The 20 Practical

[Jay]

Back in August I started on a quest for a fast cartridge, AR platform, for predator and varmint hunting. Mainly for coyotes. It’s been an itch I’ve been wanting to scratch.

After getting some advice and learning a little about the options, I decided to go with the 20 Practical. The main deciding factor there was, it’s based on the 223 Remington case. So brass is plentiful. And, unlike the similar 20 Tactical (aside from having a stupid name), the 20 Practical doesn’t change the shoulder dimensions. Just the neck. Speed is right up there with the 204 Ruger. There is info out there showing this cartridge being capable of getting over 4000 FPS with longer barrels. And it uses standard AR mags.

So I settled on McGowan to make my barrel. I ordered it in August. Got it today. 20” modified HBAR profile, 10 twist. It’s a beautiful looking barrel.

Lower is Aero Precision, with a Magpul grip and stock and LaRue MBT 2S trigger. Upper is an AR Stoner billet receiver with matching 15” hand guard. Faxon ultra low profile gas block, a BOG ARCA rail and a Silencerco ASR brake finish it off.

Optic is a Leupold mount and Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16x42 scope. Pretty basic build, really.

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[GrapeApe]

Looking forward to a range report

[Jay]

My goal, with this 20” barrel, is to get 3700 out of 40 grain bullets and maybe 3800 with 34 grain bullets. Time will tell if I’m smoking crack…

I got 50 pieces of brass formed this evening. Which is a whole other topic. You can’t buy 20 Practical dies. So I “made” my own sizing die, and got a Hornady 204 Ruger seating die. The sizing die is a Redding Type S small base bushing die for 223 Remington. The die takes care of the body dimensions for an AR platform. To get the neck size, I’m using a .228 diameter titanium nitride bushing. .228 being the outside diameter of the neck to get it down to the proper inside dimension for a 204 bullet. I also had to buy a 20 cal decapping stem for the neck sizer, and went ahead and upgraded to Redding’s carbide neck sizing button while I was at it. Forming brass from 223 cases with just a touch of Imperial sizing wax on the case body only is easier than any pistol case I’ve run through a carbide sizing die. They go through SO smooth and easy. I’m looking forward to working up loads for it and seeing what it can do.

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[Chiro1989]

Very interesting reloading, can't say I would have bought something that dies were not made for, I too can't wait for a range report.

[Jayhawker]

Nice work! Looks like fun...anxiously awaiting your range report

[Jay]

Very interesting reloading, can't say I would have bought something that dies were not made for, I too can't wait for a range report.

Oh, you can buy dies for it. Just have to buy a 223 bushing die, appropriate size bushings and a 20 cal decapping stem. All readily available. I’ve read that a regular 223 seating die works just fine for seating. I went with the Hornady 204 seating die because I like their bullet alignment setup on their dies. Having a bullet aligning 20 cal die seems better to me than using a 22 cal seating die with no bullet alignment. It was a small expense, compared to the sizing die setup.

Uses 223 brass, bolt and mags. 204 Ruger doesn’t do any of those things. And I get pretty much the same or better ballistics.

[GrapeApe]

I'm pretty sure the 204 Ruger has the same head size as the 223/5.56.
Being longer, I can see it not fitting in the mags though

[Zee]

It has been a fun journey, watching this build. I knew nothing about this cartridge until now.
My French Model is growing up.
ARCA
Carbon Fiber Tripod
Two Wildcat Cartridges

I’m still plugging away on the thermal.

Once you get this one loaded. I’d be interested to see what the 6x45 could do with 58gr V-Max in comparison! That’s something I never tried.

[CPJ 2.0]

It has been a fun journey, watching this build. I knew nothing about this cartridge until now.
My French Model is growing up.
ARCA
Carbon Fiber Tripod
Two Wildcat Cartridges

I’m still plugging away on the thermal.

Once you get this one loaded. I’d be interested to see what the 6x45 could do with 58gr V-Max in comparison! That’s something I never tried.

Ummm, I enabled a new barrels action and chassis, thank you very much.

[jkp]

Very nice! Looking forward to your results.

[Jay]

I'm pretty sure the 204 Ruger has the same head size as the 223/5.56.
Being longer, I can see it not fitting in the mags though

You’re right. Based on the 222 rem mag. From memory, I was thinking it was a different case head. That is the same. 204 works in the AR platform. But its extra length does seem to hurt it a bit, where the 20 Practical can make up a little ground there. Ultimately, in the AR platform, being limited by mag length, and with the barrel length being shorter, the 204 Ruger doesn’t shine quite as well as it would with a 24 or 26” barreled bolt gun. That’s where the 20 Practical comes in. I went with a 20” barrel as a middle ground. Not too long, not too short. This is a gun I intend to take out hunting. And it will wear a suppressor. So keeping the length and weight manageable was a consideration.

[Jay]

It has been a fun journey, watching this build. I knew nothing about this cartridge until now.
My French Model is growing up.
ARCA
Carbon Fiber Tripod
Two Wildcat Cartridges

I’m still plugging away on the thermal.

Once you get this one loaded. I’d be interested to see what the 6x45 could do with 58gr V-Max in comparison! That’s something I never tried.

I’m a big boy now!

I’ll have to see if I have any 58gr Vmaxs. I seem to recall loading them in 243 Win years ago, but not certain. If not, I’ll see if they have a box next time I go to Cabelas. That would be interesting.

[Jay]

It has been a fun journey, watching this build. I knew nothing about this cartridge until now.
My French Model is growing up.
ARCA
Carbon Fiber Tripod
Two Wildcat Cartridges

I’m still plugging away on the thermal.

Once you get this one loaded. I’d be interested to see what the 6x45 could do with 58gr V-Max in comparison! That’s something I never tried.

Ummm, I enabled a new barrels action and chassis, thank you very much.

Yes. Yes you did.. I am anxiously awaiting the stuff for that build, which is backordered. So that’s a topic for another day..

[Jay]

If I can get some test loads ready for the 20P this evening, it’ll probably go out for a test session tomorrow.

[Zee]

It has been a fun journey, watching this build. I knew nothing about this cartridge until now.
My French Model is growing up.
ARCA
Carbon Fiber Tripod
Two Wildcat Cartridges

I’m still plugging away on the thermal.

Once you get this one loaded. I’d be interested to see what the 6x45 could do with 58gr V-Max in comparison! That’s something I never tried.

Ummm, I enabled a new barrels action and chassis, thank you very much.

So, we are tag teaming the French Model.

[CPJ 2.0]

It has been a fun journey, watching this build. I knew nothing about this cartridge until now.
My French Model is growing up.
ARCA
Carbon Fiber Tripod
Two Wildcat Cartridges

I’m still plugging away on the thermal.

Once you get this one loaded. I’d be interested to see what the 6x45 could do with 58gr V-Max in comparison! That’s something I never tried.

Ummm, I enabled a new barrels action and chassis, thank you very much.

So, we are tag teaming the French Model.

Well, I mean, that’s a way to put it.

[Justsomedude]

Just for future reference, I can turn a blank into whatever ar contour you want with a fast turn around and probably cheaper, granted I have no idea what the barrel cost you.

[Jay]

Took test loads out this afternoon and put some rounds out of the 20P. Some failure, some success. But overall, a win in my book. I got great data to follow up on.

I tried Exterminator and BLC(2) powders. Xterminator was a failure. Low velocities and 100 fps extreme spread. Only got up to 3400 fps for a 40 grain Vmax.

BLC(2) was much better. My highest charge averaged 3600 fps, 9fps extreme spread.. But, it still “only” shot a 3/4” group. Based on what I’ve seen, this barrel can shoot overlapping hole groups. Just gotta hit the sweet spot. Since my goal is to hit 3700 with this bullet, and the chronograph seems to indicate another 1/2 grain should get there and 1 grain should surpass that, and I’m not seeing any kind of pressure signs so far, my next loads will be .5gr and 1gr higher. If accuracy works out, load work will be done for this bullet.

It is “interesting” working up loads for something that there is really no set load data. There’s people talking on the internet. But actually doing it is fun..

Seeing what this barrel is capable of, if I can get 1/2” or less at 100 yards and get over 3700, I’ll be freaking excited… time will tell.

I haven’t started on the 34gr bullets yet. One step at a time..

[Jay]

Oh, and this gun is freaking fun to shoot!!! Almost no recoil, cycled 100% with all loads… I’m going to fall in love with this gun…

[Justsomedude]

tap tap tap...
Is this thing on...

[GrapeApe]

tap tap tap...
Is this thing on...

It's on on this side of the Mississippi, not sure it's reaching across it though

[GrapeApe]

Glad the BL-C(2) is working out for you.
I've tried it in 223, 7x57, 30-06 and 308 and haven't found a load that would shoot worth a darn, plus I've found it to be DIRTY.
I kind of think of it as the "unique" of rifle powders in that regard

[Jay]

tap tap tap...
Is this thing on...

I saw your post, bud and appreciate the info. I don’t plan on doing any more AR barrels in the near future. Pretty well have all the bases covered now.

Just for info, this barrel from McGowan was just over $400. That’s including the cost of cerakote.

[Jay]

Glad the BL-C(2) is working out for you.
I've tried it in 223, 7x57, 30-06 and 308 and haven't found a load that would shoot worth a darn, plus I've found it to be DIRTY.
I kind of think of it as the "unique" of rifle powders in that regard

This is my first time using it. Didn’t even realize I had a pound of it and don’t remember where it came from. I’m going to keep playing with it. If it gets me the velocity and accuracy I’m looking for, I can put up with dirty. Although I didn’t notice it being unusually dirty yesterday. But I also wasn’t shooting it suppressed. No need putting a bunch or rounds through the can for no reason until I get closer to finishing load work and zeroing.

[Jay]

Here’s one of the better groups from yesterday. It’s a 1” paster. So just eyeballing it, probably around 1/2” 3-round group, even with the one round a little low. That load was way too slow, so not even a consideration. But seems to indicate the barrel is capable of great accuracy.

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