20VT Journey Begins

Ned Kelly · Post by **Ned Kelly** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 8:04 pm

G'day all,
This is a slooow burn project.
Donor is a 2nd hand RH T3 Super Varmint in 204. Kicken and I have checked the feeding of dummy 20VT cases out of a T3 223, no problems except for the last; easy fix, needs a little kick upwards to line up chamber. Either by a new mag follower (preferred), modified mag feed lips/rails or a little button inline to lift it up...effectively a speed hump.
Now I'm onto a getting a PTA, sell some stuff and buy dies and possibly a new scope.
I'll be getting redding comp dies but would like to know what is the preferred form die set from 222/223 brass to 221FB. Neckturning is no problem, all tooled up, but preferred bushing sizes would be helpful.
Also interested in a quality, RELIABLE tracking scope around the $500-$700 ball park. Illuminated would be nice, all suggestions most welcomed.
May even replace the stock with some nice walnut

Cheerio Geoff

Post by **MISSED** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 8:33 pm

I have some form Dies you can borrow Geoff

Or I will look tomorrow for the part numbers

trevort · Post by **trevort** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 9:12 pm

Or you could get serious and make it with a bit more powder [FACE WITH STUCK-OUT TONGUE AND WINKING EYE]

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B4408 · Post by **B4408** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 9:16 pm

Sounds good Ned. Will be interested in your scope choice.
I used ADI 223 brass, important to anneal it down to new shoulder location before forming. I used a 221 FL die with guts out to make a long neck 221.
Kickin and Missed should be able to give more details, they sorted things out for me.

Bruce

WARDY91 · Post by **WARDY91** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:18 am

Geoff i've got 100 formed vartarg and 100 221 fireball brass if you get stuck

trevort · Post by **trevort** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 3:39 am

Geoff won't get stuck. Bet London to a brick

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Ned Kelly · Post by **Ned Kelly** » Tue Jan 17, 2017 9:50 pm

G'day all,
interested in your experiences with resizing 222/223 brass to 221 FB.
Any particular brands of brass that worked particularly well or didn't work and as far as i can tell there is only the Redding form die around to take brass down to 221FB. Any info on forming dies greatly appreciated. Also will a Redding Body die in 20VT suitable for forming brass?
Thanks in advance.
Cheerio Ned

trevort · Post by **trevort** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 2:38 am

Geoff I have the dies. Formed 17m4 from lap 223 and 20cal is one of the steps. You can borrow them

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Post by **MISSED** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 5:03 am

The best brass I Used was some old Norma 222 that Humpy gave me.These cases where old and Humpy did not know how many times they were fired.

I formed them and am now at 5 times fired as 20 VT.

222 brass IMHO is easier to form down.Stay well away from Federal.

I think Chappo used ADI

chappo555 · Post by **chappo555** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 6:33 am

I had a shitload of ADI brass blank 223. Formed great, consistant brass and small flash hole. I used a redding 221FB form and trim, then redding 20VT bushing neck die with two bushings to "step" down, then trim, OAL and then anneal.

Do NOT buy Remington 221 factory brass. This was the worst brass from a factory i have ever seen. Offset or missing flash holes, split necks and huge variations in weight.

Just my 0.02c.

trevort · Post by **trevort** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:36 am

I was thinking of junking all my 17m4 brass and starting again when lapua released 221fb but since it might fire a dozen shots a year I decided not to. If price wasn't an issue is there any reason not to start with lap 221fb?

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Ned Kelly · Post by **Ned Kelly** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 4:47 pm

G'day all,
Thanks for the input, its good to confirm my own ideas from actual experience....why re-invent the wheel I say.
From my experience I'd use Lapua's brass whenever I could but the price seems to be always going up.....a lot.
To be able to form your own 221FB brass from 222/223 makes an awful lot of sense. OSA brass that I can get at $47-/100 means I should never ever run out if I buy several hundred cases.
Also what size neck bushings would typically used with a 20VT (Re-chamber will be with Kickens reamer)? I got a Redding Type S Neck Die set coming from Sinclairs. They didn't have the 221 Form dies in stock, I'll have to back order them.
As a side note, the L.E. Wilson trimmer case holder is different to the 17FB and 221FB. Any one used these for the 20VT and feedback on whether the chambering reamer would be suitable for making your own version of a Wilson case holder?
Thanks in advance.
Cheerio Geoff

Camel · Post by **Camel** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 5:37 pm

Re neck bush, most that I have heard about go a couple of thou under the neck diameter of the chamber, I went 4 thou under on my 20/222, .230 bush and .234 chamber neck, and don't seem to have any problems with split necks after 10 firings on my first lot of brass.

B4408 · Post by **B4408** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 6:16 pm

Ned
I have a chamber from that reamer. I use a 228 bush.
I was having a few problems getting the shoulder right until I bought a Redding 20VT body die and use a 17 mkiv neck bush die with the 228 bush, no full length die. Couldn't get a VT neck die set at the time.
If you want to borrow the body die I can send it down, not planning on using it for a while.

I used the Wilson 221 case holder in my trimmer which I bought for the job. Can't see why the 17mkIV case holder would not work. There is virtually no differance in case body shape.

As I said previously, I used ADI brass for the same reasons as you are thinking. 18.5gn of 2207 fills 2/3 way up neck on fire formed brass so not the capacity of some other brass. I use 18.3gn and just compressed.

Love the VT.
Bruce

Ned Kelly · Post by **Ned Kelly** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 6:56 pm

G'day Bruce,
makes sense, the email from LE Wilson was probably aimed at extracting perfection and absolute best accuracy....or a marketing ploy!
Realistically for me, I'm going to be very happy if I can get 1/2 moa. I believe I'll better than standard but it wont be a benchrest rifle either.
How is the checkering going?
Cheerio Geoff

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