AusVarmint

Guys,
Long time away, but thought I'd better pop in as this was the place where the 'Club of 20/222s' seemed to be thickest.

After what seems an eternity, finally sent a Savage action off today to be fitted with a barrel chambered in 20/222.

Wondering what powders are best to kick off load development when it comes home in a few weeks? In the cupboard are 2207, BM1, BM2, 06H, CFE223, and W748, I'll only be throwing 32gr projectiles.

Also, using a Wilson FL resizing bushing die with 0.230" bushing for starters ... do you set these up to keep a slight false shoulder for headspace control when necking down? Going to run Winchester brass for starters, then probably swap to PPU ... is the Lapua worth the near x5 cost to PPU?
Cheers...
Con

21.5 2207, 32gn Zmax, speed ???? dunno, accuracy, very good as it was with every load I tried, so I kept going up till I couldn't be bothered any more. 230 bush with a 234 chamber neck, never tried anything else. Yes to the false shoulder, did it when I first necked them down, it worked so I now do it every time I load them.
Around 15 firings on my brass, Lapua, still havent had to use the 222 body die, only cases I lost were the first two I necked down and another dozen or so when I accidentally flicked them out the ute window to get a quick shot away.
Was going to try cheaper brass, but couldn't be bothered changing as I had over 500 lap brass bought off BRT when they were selling it cheap for 88.00 a hundred.

You will love it. Branxhunter has one, Jack Saligari has one, and I thing there may be another member as well, but not sure.

Camel wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 7:35 pm You will love it. Branxhunter has one, Jack Saligari has one, and I thing there may be another member as well, but not sure.

It's certainly got me a bit excited, I'd lost my wildcat mojo ... almost did a fast twist 223Rem instead. But then I decided it was time to try this little cartridge.

Sold/traded all my 17cal projectiles away today ... first benefit is I can actually pick up 20cals individually from the box.
Cheers...
Con

G'day Con.

I have tried BM1, AR2207 and AR2219 in mine, all with 32gn z- or v- maxes and Rem 7 1/2 SR primers. My chosen load uses BM1 in Win cases. Pick of the loads in my 26" barrel were:

22.0gn AR2207 3950fps (tested up to 23.2gn)
24.1gn BM1 right on 4000fps (tested up to 25.0gns, which was too hot)
24.0gn AR2219 3970fps (loaded from Missed in Sako cases)

All three loads shoot less than 0.4" for four shots, and often approach 0.25".

I found that it will shoot quite respectable groups over a wide range in powder charges.

Marcus

Thanks for that ... looks like I'm covered for powders as just about everything I have is around the right burn rate.

Out of interest, what is everybody using as a bullet seater die? I'll make do with a 222seater for starters, but need something a bit better eventually.
Cheers...
Con

I just use the .222 seater Con. Doesn't seem to cause any issues.

Marcus

Yeah, seating with a 22 cal seater in Super Simplex press, I do have a set of 204 dies for that press, but as it didn't make any difference which seater I used, I just kept using the 22 cal one, incidentally, I don't have to adjust the die if I am seating 222 or 20/222, same length.

Excellent! I'm not sure where my 20cal seater stem went when I had the 22/204 dies made ... but have a spare hoarded set of 222Rem dies that I'll use to seat.

Action was sent off last Thursday ... and I'm already impatient! 4 week wait is going to kill me!!
Cheers...
Con

I should also have said that my .222 seating die is a Super Simplex.

I use a .227" neck bush in a Redding type S FLS die for Win cases. Jerome cut my chamber with a .232" neck.

I do the first step down with a Super Simplex neck size die without the expander button, a d from then on only use the Redding die, also without the expander button. Both tricks passed on by Camel - if you can wade through the BS he occasionally says something worth listening to

Marcus

I'll see what I can cobble together ... I could always get a 204Ruger Lee seater and cut it down.

As for Camel, I ignored him for close to 9 years on his rantings to build a 20/222.
Cheers...
Con