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The Varminter Forums _ Guns, Loads and Optics _ Tac 20 Data

Posted by: Long_range Sep 2 2006, 12:42 PM

I'm looking for some load data for the .20, here's what I currently have to work with.

32 grn V-max
40 grn v-max

32 grn Blitz kings
39 grn blitz kings

Benchmark
Varget

1-10 twist.

I'll probably end using the 39/40's because of the twist, but the ammo that was sent to me was 32 BK's and it grouping in the low 3's. Problem is, I don't have any load data for anything.

Thanks in advance.

Posted by: Bayou City Boy Sep 2 2006, 06:22 PM

Here's a link with some attached data.

I'm sure most all of it was shot in 12" twist barrels and one load I know (Mike J) was shot in a 13" twist barrel as most of this is pre-204 Ruger data by several years. Note the V-Max is a 33 grain bullet and the 40 grain bullets are custom, but it should give a good starting area to work from.

http://www.angelfire.com/sd/6mmackley/twentycaliber.html

I have had excellent results with Benchmark with a hand swaged 38 grain HP in my Tac 20's.

HTH - BCB

Posted by: Long_range Sep 2 2006, 09:37 PM

Thank you , sir!
I haven't been able to find any loads for the caliber.
I currently have a 1-10 and my smith is in the process of building me a 1-12, so I think I'll have the best of both worlds to play with. ( I think)

I shot it for the first time on Wednesday and that thing is a butt-kickin' little cartridge. Pretty darn flat-
We were having no problems hitting them out to 471 yards. Most were between 350 and 400 and that little thing seems to sing at that distance. The only part I was disappointed with is they didn't seem quite as explosive as I'd imagined. Dead is dead, though..
Think my 22-250's and .223's will become safe queens in the very, very near future.

Posted by: Bayou City Boy Sep 3 2006, 05:45 AM

long range:

I'm sure you are aware of SCN and the Woodchuck Den since you are involved with the Tac 20, but here's a couple of links just in case you aren't, and for others who might be interested. I just notice the links to them on The Twenty Caliber Page are not current. Five to six years ago, Mike J's web site was about the only source of information on 20 caliber rifles with loading data on the Internet.

http://www.smallcaliber.com/

http://www.woodchuckden.com/

Todd Kindler has his newer version 20 cal reloading book out, and I'm not sure how much more it may have on the Tac 20. I no longer see a copy of his original article on the Tac 20 posted on his web sites, but I would imagine a phone call to him might get you a copy if you haven't seen it. He is very easy to talk to and is very helpful.

Todd is a performance reloader - he gets the max out of the cartridge he shoots today and doesn't worry a lot about case life, etc. like us normal foks do. If he needs new brass tomorrow to load tomorrow, so be it.

To be honest, some of his original loading data scare the bejesus out of me, but he has done more than any other one person to get the 20 caliber on the radar screen of a lot of folks. Without his influence on creating interest in the 20 caliber in the past 10 years or so, probably 90% of all 204 Ruger shooters today would still be shooting the 223 Remington and would never have heard of a 20 caliber rifle.

Good luck with your Tac 20's.

-BCB

Posted by: Long_range Sep 3 2006, 02:00 PM

Actually, I'm not familiar with any of those links or webpages. I was looking to build a custom 222 mag and talked to Rocky about it, he talked me into the Tac 20 instead. I generally trust what he tells me so I ran with it- I'm sure glad I did. He sent my gunsmith the goods so that I didn't have to pay for the reamer/go-gauge, etc. Pretty good fella.( don't tell him I said that- he'll get a big head)

Anyway, While my smith is building one, I found another Shilen built rifle on-line that was owned by John of GGVG. He made me a screaming deal since he didn't have much time to mess with it.

204 loaded rounds
316 pieces of brass
Redding dies
Redding forming die

Remington 700 action( he said it's never been trued, but my smith told me it had)
Shilen SS/fluted match barrel
Boyds laminated stock.

1000.00 shipped.
I didn't get hurt on the deal at all.

Anyway, I've shot about 80 rounds through it and I'm gearing-up to make use of my empties.

That's where I am and that's about all I know of the Tac 20.

I'm sure those links will be very, very helpful.. thank you for that.

The long post is so that you'll se where I am on this new caliber... basically, the first stages and any help is greatly appreciated.

Posted by: Bayou City Boy Sep 3 2006, 03:44 PM

The rifle you're referring to that you bought from John St. Clair shoud be an excellent shooter. I'm pretty sure it was put together by Speedy Gonzales (S G & Y Precision Rifles), an excelent north Texas gun builder who builds both excellent BR rifles and hunting rifles.

I'm glad the information helped you.

Take care. - BCB

Posted by: Long_range Sep 3 2006, 04:59 PM

Yeah, it was John StClair. Really nice fella per multiple phone conversations.
I'm pretty confident that he said it was built by Shilen- Told me he had almost nothing into it and that he traded some advertising for parts/work, etc. Either way, it is a solid shooter and I felt like I got a pretty solid deal considering the brass/dies/loads, etc. probably totaled close to 250.00 to begin with.

I checked my Hornady loading book and it has nothing for the tac 20... bummer.

Posted by: skypilotbc Sep 3 2006, 06:09 PM

PM sent (with Picture)
Bob

Did you get the PM, Long_Range?

Posted by: glenn asher Sep 4 2006, 03:24 AM

The Tactical Twenty IS in the 6th edition of the Hornady manual, although, with different reamers and barrel makers, it's MIGHTY wise to start way low and work into it, as it always is, anyway. John's a great guy, GGVG is one of my favorite places to hang out, he and Mike have made it that way.

Posted by: Long_range Sep 4 2006, 07:19 AM

Yes, sir.. I did get the PM, and thank you! Gives me a great place to start!

Glen, it's not in mine and I can't remember what issue I have. Mine's a burgandy leather, three-ring notebook type. It's at least 2 years old. Might have to pick up a more current book.

Posted by: DittoHead Sep 4 2006, 11:49 PM

Todd Kindler’s Terrific Twenties book is $33.00 shipped to your door. It has seven articles about the Tactical 20, including one built on an AR and one on an XP-100 pistol.

The Hodgdon 2006 Annual Manual also has data.

Bayou City Boy is right about the hot loads in Kindler’s book. Here’s an example using the 33gr. V-Max and H-335 from both books:

Hodgdon Manual
Start 24.5 grains, 3643 fps
Max 26.7 grains, 3917 fps

Kindler’s Manual
Start 27.3 grains, 3823 fps
Max 29.4 grains, 4159 fps

Kindler recommends reducing starting loads by 10%; that’s probably good advice.

Posted by: Goofycat Sep 8 2006, 02:00 AM

There is also an excellent article on page 26 of the Fall, 2005 issue of the Dakota Arms Magazine on Lapua brass for the 20 Tac. Kindler liked Reloder 10X and Hornady 40gr V-max pills. He noted that the Lapua brass cases had very little case weight variation (only .6gr) , with a wall thickness averaging .0008 from case to case. The cases come already annealed, flash-holes already drilled and chamfered, and the extractor grooves are precision machined. Now, if they would only make 20 VarTarg brass available.

Posted by: Long_range Sep 8 2006, 07:00 AM

BCB,
I just spoke to Todd, he's sending me one of his re-loading books for the 20's. He told me that I should be using 10x in any of the 20's rather than Varget/Benchmark. Blah, now I get to take on a new powder.
Really enthusiastic fella- I'll be keeping in touch with him.

Thanks for the hook-up.

Posted by: Bayou City Boy Sep 8 2006, 07:41 AM

LOL!!! Todd does have a way of dragging you in off the street too see the fat lady one more time, doesn't he?

Lots of folks have had good luck with RE10X - good velocity and good accuracy. Powders are kinda' like computers - you buy the lastest and a week later it's outdated.

Take care - BCB

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