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  #1  
Old 10-14-2022, 10:52 AM
6BRBB 6BRBB is offline
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Default Rem 700 20cal Project

I have the opportunity to buy a 204 Ruger Rem700 Stainless with 22 inch barrel. I already have a 20BR and am keen to own a "223 bolt face" 20 cal. My initial thoughts was to not keep this as a 204 Ruger but to rebarrel into a 20-222.

Am keen for suggestion or other options to consider. I fell this being a factory action an action true-ing job will be in order. I am a big fan of 'mechanical extractors' eg Sako style; this obviously wont have one.

Let me know your suggestions or ideas.

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  #2  
Old 10-14-2022, 12:59 PM
B23 B23 is offline
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204, 20-223 aka 20Practical, or 20-222 are all excellent choices. If the need to shoot factory ammo is of concern the 204 will be the natural winner. If you reload the 20 Practical and 20-222 are both great cartridges. You can't go wrong with any of them but if you want 204 speeds go with the 20P but the 20-222 isn't really very far off 20P velocity so it mostly comes down to which one do you want.

I have a 20-222 and a 20-250, had the 20-250 built first so when I decided to go with a smaller 20 the 20-222 just seemed like the natural choice, but, had I not already had my 20-250 first, I probably would have had a 20 Practical built.
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  #3  
Old 10-14-2022, 01:13 PM
Bill K Bill K is offline
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If that rifle is a good shooter, keep it in 204 R, until you need to re-barrel, then go with either the 20 practical or a 20-222, as you are thinking.

Good point, as B23 mentioned, is the availability of 204R ammo.
But either of the other two are easy to form cases for, with the 20 practical being the easiest.

Click on the 20 cal spot on the banner on the left edge of the main page and you can read some fine information on the 20 practical.
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  #4  
Old 10-25-2022, 11:59 PM
moorepower moorepower is offline
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One pull on the handle with a .223 small base die, less expander and you have ready to shoot .20P.
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  #5  
Old 10-26-2022, 11:46 AM
JIMinTN JIMinTN is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moorepower View Post
One pull on the handle with a .223 small base die, less expander and you have ready to shoot .20P.
What small base die will neck down a 223 case to 20 cal ??
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  #6  
Old 10-26-2022, 10:47 PM
moorepower moorepower is offline
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The RCBS without the expander. That also demonstrates how much some fl dies overwork the brass. I found it out by accident, actually. I was doing a batch of LC 85 unfired that I had, and decided for plinking that I would use a SB die, followed by an expander and bushing die. The neck looked really small. I pulled a piece of .20 P sized brass out and miced the neck and they were the same. I cycled a couple pieces through my .20P and it worked great. I was actually thinking about getting an actual .20P die made, but not now. I had read about it also at some time, but had kind of forgot about it until I did it. I am in no way the first to do it, and it was not my original idea.
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  #7  
Old 10-26-2022, 10:56 PM
JSH JSH is offline
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I have both, 204 and 20BR. I look at the 204 as my platform to run 40 grainers and the 20BR sees 50-55’s. I purpose built a 20VT to shoot 32’s as well.

I don’t see the two you mention having equal performance.
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  #8  
Old 10-27-2022, 10:50 PM
moorepower moorepower is offline
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I am not saying the .20 P is "equal", but if I were to loose 100 pc of brass in the field, I would not be too bothered. I have enough .204 Norma brass to burn out my .204 and another barrel, but there is something to be said by one of my 5000 plus pieces of .223 brass through a die one time and load it and shoot it. I am running my .204 at 3800 with 8208 and a 40 Vmax, and about 150 fps lower for the .20P. with the same bullet, I don't hotrod it. With brass availability today, I would not get a .204, but go with the .20P. Western Powder has data for the .20 VT, and the velocities are way lower than most are getting, like under 3400 at 62925psi.
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  #9  
Old 11-19-2022, 03:11 AM
Jim D Jim D is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moorepower View Post
One pull on the handle with a .223 small base die, less expander and you have ready to shoot .20P.
Not True !
I tried tonight. with both of my RCBS SB dies. They did NOT size enough.
Jim
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