do the job well. As for dies and brass. Buy brass that several guys are selling here that's formed from Lake City brass and use an arbor press with Wilson neck sizer and bullet seater dies. This will give you reloads that are as straight as you can get. The necks will already be turned and the brass will last forever it seems. 18.5 grains of reloder 7 under a 32 grain v-max and you will be shooting the center out of the target, if your sights are adjusted correctly. have fun.

 

[ratbuster]

I truly appreciate the response and help I have received on this forum!

John Henry, thanks for the heads up on the Nosler brass.

Thanks for the welcome Phil. I live in Orangevale, a small community between Roseville and Folsom about 20 miles northeast of Sacramento.

Dan, that is encouraging news about the 10 twist. Thanks for the tip on the Lake City brass!

Phil Schmidt

 

[DogBuster]

What about Lapua 221 FB brass....$66/100.......or so

 

[ratbuster]

I have Laupua coming. I would rather find someone selling once fired Lake City 223 that has been formed and neck turned.

 

[toothman]

Welcome Phil. I'm close to you in Granite Bay. I got some LC 223 formed to 20VT from one of our members, ab_bently. Not sure if he is still making it but it is excellent brass! Look him up under "Members" at the top of this page. He also has a post on this site showing his forming process. Search posts under "223 to 20VT forming **PICS**". Best of luck with your 20VT.--Jim