20 practical load data

jagter8

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I'm currently putting together a 20 practical! Working with an 18 inch barrel. Wanting to run 40 gr vmax. Anyone have a good starting out on load data?
 
Here is some info from 6BR.

 
On my second 20 Practical in a bolt gun.
H322/H4198/H355/N135/N133/LT32 have all done well for me with 39SBK / 40VMax.
Favorite load is [email protected]. Powder availability and temp stability is why I like this powder
Not necessarily bug holes, but it shoots both bullets the same way and if I was to go down in charge or up in charge, it's still shoots really well.
 

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Are you building a bolt gun or AR? Bolt action here. 40 grain Berger's but N133 shoots lights out for me across a pretty wide powder range. I'm loading at 23.6 but went up to 24.5 with no pressure issues. 23.6 is a little slow, but I can put 3 into 1 ragged hole consistently.
Still playing with 8208, but have found the same kind of accuracy and another 150 fps with it at 26.0 grains. This load is a little warm though, so approach with caution, especially in an AR.
 

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Here is some info from 6BR.

Awesome thank you!
 
Are you building a bolt gun or AR? Bolt action here. 40 grain Berger's but N133 shoots lights out for me across a pretty wide powder range. I'm loading at 23.6 but went up to 24.5 with no pressure issues. 23.6 is a little slow, but I can put 3 into 1 ragged hole consistently.
Still playing with 8208, but have found the same kind of accuracy and another 150 fps with it at 26.0 grains. This load is a little warm though, so approach with caution, especially in an AR.
Yes this will be an ar build. I'll have to grab some n133 and test it as well. Thanks for a good starting point!
 
On my second 20 Practical in a bolt gun.
H322/H4198/H355/N135/N133/LT32 have all done well for me with 39SBK / 40VMax.
Favorite load is [email protected]. Powder availability and temp stability is why I like this powder
Not necessarily bug holes, but it shoots both bullets the same way and if I was to go down in charge or up in charge, it's still shoots really well.
Sounds like a great all around! I've got some 4198 I can try too. Never have ventured into the vihtavuori world but it sounds like good stuff. Thanks for the info!
 
Here is some info from 6BR.

Awesome thank you!
 
First 20 Practical is ready to shoot. I loaded a 40gr VMax behind some Varget. I think the load was light.

Can I seat bullets with a 20 Tactical seater? I did and it seemed to work fine. I'm not sure what COAL will be so I seated it pretty deep
 
I have a 20 PPC but converting .223 brass seems more <cough> practical :D
 
I am just chiming into this thread. We got one of the first .204 Ruger TARGET GREY Laminate Stock Rifles that came out in 2004. Jill's dad knew the Ruger Sales Person for Bass Pro.
The rifle was a TACK DRIVER out of the box with 39gr SBK on top of H-4895. Getting 1/8" groups. Shot many Ground Hog and PD.
Tried to go with Hornady 32 gr to get to 4,200+ FPS but not good on accuracy. The 39 gr SBK was the nuts in a .204 h-4895.
I don't understand why going to a 20 practical with necking down .223 would be worth the extra work.
 
I do way more work on my 6.5PRC (new and already under 1/4" at 100) than I did the .223 brass I just sized and shot (once). My other 20 is a 20PPC. Also more work. I have a lot of .223 brass that I've picked up, cleaned, and sized over the years. I have the dies. It's not a hard rifle to load for at all. None of the 20's are (I suspect).
 

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