At Vartarg velocities stick with the lighter bullets. Really.
My Accurate Shooter BAT SV 20 VARTARG 1st groups
- Thread starter snert
- Start date
With the 55gn Bergers, the 20 Vartarg is shockingly competent at 600 yards. The light bullets run entirely out of steam by 300, so it depends on what you're doing with the rifle. I wouldn't chamber a slow twist 20 Vartarg after my experience with the 9 twist and 55gn bergers.
500yard example on an open prairie:
My 20 Vartarg custom
Jerry and I were out shooting last weekend and I snapped a picture of my 20 Vartarg with the 55gn Bergers next to his 300 Norma Mag with the big Bergers. Thought everyone here might get a kick out of the difference! Once weather gets a bit better and I can verify, I'll have some more load info...
forum.accurateshooter.com
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looks great brother. I'm delivering components to my GS this week for my 20VT build. Kelbly Grizzly II action RP/LP single shot, Kelbly varminter stock, Jewell 12 oz. bottom safety, Lilja 3-groove Sendero contour, ... will post up pics when completed.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I see that. Reviewing my groups it is obvious that the windflags were correct! And it was not BAD wind, just wind. Moved it quite a bit more than my 22 PPC and the 6 Mo Better class of BR rifles. But, then again, I also shoot a K-hornet with 35 grain Vmax. NOW that is like shooting basketballs, only sideways! Kentucky windage should be called Missouri windage! Its that much more far away.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I am content at 300 yards. I built this to save barrel burn and to shoot...a lot. I wanted more accuracy than my Contender rigs were giving (and it is, it is)!
But I do have to say, as soon as was done shooting I thought "gee, wouldn't a 223 and a 6x45 round out this bolt face"? I have buckets of 223 brass just sitting and never owned one more than a week.
Loren could chamber em up and send em...I have a vice...OH gosh..I just realized something awful! I've become a rifle hunter,,,as in always hunting a new rifle..as opposed to a rifle hunter, shooting them. Always on the way to bag another!
Wifey look says I am gonna run this barrel till it is a limp noodle before I buy another....
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
My SSP’s have seen a lot of neglect the last few years.
My TC and XP’s would hold their own, IF I was hunting with pistol shooters. Reacquiring a shot was slow. My rifle buddies will pick them off as fast as or faster than I could find them! So when in Rome…. I succumbed to the rifle illness. I have maybe two walking varmint center fire rifles. The rest of the fleet is weighted down well, 25-near 40 pounds.
I no longer require a spotter. I can see over 95% of my impacts with the 17’s,20’s and 22BR. Now I am the one that is told to slow down.
I was down right mean to the 17 Fireball last year. Got into several target rich environments. All I run is 20’s in this rig. I went about 100 rounds before I slacked off. Pull the bolt, pull a bore snake, swab with patch out and let it set. Grab another rifle and get back after it for a bit. 30 minutes and a slight blue patch and back in business.
The 20VT hopefully takes some of the load off of the 17 FB this year.
I have put the stick on thermometers on all of my rigs. A couple of them refuse to let the sticker adhere to the barrel, anyone else had that issue. Is there a cure?
My TC and XP’s would hold their own, IF I was hunting with pistol shooters. Reacquiring a shot was slow. My rifle buddies will pick them off as fast as or faster than I could find them! So when in Rome…. I succumbed to the rifle illness. I have maybe two walking varmint center fire rifles. The rest of the fleet is weighted down well, 25-near 40 pounds.
I no longer require a spotter. I can see over 95% of my impacts with the 17’s,20’s and 22BR. Now I am the one that is told to slow down.
I was down right mean to the 17 Fireball last year. Got into several target rich environments. All I run is 20’s in this rig. I went about 100 rounds before I slacked off. Pull the bolt, pull a bore snake, swab with patch out and let it set. Grab another rifle and get back after it for a bit. 30 minutes and a slight blue patch and back in business.
The 20VT hopefully takes some of the load off of the 17 FB this year.
I have put the stick on thermometers on all of my rigs. A couple of them refuse to let the sticker adhere to the barrel, anyone else had that issue. Is there a cure?
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Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Nice rifle but can definitely shoot better I’m sure. 20 VT shoots really good with IMR 4895 if you have any on hand. Never had any 20 cal Varmint rifle that wasn’t extremely accurate with any bullet using IMR 4895. Also had good luck with Ramshot Xterminator in the 20 VT if you want to play with Western Powders brand.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I went out again today.
I tested some 40 gr Vmax and 40 grain Berger with 18 grains of CFE BLK, as well as a return to the 34 gr Dogtowns but with 19 and 19.5 gr of 2200.
A few observations:
1) My windflags were spinning hard, tails were strung out straight and on most "groups" I made no attempt to hold. Except for when one flag would go goofy, my groups were all lateral straight lines!
On one group with Berger 40 grains, I held for wind and was rewarded with a four shot group in the 1/4 inch range. # 5 was a full inch away! Drat, missed that switch big time.
2) I was testing with a magnetospeed on the barrel and it seemed to make no difference in accuracy.
3) I saw no pressure signs, even as the 2200 loads moved up. Speeds were increasing, but not "wow".
4) ES was good with the vmax, ok with the dogtowns and not good with the bergers.
5) I have decided, for expediency, that the DT will be the PD bullet and so far the Vmax will be the GHOG bullet. I will use the Bergers I have left to make up some "bragging" loads in case I want to punch paper.
I am back and forth between the CFEBLK and the 2200. I do know the 2200 is DIRTY. But I have 3 pounds! I have no H4198, the seemingly go to powder for this cartridge.
I guess the decision will come down to further testing for SPEED and Accuracy together.
I tested some 40 gr Vmax and 40 grain Berger with 18 grains of CFE BLK, as well as a return to the 34 gr Dogtowns but with 19 and 19.5 gr of 2200.
A few observations:
1) My windflags were spinning hard, tails were strung out straight and on most "groups" I made no attempt to hold. Except for when one flag would go goofy, my groups were all lateral straight lines!
On one group with Berger 40 grains, I held for wind and was rewarded with a four shot group in the 1/4 inch range. # 5 was a full inch away! Drat, missed that switch big time.
2) I was testing with a magnetospeed on the barrel and it seemed to make no difference in accuracy.
3) I saw no pressure signs, even as the 2200 loads moved up. Speeds were increasing, but not "wow".
4) ES was good with the vmax, ok with the dogtowns and not good with the bergers.
5) I have decided, for expediency, that the DT will be the PD bullet and so far the Vmax will be the GHOG bullet. I will use the Bergers I have left to make up some "bragging" loads in case I want to punch paper.
I am back and forth between the CFEBLK and the 2200. I do know the 2200 is DIRTY. But I have 3 pounds! I have no H4198, the seemingly go to powder for this cartridge.
I guess the decision will come down to further testing for SPEED and Accuracy together.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Watching closely. Moving up slowly. If velocity is any indication, I think I still have some room.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I am building these loads here in 45 degree weather, but will shoot them in OK in mid summer, so I am going to find the high point, then a good lower load, anticipating some significant bump from heat. Or I might ice the cases.
Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
Snert, sweet build there, buddy!
Have you tried RL-7 in your 20VT? Mine thrives on it, gives an honest 3,750 fps with either the Nosler 32gr BT or VGN, groups run right at .2", sometimes a bit better if the wind is kind.
I ran both RL-7 and A2200 in my 221FB, and although very accurate with the 32's, velocity is at least 200 fps slower than the same load of RL-7, both give about the same degree of accuracy. (The 32gr for the VT, 40gr for the 221FB)
For what I use my 20VT for (rock chucks & ground squirrels), the 32's run fine. My longest confirmed rat kill with it is 509 yards. Not bad for only 18.5grs of powder. I want speed AND accuracy out of my 20VT, and the 32's give both. And note that the wind blows here too (grin).
If I want to shoot the 39gr SBK or any of the 40's, I go to one of my 204's, which are much more suitable for heavier bullets. Why slow down a nice zippy caliber like the VT with too heavy bullets? I want to zap those rats, not just knock them over with a slow moving 40 or 55 grainer....IF I had a fast twist barrel, which I do not and will not use on such a small case cartridge. JMO
Have you tried RL-7 in your 20VT? Mine thrives on it, gives an honest 3,750 fps with either the Nosler 32gr BT or VGN, groups run right at .2", sometimes a bit better if the wind is kind.
I ran both RL-7 and A2200 in my 221FB, and although very accurate with the 32's, velocity is at least 200 fps slower than the same load of RL-7, both give about the same degree of accuracy. (The 32gr for the VT, 40gr for the 221FB)
For what I use my 20VT for (rock chucks & ground squirrels), the 32's run fine. My longest confirmed rat kill with it is 509 yards. Not bad for only 18.5grs of powder. I want speed AND accuracy out of my 20VT, and the 32's give both. And note that the wind blows here too (grin).
If I want to shoot the 39gr SBK or any of the 40's, I go to one of my 204's, which are much more suitable for heavier bullets. Why slow down a nice zippy caliber like the VT with too heavy bullets? I want to zap those rats, not just knock them over with a slow moving 40 or 55 grainer....IF I had a fast twist barrel, which I do not and will not use on such a small case cartridge. JMO
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I have not tried R7. None around here and I came upon some CFEBLK and 2200, so I grabbed that.
I am no where near 3700 yet. Taking my time, testing the same 35 pieces of brass to get a good indicator of what i am doing. Then I will load the not-yet-fireformed brass in bulk and hopefully get some PD action. Waiting to hear back from a friend in OK...but he seems to have dropped into the ether....
I am no where near 3700 yet. Taking my time, testing the same 35 pieces of brass to get a good indicator of what i am doing. Then I will load the not-yet-fireformed brass in bulk and hopefully get some PD action. Waiting to hear back from a friend in OK...but he seems to have dropped into the ether....
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I went out last weekend with the new virgin 20VT Mcgowen. AA2200 19.0 and 19.3 with two different 32’s and 33 grain Calhoon dblhp. Numbers were inline with what I figured for speed. Other numbers were not good. I went to 19.4 and 19.5 with a few to see how they do accuracy wise.
Staying at or under 250, I think I will not worry to much about ES and SD and look at groups.
Initial outing groups were good with the Vmax, but as Snert mentioned those flying ashtray HP’s seem to be really effected. I think a bit more speed will snug up groups and maybe calm the FPS down.
As I figured, the 22BR barrel arrived this AM. Plenty of project for the summer now.
Staying at or under 250, I think I will not worry to much about ES and SD and look at groups.
Initial outing groups were good with the Vmax, but as Snert mentioned those flying ashtray HP’s seem to be really effected. I think a bit more speed will snug up groups and maybe calm the FPS down.
As I figured, the 22BR barrel arrived this AM. Plenty of project for the summer now.
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