17REM AND/OR 20TAC

[master_photog]

17REM AND/OR 20TAC

I’m looking for opinions from 17REM shooters and 20TAC shooters, if you have both – even better!!

My next custom OR barrel swapped/action trued 700 is going to be either a 17REM or a 20TAC (repeater). Since I’m wrestling with this and reading the numerous positive comments of both cartridges, I’m considering both!

What I’d like to know is if I do decide on both, will I have too much overlap between the 17REM and the 20TAC? In other words, have I just built two redundant rifles (for the most part)? I was wanting the 17 for the smaller game and the 20 for the medium.

I’m sure this all depends on the intended purpose of the rifle(s) I plan on having. I will be hunting small to medium sized game, ranging from crow/squirrel to fox/coyote. The coyote and fox hunting will have a range of 100 to 350 yards.

Thank you

 

[Jeff]

17REM AND/OR 20TAC

I’m looking for opinions from 17REM shooters and 20TAC shooters, if you have both – even better!!

My next custom OR barrel swapped/action trued 700 is going to be either a 17REM or a 20TAC (repeater). Since I’m wrestling with this and reading the numerous positive comments of both cartridges, I’m considering both!

What I’d like to know is if I do decide on both, will I have too much overlap between the 17REM and the 20TAC? In other words, have I just built two redundant rifles (for the most part)? I was wanting the 17 for the smaller game and the 20 for the medium.

I’m sure this all depends on the intended purpose of the rifle(s) I plan on having. I will be hunting small to medium sized game, ranging from crow/squirrel to fox/coyote. The coyote and fox hunting will have a range of 100 to 350 yards.

Thank you

I own a couple of 17 Rem and a couple 204 Ruger. I would go with the 20Tac only for a few of reasons. Yes there is overlap and better brass by far for the 20Tac also better ballistics from the 20 cal.

Jeff

 

[Catfish]

If I were building a bolt gun I would go with the 17 Rem. For an AR upper the 20 Tac might make more sense. If I were building a bolt gun in 20 cal. it would be a 20 BR or 20 - 250. I have had several 204`s, but none with a fast enough twist to shoot the heavy bullets accurate enough for long range hunting. For a longer range coyote I went to a 224 TTH. Great shooter, but hard on hides. Lately I`ve been fooling with the 6-284. I`m on my 3 rd one because the first 2 would not handle heavy bullets well. With the 224 TTH I shot a 2 in. group at 600 yards. and so far with the 6-284 400 yards is about as far as I have been able to get a 2 in. group. A good fox gun will not be a good coyote gun and a good coyote gun will not be a good fox gun. A good coyote round will destroy a fox, and a good fox round will not have the penetration for a coyote. For fox a 17 HH would serve you well. For coyotes The 17 Rem. with heavy for cal. bullets or a 204 or better yet a 20 BR with heavy for cal. bullets. BUT these round will cut a fox in 1/2. That is if you want to save hides, if not go for 22-243 Middlestead, a 224 TTH, a 6-284 or similar.

 

[dkhunt14]

I would go with the 20 and make sure the twist is fast enough for the big bullets. It makes them better farther out. Matt

 

[WyleWD]

17REM AND/OR 20TAC

I’m looking for opinions from 17REM shooters and 20TAC shooters, if you have both – even better!!

My next custom OR barrel swapped/action trued 700 is going to be either a 17REM or a 20TAC (repeater). Since I’m wrestling with this and reading the numerous positive comments of both cartridges, I’m considering both!

What I’d like to know is if I do decide on both, will I have too much overlap between the 17REM and the 20TAC? In other words, have I just built two redundant rifles (for the most part)? I was wanting the 17 for the smaller game and the 20 for the medium.

I’m sure this all depends on the intended purpose of the rifle(s) I plan on having. I will be hunting small to medium sized game, ranging from crow/squirrel to fox/coyote. The coyote and fox hunting will have a range of 100 to 350 yards.

Thank you

I have a 17 Rem, and have some experience with the 204's. Either will probably serve all of your listed intended purposes just fine.

On the 17 Rem, go with a 9 twist Lilja stainless barrel. And check out the 30gr Kindler gold boat tail bullets. I struggle to put into words what a lethal combination that is. And, with diligent load development that combination will achieve 220 Swift trajectories out to 400yds (where MOST of your shots will be). I've shot 16# chucks out to 400yds that didn't even twitch, and the few coyotes I've had an opportunity on just slump in their tracks to 300yds. Chucks and coyotes just react as if they were instantly "powered down". Crows look like a miniature pillow fight with black feathers. Just my experience with the 17 Rem. WD

 

[Marfaprecision]

I would say the 20 tac. If your hunting for fur then like stated above you might want to consider a smaller round for fox. I also have a 17 hornady hornet and it seems perfect for that role.
But for an all around varmint slayer I would certainly suggest the .20 tac (or .20 practical) with a 10 twist barrel so you can stabilize the heavier .20 cal bullets. The .20's have great ballistics. I went with the .20 practical with a 10 twist bartlein because I have so much .223 brass and it's so easy to form, I already had a redding Type S die so all that was needed were the appropriate bushings. It is amazing how accurate that gun is with the 40 gr. Bergers and 39 gr Sierra blitzkings. And zero recoil! What's not to like.

 

[swd]

I've owned both and both are ton of fun. I enjoy shooting the 17 Rem more but the Tac 20 is a little easier to handle the small bullets when loading ammo. Except for energy they are ballistic twins. The 20 will a little more smack on yotes while the 17 is more fur friendly. I'm currently shooting a 17 Rem but if all I had was the Tac 20 I'd probably just as happy... Take your pick not a bad choice between the 2.

 

[scott in ohio]

I have a 17 Rem, and have some experience with the 204's. Either will probably serve all of your listed intended purposes just fine.

On the 17 Rem, go with a 9 twist Lilja stainless barrel. And check out the 30gr Kindler gold boat tail bullets. I struggle to put into words what a lethal combination that is. And, with diligent load development that combination will achieve 220 Swift trajectories out to 400yds (where MOST of your shots will be). I've shot 16# chucks out to 400yds that didn't even twitch, and the few coyotes I've had an opportunity on just slump in their tracks to 300yds. Chucks and coyotes just react as if they were instantly "powered down". Crows look like a miniature pillow fight with black feathers. Just my experience with the 17 Rem. WD

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