Which .20 Caliber Cartridge for Varmint & Target Shooting

[Mark W]

I’m getting ready to cobble together another Savage project and trying to decided on a caliber. I will be single feeding a model 12 action in a HS Precision stock. The plan is to use a 24” Shilen barrel in bull contour from NSS.

My bases are well covered on .22 and 6mm cartridges so I’m thinking about doing a .20 caliber. It will mostly be used for informal target shooting from 100 to 300 yards (that is the ranges that are readily available to me) with a trip to two a year to prairie dog land.

I don’t care about the availability of factory ammo and won’t consider the 204R for this build. I just want to do something different.

The cartridges that I’m most interested in are 20 Practical, 20 VT, and 20 PPC. I’ve also been reading some good things about the 20-222.

Other than being accurate, I’m wanting low recoil to see hits and low heat build up to facilitate long strings of fire without overheating.

Any thoughts or ideas appreciated!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

You've just described all the virtues of the 20VT.....no need to ponder further.

 

[North Fork]

plus one for the 20 VT i love mine

 

[jcm24m]

I built a 20 PPC for prairie dogging mainly and a little paper punching. I would use LAPUA brass and chambered it for a no neck turn with a 10 or 12 twist barrel. VERY, VERY accurate - low recoil & being able to see all the hits is why I built this rifle. The fire forming loads were JUST as accurate as the later loads. The KEY to this accuracy I believe is the smaller flash hole .

 

[shadrac]

20 vt very accurate

 

[Hoodoo]

I would go with either the 20VT or the Practical. I don't think you could go wrong with either. If I had to choose just one, my preference is the Practical.

 

[NCVarhtr]

I have the 20 Tac, and the 20-222-- had a 20 VT If It were me, I would build the 20-222. I have at least 3 rifles chambered in that cartridge now. It has the muzzle blast and recoil of the VT and the Muzzle Velocity is right on the heels of the 20 Particle. You will love it.....Every one that builds one really likes it a lot.

 

[daniel brothers]

I'm wondering the same thing as Mark... so I'm tagging onto this thread as well.

Question.... could the 20 vt or any of these little 20's be a caliber that you could shoot all day in the PD field.... a one rifle caliber?

 

[Fast14riot]

I like the 20P for availability of cheap brass, simple forming and it's plenty accurate.

 

[redrockranger]

No twist slower than 11 twist. For the 20's.

 

[Hotshot]

I have had about every 20 cal cartridge between 20vt and 20 BR and I prefer the 20vt from your list. (204R all time favorite).
I don't think I ever considered going to a prairie dog shoot with only one rifle but a 20vt might fill the bill. Very accurate and efficient with a small powder charge it stays relatively cool for extended shooting sessions and probably would need less cleaning than bigger powder burners, however they all need cleaning when you're talking hundreds of shots fired.

 

[DeadWoodDan]

I like the 20P for availability or cheap brass, simple forming and it's plenty accurate.

I say this, only as that is my decision and road I am taking. You didn't mention reloading, not that its not my #1 thing to do I enjoy shooting better and what gets me there faster is less brass prep.
DWD

 

[onelastshot]

My choice would be the .20 practical simply because of the readily available 223 brass which is simply necked down to .20. I have several 223's so available brass isn't an issue; the 223 as well as the practical are low recoil cartridges that allow you to keep your eye on the target recoil doesn't cause you to loose you target.

The only reason I didn't choose the 20VT is finding readily available brass for it can be more of a challenge as opposed to the practical.

 

[chuckshooter]

I would go with either the 20VT or the Practical. I don't think you could go wrong with either. If I had to choose just one, my preference is the Practical.

agree with Hoodoo

also, I run 32's in my vt's and 40's in most of my practicals, so if I am reaching out a little farther I like to have the 40"s

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Question.... could the 20 vt or any of these little 20's be a caliber that you could shoot all day in the PD field.... a one rifle caliber?

The answer is "Yes".

I spend about 60 days a year shooting ground squirrels and rock chucks here. The 20VT can be shot all day on colony squirrels without overheating the barrel. Brass forming is a non-issue, one pass through a F/L 20VT die and you're usually set.

The larger 20's on the 223 or 222 case will burn more powder and create a bit more barrel heat. The little 20VT is almost like shooting a pellet rifle when chambered in a HB varmint rig, but with 500 yard reach. The calibers based on those two cases are very good indeed, but the VT will do almost the same with less powder, recoil and blast.

If you have access, I wrote an article for Varmint Hunter Magazine on the merits of the 20VT before it went out of circulation (Issue #90). Too much for here, but if you can find that magazine and read that article, you'll probably build your rifle as a 20VT and never look back.

 

[Sniper338]

I get my 20 VT this thursday!!!! Another for 20 VT, even though this is my first.....

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

I get my 20 VT this thursday!!!! Another for 20 VT, even though this is my first.....
View attachment 1035157

Very Nice Rifle Indeed !! - What action are you using ? - I was thinking about a 20 VT on one of the small BAT model "S" actions, But am looking for some input. - (I like single-shot actions but would consider a repeater)

Tnx - Ron

 

[Mark W]

Lot's of great feedback!! I don't think there is a bad choice in the group, but the 20VT seems to really stand out. What are some good barrel twist and bullet combos that will get the most out of the cartridge?

 

[chuckshooter]

The answer is "Yes".

I spend about 60 days a year shooting ground squirrels and rock chucks here. The 20VT can be shot all day on colony squirrels without overheating the barrel. Brass forming is a non-issue, one pass through a F/L 20VT die and you're usually set.

The larger 20's on the 223 or 222 case will burn more powder and create a bit more barrel heat. The little 20VT is almost like shooting a pellet rifle when chambered in a HB varmint rig, but with 500 yard reach. The calibers based on those two cases are very good indeed, but the VT will do almost the same with less powder, recoil and blast.

If you have access, I wrote an article for Varmint Hunter Magazine on the merits of the 20VT before it went out of circulation (Issue #90). Too much for here, but if you can find that magazine and read that article, you'll probably build your rifle as a 20VT and never look back.

Rick, I agree with you most of the time, but I shot 2000 rounds this weekend at squirrels,, 400 in the VT and there is no way to do that all day without swapping out for a cool gun. yes I agree, they don't heat up as fast, but they do heat up. so did my 20 killer bee and my 20 ackley hornet.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Rick, I agree with you most of the time, but I shot 2000 rounds this weekend at squirrels,, 400 in the VT and there is no way to do that all day without swapping out for a cool gun. yes I agree, they don't heat up as fast, but they do heat up. so did my 20 killer bee and my 20 ackley hornet.

Holy bat$hit, 2,000 rounds in a weekend? Now, THAT was a good weekend! And I agree, 400 rounds in a day with the VT would be about all the barrel could handle. I run about 300 rnds/day through mine, hence my comment. It appears you have a more 'target rich environment' than I do.....nice!

The rats must really be up early in force in your area....we're still waiting here, but a few are starting to frolic about.....tick-tock.....