Questions for those who have already traveled the .20 Tactical Road

[8nthatk]

I’ve read all I could find on the subject, and have an idea where I’m going, or at least want to go, but I would like to reach out to those here who have 1st hand experience and enough patience to read a redundant question in case any facts/opinions have changed. ;D
My interest is in speed and low recoil. Light bullets in the 32-35 range out of a 25” barrel with a 1:12 twist. I’m not wishing to turn the .20 Tac into something it’s not, just wring the most I can from it on a magazine fed AR15 platform.

The specifics I’m most interested in are; chamber length, freebore (willing to get bullet specific), reamers (who’s), recommended smith’s for AR15 upper, etc.

If anyone is willing to share the fruits of their prior investigations I would be most appreciative!

Thanks.

 

[17VLD]

Many years ago before the .204Ruger,I asked Greg Tannel to build me a 20
tactical.He was in the process of developing the 20AR which has a body that is
.030" longer than the 20 tactical and is easier to reload with a Dillon press.
Well long story short the rifle has a 13 twist and is 26" long and shoots great.
When I started my load development with this rifle I used the very nice
33grn V-Max in my ladder test I got up to 4404fps.My hunting load is 4200fps.
Nowadays I use the 40grn Berger right at 4000fps,I am still in awe every time
I shoot a coyote with this rifle.I think for what you are wanting you would be well pleased with Greg's work,give him a call you won't be sorry.
Matt
PS Greg like's zero freebore with most of these small cals

 

[8nthatk]

Thanks for the feedback Matt.

Greg would be a great choice!

re: 20AR; I think it was R. Whitley that expessed concern with getting those little 30’ something bullets out there long enough with the Grendal case. I guess I didn’t consider the 20AR due to that. I wonder if anything has changed…

4000++ huh? That’s gett’n it no doubt., wow.
-K

 

[8nthatk]

Anyone else have any thoughts? Would love to hear from you...

 

[itchyTF]

You may have already done the research and have your heart set on the Tactical, but have you considered the .20 Practical?

 

[kjcpoint]

My 20tac reamer has .231nd and .028fb. Have had excellent results with 39-40gr bullets. Benchmark and 8208 work great.
When the AR stuff settles, I will be putting one together in 20tac.

Kyle

 

[8nthatk]

Kyle,

How/why did you settle on the .028fb? This is one of the particulars I’m trying to get a firm grasp on… What type of velocity are you getting with those loads?

Thanks!

 

[8nthatk]

Yes sir, I did consider the practical, nothing in the world wrong with it…settled on the tac for the neck length, shoulder angle and Lapua brass. Small differences and just a bit of personal preference I guess.

You may have already done the research and have your heart set on the Tactical, but have you considered the .20 Practical?

 

[kjcpoint]

I skimmed the necks of 20tac brass, loaded a 39gr blitzking just forward of the neck shoulder juction, sent 2 dummy rounds to ptg and asked for .003 neck clearance and fb to match dummy rounds. These will also fit in a standard 223 rem mag box. Bighorn action and a pacnor 3 groove at 26 inches, 3940fps.

Kyle

 

[8nthatk]

Thanks Kyle.

I do want to be able to reach the lands, but don’ t want to deal with doughnuts if I want to try some bigger stuff…guess I need to decide on a bullet.

 

[hogpatrol]

Maybe not as fast but check out the .20 practical. I have one in an AR platform, 1-10 and it is a laser with the 32s, Blitzkings or VMax. Easy neck down with a bushing die & you can push the bullets right up to the lands without getting close to mag length.

 

[Adam Morris]

+1 on Greg as the go-to gent. He put a 20 Tac together for me on a donor Sako A1 action and a 24" 1-11 3 groove Lilja around 2003 that is a deadly and relentlessly accurate rifle that I've used to moderate the crow population in my area of North Carolina. In fact, there is nothing that I've shot the rifle that hasn't fallen over dead, excepting the critters I've missed from laughing over the last crow I had just disassembled into component parts. My opinion is that the 20 Tac is benefited somewhat from the longer neck and steeper shoulder(from parent case), and only requires the use of a form die along w/ the FL die to create hordes of low cost brass from 223 brass. I neck turn all the brass due to having a tightish neck, and fab the brass on my dillon w/223 fl, 20 Tac form, and 20 Tac fl die to finish. Easy and fast. Now the caveat...the reason I need hordes of brass is that the 20 Tac is a fast stepping cartridge for me and I shoot it fast. That means 3850 w/ 39's and 4250 w/ the 32's. This kills the brass in around 4 firings or so. Now, I am not encouraging others to maximize the velocity of their own rifles by the careful and measured handloading practices that I use, so spare me the mother hubbard comments. Considering the other 20's that are now popular, I'd still go with the 20 Tac for the speed, brass, accuracy and cool factor. Good luck!

 

[8nthatk]

Adam,
Have you tried the Lapua brass? I get the economics of using the 223 brass...but I wonder if it may turn out the longevity of the Lapua brass makes it a wash.

Thanks for the input!

 

[jesker]

I have a AR in 20 tactical and have a bolt action in it also. The Ar has a 1-12 twist and shoots the 39gr blitsking very well but will not shoot the 40gr bullets, The bolt gun has a 1-11 twist and will shoot 40gr and lighter bullet well. If I were to build a new gun it would have a 1-11 twist for the ability to shoot heavier bullets. Just my 2cents
Joe

 

[Adam Morris]

I have not tried the Lapua cases, mainly due to having more than a few 5.56 cases left over from my son's Jr. highpower days. On another note,as my rifle throat has moved out a bit, I've been thinking a new barrel in a faster twist than the 1-11 twist I currently enjoy, for shots beyond 400. Has anyone had experiences w/ a faster twist on a 20 Tac sized case? My thought is that it should be a bit slower in the lighter weights, but handle the longer 50 gr. bullets that are available. So, minor downside w/ increased flexibility in the bullet weight dept? I think that it was a mistake for gun manufacturers to chamber 20's in 1-12, but they never got around to asking.