20 Vartarg out of AICS magazine?

[Rick300]

Has anybody done it successfully? I have searched and I can't find any results that indicate it can be done. There are mag spacers that work for short cases like the 6BR and Dasher, why couldn't it be done for the Vartarg?
I bought the cheap Remington 700 ADL on sale at Bass Pro with the intention of putting it in a chassis. Now I'm not so sure that's going to work. Anybody know if a single shot follower for the .223 AICS mag will work? I could always put it an HS precision stock and keep the blind mag, but that's not the direction I was hoping to go.

 

[22DASHER]

I’ll respond once I kill that f-ing bug crawling on my screen.

 

[ckaberna]

Lol, I have a knat crawling on mine.

 

[Triggerf16]

Here is my experience with a 20 VarTarg repeater in a Tikka:

I ordered a Tikka T3x barrel from Preferred Barrel Blanks in 20 VarTarg. One of the smallest calibers around, I’m looking for something between 223 and 22LR. I already have a 17HMR, and that rifle is limited by the marginal accuracy of the factory loads. The barrel will screw onto a Tikka 223 action.

Since the 20 VarTarg is 3/4” shorter than 223, I’m expecting feeding issues out of the magazine. I do not want a single shot. So my plan is to use a CZ527 221 Fireball magazine (the parent case for 20 VT), and build a magazine block around it. The magazine block will clamp the CZ mag inside and forward, and allow the mag+block to lock into the CTR mag well that I’m using. I already checked the 223 Tikka bolt and action for function, extraction and ejection. The concept appears to work. The Sako extractor will pull the case properly from the chamber, and will not release the case until the case mouth clears the loading port on the action. The Remington 700 chambered in 221 Fireball had to relocate the extractor and ejector because the extractor was pulling the case into the locking lug groove, thereby spilling the spent case into the action, and jamming the ejection cycle. The Tikka does not appear to do this.

A few weeks ago the Barrel arrived from Preferred Barrel Blanks, and it really looks nice! Great fit and finish, chambered for 20 VarTarg with a .235” neck — my loaded rounds measure .232” before firing.

(Add this rifle to the list: I have now popped off 4 Tikka factory barrels and 2 Sako TRG barrels with a Brownells universal action wrench. Three whacks with a hammer and the wrench broke the action loose.)

Fitted up the new barrel, torque to 100 ft/lbs with SAC action wrench. Trip to the range the next day. Turns out the 20VT barrel is pretty accurate. Detailed load development to follow. Best news is the 20VT feeds great out of the modified CZ527 magazines. I built a magazine holder out of hardwood and aluminum that is the size of a Tikka 223 CTR magazine externally, and holds the CZ Fireball magazine at the front/top of the mag well. It holds the VarTarg cartridge at the proper height and angle. I run the bolt briskly, they feed and eject properly. If I run the bolt slowly, the cases nose dive out of the magazine, because the distance from the feed lips to the chamber is too far for the short VT cartridge.

I’m calling the 20 VarTarg experiment on the 223 Tikka a success!

 

[22vartarg]

Congrats...... I love my 20 VarTargs and they all shoot lights out. All the ones I have are single shots, but you sound like your feeds well. I may have to try something similar in the future.

 

[Rick300]

That sounds like a pretty cool project. I may have to give that a try. Thanks!

 

[linebaugh]

I shoot a 221 fireball AI out of AICS mags and they feed fine. This is through a bighorn action and the biggest complaint I have is it ejects forward pretty bad. Runs like a top but it may not work in all scenarios.

 

[daymoney]

I shoot a 221 fireball AI out of AICS mags and they feed fine. This is through a bighorn action and the biggest complaint I have is it ejects forward pretty bad. Runs like a top but it may not work in all scenarios

What aics mag are you feeding 221 fireball through?

 

[linebaugh]

What aics mag are you feeding 221 fireball through?

plastic mdt i think is what they are. Hard to load with a short case.

 

[daymoney]

plastic mdt i think is what they are. Hard to load with a short case.

I don't care about loading, I care about feeding. I'm having hell with my 20 ppc getting them to feed. I have mdt's 6br mag and it's far from reliable with 20ppc

 

[linebaugh]

I don't care about loading, I care about feeding. I'm having hell with my 20 ppc getting them to feed. I have mdt's 6br mag and it's far from reliable with 20ppc

not sure what to tell ya.

 

[FJVance]

The train of thought is wonderful.
I've had problems getting the 20VT to feed also, and the CZ mag in a Tikka is huge.
Not to steel the blog, but the AICS mags would work for me, sometimes.
The most reliable for me has been the CZ527 with 221 magazine chambered in 20VT.

 

[DirtySteve]

Has anybody done it successfully? I have searched and I can't find any results that indicate it can be done. There are mag spacers that work for short cases like the 6BR and Dasher, why couldn't it be done for the Vartarg?
I bought the cheap Remington 700 ADL on sale at Bass Pro with the intention of putting it in a chassis. Now I'm not so sure that's going to work. Anybody know if a single shot follower for the .223 AICS mag will work? I could always put it an HS precision stock and keep the blind mag, but that's not the direction I was hoping to go.

Get an Original Bob Sled from Creedmoor Sports... They have on for 308 and 223.. The 223 should work fine.. They are AI compatable..

Bob Sled .223 Accuracy International (AICS)

.223 RPR Bob Sled Here is how it works The OBS is inserted instead of a magazine. A single round is then placed in the ejection port and allowed to rest in the channel of the OBS. This provides a very smooth operation for the slow fire that is required during High Power Rifle Competition...

www.creedmoorsports.com

 

[Rick300]

Get an Original Bob Sled from Creedmoor Sports... They have on for 308 and 223.. The 223 should work fine.. They are AI compatable..

Bob Sled .223 Accuracy International (AICS)

.223 RPR Bob Sled Here is how it works The OBS is inserted instead of a magazine. A single round is then placed in the ejection port and allowed to rest in the channel of the OBS. This provides a very smooth operation for the slow fire that is required during High Power Rifle Competition...

www.creedmoorsports.com

Thanks, I was looking at that and figured it was going to be my best choice. However I ordered an extra magazine and am going to try and bugger it up with spacers and who knows what else as an experiment to see if I can get it to feed.

 

[DirtySteve]

Thanks, I was looking at that and figured it was going to be my best choice. However I ordered an extra magazine and am going to try and bugger it up with spacers and who knows what else as an experiment to see if I can get it to feed.

Well it runs great in my 700 Action.. Why booger up a good mag though? No such thing a extra magazines these days...

 

[Triggerf16]

The train of thought is wonderful.
I've had problems getting the 20VT to feed also, and the CZ mag in a Tikka is huge.
Not to steel the blog, but the AICS mags would work for me, sometimes.
The most reliable for me has been the CZ527 with 221 magazine chambered in 20VT.

I’ll post some pictures of the magazine setup in a few days.

 

[Triggerf16]

Here are the magazines. CZ527 Fireball mag inside a carrier to fit a Tikka CTR mag well. A CTR 223 magazine and MDT AI 223 magazine are included for comparison.

 

[Rick300]

Here are the magazines. CZ527 Fireball mag inside a carrier to fit a Tikka CTR mag well. A CTR 223 magazine and MDT AI 223 magazine are included for comparison.

View attachment 1217804View attachment 1217805View attachment 1217806View attachment 1217807

Thanks for the pics! Just got the magazines a couple of days ago

 

[FJVance]

That's Amazing!
Very clever.

 

[Triggerf16]

I’ve put about 200 rounds through the rifle now, all out of the modified magazines. If I run the bolt smartly, the feeding and ejecting is 100%. If I run the bolt slowly, the rounds will nosedive low into the breechface. There is a large gap from the front end of the magazine to the chamber, when compared to the 1.85-1.90” cartridge OAL. The rounds do not guide well into the chamber if I run the bolt slowly. If I’m brisk, no problems at all. The Tikka action is very smooth, and lends itself well to running the bolt. Works great for me.

Accuracy wise, I’m seeing .6” 5-shot groups at 100yds, using 32 and 39gr Sierra BKs, CFE BLK powder, Fed 205M, Lapua brass. 32gr bullets like 18.6gr CFE BLK, 39gr bullets preferred 18.0gr powder. 3600 and 3500 fps respectively.