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Post by GLSHOOTER on Dec 4, 2016 10:46:05 GMT -8
Load/sight verification on a 20 Practical that was sent to me last PM by RItch. . 35 Berger out of a BHW 20 Practical using the 35 Berger. This one is a proven load and is out in the desert as I type this. Lucky Devil!! The 20 Practical just seems to shoot with so little effort it is almost laughable. 100 yards for five shots.  Greg |
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Post by mosigdude on Dec 17, 2016 8:30:26 GMT -8
The 20P is quickly becoming one of my favorite rifles. Like you, I'm getting teeny tiny groups, 4125fps at the muzzle with bulk 34gr varmint nightmare extreme bullets and enjoying how easy it is on the powder stash. This load seems reasonably fur-friendly on anything bigger than a fox and I haven't had anything take a step after being hit. It is going to take front seat for this year's off-season predator control.
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204ar
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Post by 204ar on Dec 17, 2016 16:06:54 GMT -8
The 20P is quickly becoming one of my favorite rifles. Like you, I'm getting teeny tiny groups, 4125fps at the muzzle with bulk 34gr varmint nightmare extreme bullets and enjoying how easy it is on the powder stash. This load seems reasonably fur-friendly on anything bigger than a fox and I haven't had anything take a step after being hit. It is going to take front seat for this year's off-season predator control. Have you shot a bunch of coyotes with that bullet? I've always wondered if it would work well, the price is sure right. What is your load and barrel length? |
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Post by mosigdude on Dec 17, 2016 16:48:33 GMT -8
I'm shooting a 24" barrel on the AR platform. 29.4gr CFE223 at an OAL of 2.165. As you probably know,there isn't much for tested load data out there, I feel like this is an absolute max load for my setup. I tested higher but started seeing pressure signs a little beyond this. Conveniently, this was my best accuracy load too. Obviously, don't just copy my load and definitely start well below this to do your own workup. This combo has a couple coyotes down, but I got it put together late in the year last year and it didn't get an extensive workout after the initial testing on the bench. Of the two coyotes I took, both were broadside, both dropped instantly, neither exited. The entrance was the 20 cal hole you would expect to see and internally, the next few inches of travel were pure mush. I scored a single fox as well and, although the fur was repairable, it did a little more damage than I would like and at least a small fragment of the bullet exited with gusto. I'll admit I haven't taken very many foxes with any caliber so maybe this is the norm, I just didn't consider it as 'ideal', maybe nothing is. Finally, I did some protective overwatch in the garden later in the year to keep the rabbits in check and, as you would imagine, there is nothing to pick up.
Hopefully I'll have more field-results soon! |
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Post by GLSHOOTER on Dec 17, 2016 17:04:51 GMT -8
That's a good report. Loading data is pretty extensive on the 20 Tactical and all of it is directly translateable to the 20 Practical. Routinely you can bump it up a little thanks to the larger case capacity. I've shot both for years and they are more fun than a passle of puppies.
Greg
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204ar
Full Member
Posts: 70
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Post by 204ar on Dec 17, 2016 17:05:23 GMT -8
Thanks for the info. It's hard to beat the price tag on those bullets, and I've shot a bunch at pdogs. The bc is terrible and it's pretty noticeable if the wind is blowing at all. They seemed to be less explosive on pdogs than a vmax, so I thought they might be just the ticket for coyotes, much like the 35 gr berger.
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Post by mosigdude on Dec 17, 2016 19:13:24 GMT -8
Agreed on the BC being terrible. During our off-season we have pretty significant wind most days so the 20-anything isn't really a great long-range choice for me anyway. An 'ordinary' set lets me overlook something at or under 350ish yards and the less-than-optimal BC of these is nothing more than a different calculation at these distances. I would be looking at a completely different projectile if my normal shots were beyond this. With that said, Sierra Bullets is a few blocks from my house and I did pick up some of their 39gr Blitzkings to play with at some point but that will probably be a game for summer.
On the Vmax, Anyone who knows me knows the Vmax is my first go-to when I start with a new varmint caliber, I love them and usually have excellent results with them. I did the same in my 20P and, to my surprise, my particular rifle HATES them so far. I'll revisit them with some different powders and seating depths if I ever have cause but haven't had need yet. Speaking of, seating depth was a huge factor in my load development with the VNE bullet. Accuracy was 3/4moa-ish until I found the magic OAL, I don't recall if my final accuracy load was the longest, shortest or something in the middle of those I tested, but once I hit it groups cut in half. |
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