20 TAC ...204 Ruger

Jonathan

Jonathan

New member
I don't know any one that has eather of these.
First is there a diference? and second where can I get ammo
for this gunn and how is the price compared to say .223 or 22-250.
I work at BPS and the only gun we have chambered for it is a Rem. SPS but unfortunatly we do not carry the ammo?!?? as of yet that is so I do not know what to expect as far as $ and the accuracy or range any info would help thanks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
the 20 TAC is still a wildcat and as far as I know there isn't any factory ammo available for it . The 204 Ruger is a factory round and there are several factory loads available for it . I have no idea where someone would get the ammo in Canada ?? Can ammo be shipped from USA to Canada ? If so , you could look into some place like Natchez or Midway , or several other mail order places .
As far as other information on the different cartridges , do a google search for ".204 Ruger ' and for ".20 Tactical" . You should be able to come up with all kinds of information on both of them from case forming to reloading to ballistics and everything in between .
 
It's all in the sholder angle and set back....ballistically they are very close.

If I was to get a 20 caliber rifle it would be the 20 Practical, which uses standard 223 brass with just a neck diameter change. The 204 or TAC 20 require more than 1 pass through a die to form. If you want to buy ammo at the store...you will want the 204 Ruger...the other 2 are considered wildcats.

Here's a few more 20's:
TAC 20 (223 necked down 30 degree shoulder and longer neck)
20 Practical (223 necked down)
204 Ruger
20 Bobcat (223 Ackley necked down)
20 PPC (22PPC necked down)
20 Vartarg (221 Fireball necked down)
20 Slammer (222 Remington necked down)
20 TNT (17 Rem. necked up)
20 Terminator (222 Mag 30 degree shoulder necked up)
20 BR (6mm BR necked down)
20 Ferguson ACE (6mm BR 30 degree shoulder necked down)
20 Waldog (a shortened PPC and a 20/222 Mag. Improved 40 degree shoulder)
 
WOW Thanks all lots of info! I like the sounds of the 20 practical,I will be looking hard at that one when my .223rem
700p barrel gives up the ghost!...hey Osprey have you ever used the 20 practical? what kind of range would you get from this round..I am geting 600yrd ground hog accuracy from my 700p at the yery best on days with no wind
 
Brian we Canadians can not order ammo from the US. not since
9/11 that is.....but I am sure that I can find some 204 Ruger
here,I want to try it or at least see some pics of results before I get one though.
 
Results on my Savage 16FSS TAC 20 this was the third time at the range for the rifle.

Feb2007006.jpg
 
The TAC 20 and the 20 Practical are ballistic twins, it is just differences in overall dimensions of the case itself; Neck length and shoulder set-back.

The beauty of owning a wildcat is you will have to make ammo. Importing or exporting is not an option...for that matter you can't swing by the local sports store either.

223 brass is inexpensive...but dies for wilcats can get a little steep. You will also need to research load data and maybe do some load development yourself. If all of this doesn't scare you off...have fun and welcome to Widcat'ing.

My current rifle I'm still developing is a 6x45 which is a 223 necked up to accept 6mm bullets. Lighter bullets at 22-250 velocity and the ability to load all the way up to 107 grain projectiles. The 20 Practical is my next project.
 
I am in the same dilema! I have a 222AI getting close to 5000 rounds down the tube so I will be replacing the barrel in the near future. I also think that I want to go to a 20 caliber and have been looking at the options. My conclusions at this point are: The Tact 20 is very interesting but the two step process of making brass and the expense of the dies is a drawback. That brings me to the 20 Practical that eliminates those two drawbacks BUT what can the Pract and Tact do that the 204 can't??? I have always been a wildcatter so my conclusion is that I would like a 204 Ackley! Not because of any preformance advantage, just because I like wildcats and I like the Ackley 40 degree shoulder advantage of not having to trim 1000 cases all the time.
 
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Brian we Canadians can not order ammo from the US. not since 9/11 that is.....but I am sure that I can find some 204 Ruger here,I want to try it or at least see some pics of results before I get one though.



Jonathan, I have a .204 Ruger and if I can get factory ammo here in Newfoundland, I am sure you will have no trouble in Upper Canada. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif That said, this caliber tends to shine when you reload. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
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My current rifle I'm still developing is a 6x45 which is a 223 necked up to accept 6mm bullets. Lighter bullets at 22-250 velocity and the ability to load all the way up to 107 grain projectiles.





Are you sure of this?

My reloading manuals all list the 22-250 as being able to achieve about 500 fps over the 223 with the same bullet weight. These same manuals list the 6x45 as able to achieve about 100-150 fps over the 223 with the same bullet weight.

What loads are you using in this wildcat (6x45) to achieve this.
 
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The Tac20 will do what the 204 will do with 1-1.5grs LESS powder. HTH



Not hardly.

No smaller case with less powder, will equal a larger case with more powder, in equal guns - never happened, never will.

.
 
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The Tac20 will do what the 204 will do with 1-1.5grs LESS powder. HTH



Not hardly.

No smaller case with less powder, will equal a larger case with more powder, in equal guns - never happened, never will.

.



I agree

With both cartridges at the same pressures the larger will prevail.

If you raise the pressure of the smaller cartridge to, way above that of the larger cartridge. Then you can achieve about the same velocities.

My next question is how much pressure is considered safe. I have several wildcats fom the 17 MkIV, 20x222, 6x45, 6x47 -.085" short, 6mmBR, and a 6x250. They are fun in there own right, but I try to keep them safe. A few pennies for the extra powder and larger case is cheap compared to trying to get your eyes or other bodyparts fixed after a KB.
 
Jay
I saw where you were using N133 powder is that the same as VV133? I am asking because i am using that powder in my .223 and was thinking of trying it in my TAC 20 when it arrives.Have you chronographed your load.Its certainly accurate enough. Thanks.
 
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"...My next question is how much pressure is considered safe. I have several wildcats fom the 17 MkIV, 20x222, 6x45, 6x47 -.085" short, 6mmBR, and a 6x250. They are fun in there own right, but I try to keep them safe. A few pennies for the extra powder and larger case is cheap compared to trying to get your eyes or other bodyparts fixed after a KB.



It is a moot point, as you don't have a way of measuring pressure.

All you have is reading primers and case heads.

Do that and you will be fine... don't worry what the "real pressure" is, as most modern carts are being loaded to 60Kpsia these days and handloaders are running higher than that.

.
 
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All you have is reading primers and case heads.

Do that and you will be fine... don't worry what the "real pressure" is, as most modern carts are being loaded to 60Kpsia these days and handloaders are running higher than that.

.



I wonder how many new reloaders or wildcatters can read primers and case heads.

I'm just trying to throw some caution out there. Pressures can spike up real fast, like the 17 Remington for example. or perhaps the 20 cals.

Many reloaders don't know this. I also feel there is/was a legit reason for larger faster cartridges like the 22-250 over the 222 or 223. And to expect a 6mm223 or 6x45 to match a handloaded 22-250 could put the shooter in a dangerous situation. But that's just my Opinion.
 
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... I wonder how many new reloaders or wildcatters can read primers and case heads.



Anyone that can't read primers and case heads has NO business shooting wildcats.

Wildcats are NOT for beginners or the "iggorant"

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I'm just trying to throw some caution out there. Pressures can spike up real fast, like the 17 Remington for example. or perhaps the 20 cals.



Same applies - the 17 Rem is not a reloading beginner's cartridge... but if loads are increased in 1% or 2% steps, the most trouble they can get into is a stiff bolt.

Pressures do NOT "spike"... they increase in proportion to the increases.

.
 
down boys...lol you all have great points,lets just pretend
that when we give data that there are some little brothers
reading our posts that way we are not steeping on each others
feathers and also giving caution to thouse in need about dangerous loading practices that we are aware of and automaticly assume the need for higher diligence in our technique...........just a thought!


Jonathan
 
Jay Johnson,

Real good group! I looked up the 16fss and see that it only comes in 204 ruger and 223 rem are you refering to the 204
or did you rebarel a 223?
thanks in advanced Jonathan
 
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