Small bolt face calibers????

Hey guys, what are some interesting varmint calibers that can be built on the small bolt face?

Looking for something in the 17-20 caliber range.

Not using it for anything in particular. Just another toy!

Lets hear em!!

 

.204, brass is easy to obtain and it shoots very well, what more is there.

 

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

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/17caliber/

 

204 has crossed my mind as well as a fast twist 17rem!

Thanks for the links!

 

I'm very happy with my 20 Vartarg based on necked down 221Fireball brass - it shoots all out of proportion to its size and easy to make. More difficult to make, but a 20BR set up for 50grn or 55grn bullets is a "kick-butt" longer range ,extremely accurate , cartridge .

 

I have a 20BR right now and it's a wicked caliber. Love it!!

 

Have you read the post below on the vartarg ? Do you see what it can do with the right parts ? "Ab" knows what he's doing !

 

I have been sort of drooling on my computer over that one! Looks like a sweet gun!

 

X
If you want to take a chance of getting hooked on small calibers ,check out saubier.com.

Hal

 

If interested in 20 cal with 223 bolt face, there are a number in the attached link to pick from. Just one person's opinion, but I would consider the most practical choices as 20 Vartarg, 20-222, 20 Practical, 20 Tactical, or the 204 Ruger. +1 on check out saubier.com http://tripledeuce.net/Cartridge_Comparisons_0SJN.php

 

Thanks guys! Great info as usual.

Any opinions on the 19-223?

 

One bullet source........Adam

 

A friend, who does his own barreling, and has a lot of time in shooting ground squirrels with a .204 noticed that for the powder that he likes, and the bullet weight that he favors, that his cases were not quite as full as he liked, so for his latest project he built a really well done .20 practical, and he says that it is the most accurate rifle that he owns.

 

The 20 tac with 39gr blitzkings or 40gr vmax is a very accurate and fast combo.
With excellent brass at a good price.

 

They're pretty darn good bullets though from what I read!

 

Then there you have it, but knowing what a one man/ small operation can be, all it takes is one bad flu, one injury, ect. to set you back so far you'll never catch up. Adam

 

I built myself a nice 20 VarTarg on a Rem M700 SSF CDL 17 Fireball that I bought from Zanders several years ago when they were running a special on these rifles. As luck would have it, the one I got had a very nice looking CDL stock - no fancy grain, but very uniform, dark walnut with nice straight grain. I pulled the OEM fluted SS 17FB bbl & sent it to Bartlein to have them do one of their .204, 1-14tw bbls in the same contour. In due time, I received the new bbl & the 17FB 'pattern' bbl back, and set to work on the Bartlein with a 20VT reamer from PTG. The results were gratifying, even though the R-P 221FB brass I'd bought for the rifle was anything but uniform. The original attraction of the VarTarg was its efficiency, and it didn't disappoint, giving 3670fps with 20grs of AA2200 & 32 VMax. I'd put a Nikon 6-24x50 Monarch on it, and wanted to try Lapua 221 brass when they announced it, but found that my reamer's .232" neck wasn't going to work w/o neck turning the Lapua. I kind of lost interest in the rifle, mostly because there are no decent dog towns out here anymore, and what other use did I have for it? Eventually sold it to a fellow who was planning a PD safari in the Dakotas. As you can see in the photo, I'd left the bbl at 26", which is probably more than what's needed to give complete burn on the small charges of relatively fast powders suited to the little 20VT.

More recently, I've kind of fallen for Howa's Mini, and have bought several of their bbl'd actions to build on. I had one in 222, and had thought about doing another 20VT on it, since I had the reamer & dies. But I'd purchased a couple of .204, 1-9tw blanks off Bartlein's inventory list, and wanting to shoot mostly 39-55gr bullets, it seemed more logical to go with a case with more capacity than the 20VT. I wound up getting a reamer & dies for the 20 Tactical. The Bartlein on this one is a #2B med sporter, which is just about perfect for what I was after. I finished it at 24", threaded the muzzle 1/2-28 for a TBAC CB mount for the Ultra 7 suppressor I have, and got a Boyds ProVarmint stock for it, which I pillared & bedded with MarineTex. I shortened the actuator spring of the OEM HACT trigger about 1.3 coils, and wound up with a very nice clean break at 1.75lbs. Put an old 30mm Nikon 4-16x50 tactical scope on it, and have been fireforming WW 223 cases in it. Have been very pleased with the accuracy, and have been getting 3500fps with S39MKs or H40VMax bullets using H4895. I had a couple of hundred of Berger's 55gr LRBT bullets, and couldn't wait to try them at 600yds. Didn't have the chronograph along the day I shot the rifle at 600, but was very pleased with the results with both the S39s & B55s. Based on what I was seeing out of the chrono with 32s & 40s, I'm guessing the 55s were probably doing around 3200fps. Am very much looking forward to doing more shooting with this little rifle - just need to get out of this cold, wet, dreary weather pattern we're in. But at least so far, I'm not having any regrets going with this chambering, nor in the decision to build it on the Mini action. The photo shows the two Minis I've built so far, with the 20 Tac in the blue/grey laminated stock, and a 6RAT in the McM Game Scout. No, the Mini isn't as sexy as the little Sako Vixen action, but it's not as pricey, and is easily available, plus there are quite a few custom parts starting to show up for them - like the DIP DBM on my two rifles that replaces the flimsy OEM plastic bottom 'metal'.

 

I tried the 204 but decidced I like the 223 better but if I ever go back to a 20 it will be a 20 Practical. Probably the most aptly named cartridge there is - lots of 223 brass available for next to nothing, one pass through a sizing die and you are ready to shoot. It is hard to beat that combo.

drover

 

I have a Cooper in 19-223 and really enjoy it.Just got 2000 Sierra 32 grain bullets from Jim and look forward to trying them on pd’s in the spring.
Like Adam said 1 bullet supplier has always been an issue for a lot of people that have considered a 19 versus a 20 caliber.Both are lots of fun,I like the concept and thinking behind the 19 caliber(deeper/more robust)rifling grooves.I also like all the choices we have with the 20 calibers too,so I will always have both.As James Calhoon transitions into selling his business to the new owner I look forward to what will be brought to the table,ie 19Badger AR uppers for high volume varmint shooting and other ideas,I also think the fact that Sierra is making 19 caliber Blitz Kings for James is a huge factor.Small caliber cartridges are just like potato chips,no one can have just one
Matt

 

Out of the five .20 cal rifles I have, the little 20VT is my all-time favorite for both rat shooting and making bughole groups in paper. Performance all out of proportion to it's size, great velocity for the amount of powder burned (can you say "efficient"?). Low report, almost zero recoil, blast and just plain fun to shoot.

Every one I know that has built/purchased a 20VT has the same opinion. What's not to like about a .20 cal bullet zipping along at 3,800 fps and burning only 18.5~grs of powder and going into the same hole as it's predecessor? You really 'need' one!