AusVarmint

My tobler barrel on my L461 is starting to look like a smoothbore after a measly 15 odd years and several thousand 222 and then freshly cut chambered 223 rounds. I have won a benchmark barrel in calibre of my choice so I'm wondering what to re barrel the Sako in. I've wanted a 20 cal something for a while and I have over 300 .223 cases so I'm thinking the easiest route is the 20 practical.
Anyone using one that can give me the skinny? Load data/velocity and twist rate? Would like to use 39/40gr pills.
Finally anyone got a reamer that I can hire? My free barrel comes chambered but unsure if the smith has a prac reamer(haven't asked him yet as I want to be sure this is the path I will take first).
Any info appreciated.
Cheers
Chappo555

when I had my JAB 20 extraction problems Clancy fixed it by running in his 20 Prac reamer so I know he has one.

1 in 12 works for 39s but is sometimes iffy with 40s. 1 in 10 or 1 in 11 gives you guarantees on the forties.

G'Day Chappo

+1 for what Trev said.

For load data on most of the 20 cal wild cats Todd Kindlers terrific twenties will be your freind. I can have a look in my copy later this evening for you if you want but if you are serious about a 20 cal wildcat I would grab a copy for your own. Hunting books sell them locally and I reckon mine turned up the same week I ordered it.

Dr G

Hi Chappo

Been shooting one for a couple of years. I have my own reamer and willing to hire out to AV members.

Had a true flite and now a pac nor barrel both 12 twists. 39gr bullets perform best. 40VM in current barrel shoot ok at 100m but 200m is a bit ordinary. 39gr ones shoot tight through different ranges.

Im getting 3750fps with 23.7gr reloader 10x in remington cases and 39/40gr pills but moving to BM2 as its easier to come by and I think less picky if im shooting on hot days or cold nights. 3700fps is plenty enough. Using 450's as primers only coz I use them in 308 and 223 for f class.

Great fox/cat/rabbit round and puts down long tail rats fine too.

If you want anymore info mate just PM me.

G'day Chappo,
I have 2 Practicals, one a 1:12 Ruger barrel on a Tikka 595, the other a 1:10 Lothar Walther barrel on a Sako 461. Both made using a 204Ruger reamer run 90 thou short and both shoot 40g VM's beautifully.Case forming is really easy with a Hornady 20 cal neck die and load using a 20 cal Lee Collet die and shortened 204 FLSizer when ncessary. PM for loads if you wish.
Cheers Dugald

Thanks guys, keep it coming. This will be my long range bunny and fox gun. Heavy fluted stainless 1:10 looks like the go.
Thanks Brad Y will probably end up taking you up on the offer. Top bloke mate!!
Ok ADI loads? I buy 2208 by the 4kg tub and always got 2207 in my shed. 07 is my go to powder in the .223.
Thanks again guys.

Chappo my JAB 20 sounds very like what Dugald does except I pushed the sholder back 30 thou to lengthen the neck like a proper TAC20. 3800 fps with 10x. researched a lot on the web and 10x gives 150 to 200fps more than any other powder for most users in the TAC

Yep reloader 10x is THE powder. Looking at it, its closer to 2207 in burn rate than the other powders ive tried, but I havent tried 2207 itself. BM2 should be pretty much spot on, 2206H is good but if anything slightly too slow. In the 204 it reigns supreme but the 223 case has slightly less capacity. From memory 24gr of BM2 was shooting good before I took the barrel off and had it blued.

Another member here is looking at using the reamer (over east as well) I will pm him as he was waiting on a barrel to come in. Maybe if I send it to you then you could pass it on if he is ready. Just pm me when you want to get it and I will send it over.

40gr vmax are the cheaper 40gr pill out there and perform brilliantly. A 10 twist will sort them out nicely.

I just finished talking to the gunsmith about my .20 practical build. I ordered a 26 inch pacnor 11" twist tube screwed into a stevens 200 action.

Brad, the wait time on the barrel is approximately 16 weeks. No rush on the reamer! Share the practical love!

Brad Y. Last questions I promise!!!
What length barrel you using to get the 3750fps and how has barrel life/fouling been??

Cheers again
Chappo555.

Using 25 inches. Just cut that back to 24. Barrel life hasnt been an issue. Borescope shows very little erosion after a thousand odd rounds and due to my chamber going rusty (unblued CrMo barrel) we just recut it. The reamer has practically (haha) zero freebore so plenty of bullet seated in the neck means plenty of capacity to seat the projie out further. The 39gr SBK likes jump, the 40VM likes being up close to the lands. You will get a couple of thousand out of you barrel before you need to do anything to it I reckon.