Tactical .20 Question

[Loki_762]

If some funding issues get taken care of in the near future, I may be able to buy a TC frame on which I can build a rifle.  I have been considering a .223, but I already have one of those.  So, I have also put some thought into the Tactical .20.  From what I have read, it sounds like a dandy cartridge for coyotes, ground squirrels, rockchucks and such.  However, there is a hitch.  I do not currently reload, but I am looking for an excuse to start.  Is this a good cartridge to start with?  What, exactly, do I need besides the reloading equipment?  Is it hard to resize the brass to the proper size?  How much am I looking at spending for resizing equipment and dies?  I have a bunch of brass from my .223, and I will probably just continue to buy that ammo - it is just so cheap!  So, I will continue to have a supply of brass.  Any information you can give me would be very much appreciated.

[5Redman8]

I would not say the 20 Tac is a good Reloading Starter round.  A standard cartridge may be a better choice but that is not to say don't try.  Reloading is fun and very addictive.  As far as price for reloading, you can spend as much as you want.  A cheap estimate, for getting started with the basics, $150 all the way into $1000's.  I say go for it!!!  Look on Ebay for some starter kits.  I am partial to RCBS, Dillon, and Redding.  These are good middle of the line companies.

There are lots of forums for getting started and do not be afraid to ask questions.  There is another site that is not often mentioned on this board that would help in beginning to reload fo TC's.  it can be searched for.

Check it out.

Feel free to email me,
kylewholcomb@yahoo.com

[DannoBoone]

Hi Loki,

 There is an extra step to reloading for the Tactical 20, but if you are
willing to reload, it is relatively simple to get a .223 case ready for the
Tac 20.

  I got my barrel for the Encore from Virgin Valley Custom Guns. She
shoots 1/4" groups consistantly and the best was just over 1/8". Pretty
good for a bolt, let alone a break-open!  It does NOT like the hottest
loads, however.  I keep them at less than 4100fps for the 33gr pills.
Anything more will blow the primers and destroy the primer pockets of
the case.  I understand the IMI cases will take more pressure, so am
trying to get around this winter and get a couple hundred of these
ready for hotter loads.

  Todd Kindler is the inventor of this cartridge and has a proprietary
agreement with Redding to sell dies only through him. If I recall, they
were around $150 - pretty pricey. I notice on his web page that he now
has Wilson neck dies and seaters for a more reasonable price, but ya
need a Wilson press for these. His page for Tac 20 components is:
http://www.woodchuckden.com/cat_page1.html  His phone number is
on the page and he can give you any help you need to get started.

  As for reloading equipment, it depends on how much you want to spend.
If you are POSITIVE you will like reloading and not decide later on that
it's not for you, I would get some quality equipment you can afford. On
the other hand, you can get a Lee Anniversary Kit with everything you
need excluding dies for about $122 direct from them:
http://www.leeprecision.com/catalog/browse.cgi?1074045330.5839=anivers.html
You can get it for less than that from online dealers.  Many reloaders will
pooh-pooh Lee Reloading equipment, but I've had very good success
with it. Originally, I got this press for seating bullets and use my heavy
duty Herter's press for forming cases, but the Lee works good for that,
too. It's nice to have both presses, though, with the forming die in the
Herter's and the seating die in the Lee.

  Get a reloading book and thoroughly understand the processes before
actually beginning. One comes with the Lee Kit at the $122 price. Then,
if possible, get with someone who reloads and have them show you the
ropes. And most importantly, never, NEVER use max loads in the
manual in the beginning. Start out AT LEAST 10% less, better 15% less
than the max load. Slowly work your way up, checking your primer area
with each load increase. If you notice any black coloring around the
primer, you have gone past your rifle's max load. You should also be
able to tell what your most accurate load is in this process.

  Two other choices to make is to wait for the Ruger .204 (based on the
.222 Rem Magnum) or the Calhoon .19/223. My choice at the time was
between the .19/223 and the Tac 20 -- chose the Tac 20 due to a more
promising bullet selection, and that has been realized. I really love this
rifle!!!

[Catfish]

I would recomand that you not buy any Lee equipment. I started reloading in 1965 and have owned alot of  lee equipment over the years. Every piece of it was a disapointment. I guess that I`m just a slow learner, but I findly sware that I would never buy any more Lee junk. There is a very good reason that it is the cheapest stuff on the market, but what most people don`t relize is that it is also the most over priced.

[DannoBoone]

Some have good luck with the Lee equipment and some do not. I was
merely stating a very inexpensive way to get started. If one gets started
with this equipment and decides that they realy like reloading, one can do
like I did and get a stronger press for resizing, using the Lee press to
seat the bullets. This is much less a hassle than constantly changing dies
and a lot less expensive than a turret press. As for doing a very good job,
the Lee outfit has given me very accurate loads. To avoid breakage of
some of the components, one must strictly follow the instructions. Yes, the
clamp assembly holding the handle could be improved, and one needs to
make sure the securing handle bolt is always tight for the press. Yes, the
primer tool will break if one fails to grease the moving part inside the
handle. But when one takes the time to read the instructions, and follows
them, this unit will last for thousands of rounds. In the event that some
part is out of whack, they do have a guarantee, be it limited.