What is a 20-223a?

[urbanrifleman]

Is there a name for this?

 

[platapus]

Are you referring to the 20-223 Improved?

If so, it's a 223 case necked down to .20cal and the shoulder is blown out to look 40°

 

[urbanrifleman]

Are you referring to the 20-223 Improved?

If so, it's a 223 case necked down to .20cal and the shoulder is blown out to look 40°

Correct.

That would seem to be an obvious choice for pdogs and varmints.

 

[platapus]

Correct.

That would seem to be an obvious choice for pdogs and varmints.

I have 2, a bolt gun and an AR. I built my son one as well.

The AR is a dedicated coyote thermal rifle and the bolt is a dedicated PD rifle.

I also run a 17-223 Improved for daytime Coyotes.

 

[dfrosch]

That's close to a 20 Tactical, but not quite the same.

You could name it yourself. I'd suggest 20 Tactical Urban Rifleman Design. But you know what everyone would call it.

 

[urbanrifleman]

That's close to a 20 Tactical, but not quite the same.

You could name it yourself. I'd suggest 20 Tactical Urban Rifleman Design. But you know what everyone would call it.

Oh that is precious!!

The 20 TURD. I nearly spit my coffee. Outstanding!!!

How about the 20 SPLODER? I like that...

 

[urbanrifleman]

I will see about getting a reamer and blanks for the 20 SPLODER.

I have 223A sizers in stock, so that seem to me to be an obvious choice. Just change the bushing and resize.

 

[dfrosch]

Oh that is precious!!

The 20 TURD. I nearly spit my coffee. Outstanding!!!

How about the 20 SPLODER? I like that...

SPLODER would probably sell more barrels.

 

[urbanrifleman]

You take a 223 Ackley sizer and change the bushing, and you are GTG. The 223 Ackley seater should work fine also I am assuming.

 

[urbanrifleman]

20 xc... OH MYYYYYY... haha
20 BRA??? hmmm...

 

[NZ_Fclass]

And does what better than the 204, other than fire forming and wasting barrel life and bullets?

Just askin'

 

[urbanrifleman]

And does what better than the 204, other than fire forming and wasting barrel life and bullets?

Just askin'

That didn't seem like a real question.

 

[SBS]

And does what better than the 204, other than fire forming and wasting barrel life and bullets?

Just askin'

Brass is plentiful and cheap. Can't remember the last time someone posted a want ad for .223 brass (unless it was something special they wanted). Fireforming loads are generally accurate enough to varmint hunt.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

That didn't seem like a real question.

Well, given that the 204 will send a 35g projectile at over 3900fps, without messing about with case prep and fireforming - what's the advantage of 20/223AI?

Proper?

 

[urbanrifleman]

Well, given that the 204 will send a 35g projectile at over 3900fps, without messing about with case prep and fireforming - what's the advantage of 20/223AI?

Proper?

223/556 brass is always available, usually cheap, oftentimes even free. The same reason to use 20-223.

 

[mike.e]

Cheap or even Free brass is great which is exactly why I have a 6.5TCU rifle although right now with the reloading component shortage here in NZ I should have built a .25TCU or a 6TCU

 

[urbanrifleman]

Cheap or even Free brass is great which is exactly why I have a 6.5TCU rifle although right now with the reloading component shortage here in NZ I should have built a .25TCU or a 6TCU

Exactly. My customers are becoming increasingly more interested in "readily available" solutions.

 

[B23]

Don't know that I'd mess about to ever "improve" a 223 case again but the easy button definitely favors the 20Practical aka 20-223.

As to the benefits of the 20Prac over the 204Ruger, they are available and MUCH better quality brass. The 204Ruger has a tiny bit more case capacity than does a 20-223 so at equal pressure the 204 will run a smidge faster than a 20P but using Lapua brass you can run it at higher pressures, multiple times, without losing primer pockets. Taking the taper out of the case and squaring off the shoulder the "improved" versions of the 223 like a 20-223AI hides pressure big time and you'll see some crazy fast speeds talked about and you'll always hear "and that's with no pressure" to go along with it. Improving a 223 case only increases case capacity about 2-2.2gr measured in water which is good for about 100-ish FPS but you'll hear gains of 300-400+ fps with no pressure. Rrrright.

I recently acquired a little Tikka compact in 204 Ruger. Finding brass or loaded ammo has been nearly impossible but I did stumble upon some Winchester 204 ammo loaded with 32gr tipped bullets. Can't say that I'm all that much of a fan of Winchester brass or ammo but beggars can't be choosy so I bought six boxes of the stuff just for the brass. Who knows, maybe I'll luck out and that stuff will shoot decent but I won't be holding my breath on that. If I ever were to rebarrel it, it would get chambered back to a 20 Practical and setting it back and rechambering the factory barrel to 20P has crossed my mind too.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Don't know that I'd mess about to ever "improve" a 223 case again but the easy button definitely favors the 20Practical aka 20-223.

As to the benefits of the 20Prac over the 204Ruger, they are available and MUCH better quality brass. The 204Ruger has a tiny bit more case capacity than does a 20-223 so at equal pressure the 204 will run a smidge faster than a 20P but using Lapua brass you can run it at higher pressures, multiple times, without losing primer pockets. Taking the taper out of the case and squaring off the shoulder the "improved" versions of the 223 like a 20-223AI hides pressure big time and you'll see some crazy fast speeds talked about and you'll always hear "and that's with no pressure" to go along with it. Improving a 223 case only increases case capacity about 2-2.2gr measured in water which is good for about 100-ish FPS but you'll hear gains of 300-400+ fps with no pressure. Rrrright.

I recently acquired a little Tikka compact in 204 Ruger. Finding brass or loaded ammo has been nearly impossible but I did stumble upon some Winchester 204 ammo loaded with 32gr tipped bullets. Can't say that I'm all that much of a fan of Winchester brass or ammo but beggars can't be choosy so I bought six boxes of the stuff just for the brass. Who knows, maybe I'll luck out and that stuff will shoot decent but I won't be holding my breath on that. If I ever were to rebarrel it, it would get chambered back to a 20 Practical and setting it back and rechambering the factory barrel to 20P has crossed my mind too.

If you improve the case you do not have to shoot it any hotter than the parent case. You can shoot the standard parent case loads and speeds and the brass will last indefinitely.

 

[fotohunt]

Well, given that the 204 will send a 35g projectile at over 3900fps, without messing about with case prep and fireforming - what's the advantage of 20/223AI?

Proper?

Sending a 40gr at over 4,000 FPS