I acquired a 20 Prac upper a few months ago, 20" 1:10 BHW. I've rolled through a ton of load dev using 32gr/40gr Nosler BT and Berger 35gr HPFB varmint and 4 different powders with each (8208, TAC, H335 and 10x) and best I can do is MOA. No, I haven't played a lot with seating depth as I haven't found a bullet it REALLY likes yes. Best I've done with this is the Berger and 10x at about 3800 FPS, but that's MOA at best. Doubt I'll ever use this past 300yds on chucks/yotes. I KNOW this setup can be much more accurate. Suggestions??

How do you know it can be much more accurate?

It might just be a 1" gun.

I have one 20P in an AR, custom built by RPG, A bolt action 20P Savage action with X-caliber barrel Rifle Basic trigger and custom fitted stock. plus anothe one on the way for a Rem 700 trued action, Timney trigger, Criterion barrel and Hoque LVSF stock.

The bolt actions are so much easier to shoot accurately.

i gotta believe it's more accurate . But what you said may be the reality

Try Accurate 2520 powder…. This powder really shines in my 20 tactical

Is the barrel broke in? I had a Barrel by ER Shaw.... it was MOA at best until I had about 600 rounds down the barrel...

then groups started getting a lot tighter after that...

Purchased it used, but have put nearly 150rds through it

Built my first 20 PT nearly 15 yrs ago

Pac Nor barrel & Savage s/shot action(s)

40 V max is the usual bullet...

Powders ? Benchmark..H4895...IMR 8208 & Rem 7.5 primers

Always very accurate...as suggested...bolt guns are usually more accurate

As per pic...here's how I build 'em...although this is a 223 AI......link...suggested reading

https://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/20caliber/

I dont know what primer your using but I'd try a primer change its amazing what just that will do for a gun.
Rem 7.5 if you got them.
If that dont work it try AA2230 its great in mine or VV133.
I would also stick with the heavier bullets in a 1-10

that's one thing I haven't changed yet. I have 2 other primers I can try.

Try your Berger/10x combo at different seating depths to see where it goes from there.

curious

have you considered or tried a Lee factory crimp die ?

204 Ruger will work

Giving it a shot this weekend. Thought I was at mag length, but still had a lot of wiggle room.



Na, but have tried three different sized bushings wondering of neck tension would help. No difference.

Saw some 40gr Bergers at LGS, so may pick up 100 of those to give em a whirl.

I have a few 20 Practicals, Benchmark, 8208, and now Data 2200 give me my best groups. I have a hard time getting my AR's to shoot as well as my bolts also. Right now I am loading a heavy barrel 20 Prac for varmints and want to shoot 32 VMax, and 39 BK's. both are doing pretty darn good with cci450's, LC brass, and Data 2200 and Benchmark.

Data from last weekend trying different primers. Looks like I'll stick with the CCI 400, maybe the BR4. Sorry for the crap formatting, but looks like forum deletes extra whitespace

20Prac AR 23gr 10x 35gr Berger

CCI 400 CCI BR4 Fed 205 Fed GM205MAR
avg 3501 3512 3517 3546
es 53 28 21 79
sd 29 16 11 41
moa 1.04 1.1 1.55 1.25


As for seating depth, I bumped out quite a bit and there was promise at 2.958" (using comparator). If I take away (what I hope was a flyer), it goes to .25, but I'll chalk that up to luck. Either way, I won't complain if I can keep this at .8 moa. I picked up some 40gr Bergers I'll try this weekend with some H335 and TAC.

Your load seems awful slow, im running the 34 v- nitemares at 3850fps in a 24" barrel

Are we chasing velocity or accuracy? or Velocity over accuracy... velocity first, accuracy second?

personally I am an accuracy first person...

my 20 practical sees 32 vmaxes and 24 gr NTXs.... with H322 and Benchmark as their chief powders, followed by IMR 4198.

Uhhhh it seems the o.p was not happy with accuracy so MAYBE if he ups velocity accuracy will come around.

I was able to get 3750-3850fps with pressure, but accuracy isn't there. This is a 20" AR build, so I won't expect the speed from a 24" bolt gun. Plus, the powder I was using for those speeds is running low and prefer to use it on a rifle I use more. Did some rework with some 40gr Bergers this weekend and was able to get .75 moa with multiple charges of H335 at 3500fps. I'll just stick with those for now and work up until I see pressure and see where accuracy is. If it doesn't get more accurate at higher velocities, I'll be happy with .75@3490 FPS, especially for what I'll be using it for.

With the exception of Vitavori I have every powder that one can imagine. I had a XR-100 in 204 and re chambered it to 20 Practical-- I tried at least a dozen powders and H-4895 & Benchmark proved to be the most accurate w/7 1/2 and Lapua brass.
It would not shoot the 40 V-Max butt luved the 39 Sierras

Good Luck

Jim

I wasn't expecting you to get to same velocity as a 24" vrs 20". Just that working up .2 at a time to say 3650-3700 may bring your accuracy around and as hippy stated another bullet maybe the answer also

I'm late to the party but both my 20P (AR and a bolt) shoot 35gr Bergers into less than 1/2 groups. 26gr H4895 and WSR primers. It's cheap and just works.

Both my brother and I have 204 AR's. We ended up fouling the barrels out on both of them. You got the barrel used, so have no real idea how much it was shot before you got it. I would spend some effort cleaning the barrel over a couple weeks and see if you can get it to start shooting. My brother got his back to driving tacks, I still need to work on mine.
My local dealer just got in a 20 Practical Encore barrel. I have thought about it a little.

Bob R