• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

20-222 or 20 practical

If you have the brass, that would be how I would weight it.

223 brass is easy to find right now, but if you have the 222 cases it just comes down to which brass you like to work with.
 
I vote 20 Practical, just cuz I have one, and like using Lake City 5.56 brass I pick up for free out where people shoot. It's close to 204 Ruger in ballistics. Not sure how it compares to a 20-222.
 
Two 204 blanks in the classifieds right now ;)
And since I have a 20 practical and really like it that’s the way I would go
 
going to build another heavy barrel 20cal. just can't decide. What you say?
When I had my 20-222 built there were two things that determined my decision. First, I already had my fast twist 20-250 so I wanted something with smaller case capacity to shoot the 24-40gr bullets. Second, Lapua 222 brass was easily available back then.

If I was looking to build a 20-222 or 20-223 aka 20 Practical now, it wouldn't matter if I already have a 20-250, I'd be building a 20 Practical because finding Lapua 223 brass is easier then finding Lapua 222 brass. You certainly don't have to use Lapua brass but as everyone knows it's awesome brass and 2-300 pieces would easily last you the life of a couple barrels.

FWIW, which ever you decide, make sure to use a 11 or 10 twist barrel that way even if you're shooting at sea level you'll be able to shoot all the way up to the 40 grainers with no problem. Even if I had intentions of only ever shooting the 32-35's I'd never use anything slower then a 11tw barrel.
 
20-222, I’ve never had one but I do have one being built now. I’m sitting on a ton of 222 brass and I think it’ll be a lot of fun. Every person I know that has one has enjoyed the cartridge. That being said there is no wrong choice between the two in my opinion. I have a lot of Lapua brass but I also have Starline, Remington, old Winchester and Norma. Any of it will get the job done. My debate was between the 20-222 and the VarTarg, I’m still curious about the VarTarg, so many guys rave about it but this time around it’s the 20-222.

Let us know what you end up choosing.
 
Last edited:
I looked at doing a 20-221 when I had my 20-222 built but I was using a SA Rem 700 that used to be my 223 as the donor action and in Rem 700's, if it didn't come from the factory as something Fireball, that little Fireball case doesn't eject out of the action for sheet. Other actions may work better but anything with a 204 or 223 bolt in a Rem 700 requires extra work to make them run smooth with anything off the Fireball case so I opted to go 20-222 and any wildcats based off of the 222 or 223 case feed/extract/eject smooth as silk in just about any small bolt face action.
 
I looked at doing a 20-221 when I had my 20-222 built but I was using a SA Rem 700 that used to be my 223 as the donor action and in Rem 700's, if it didn't come from the factory as something Fireball, that little Fireball case doesn't eject out of the action for sheet. Other actions may work better but anything with a 204 or 223 bolt in a Rem 700 requires extra work to make them run smooth with anything off the Fireball case so I opted to go 20-222 and any wildcats based off of the 222 or 223 case feed/extract/eject smooth as silk in just about any small bolt face action.
How about 20 BR
 
I looked at doing a 20-221 when I had my 20-222 built but I was using a SA Rem 700 that used to be my 223 as the donor action and in Rem 700's, if it didn't come from the factory as something Fireball, that little Fireball case doesn't eject out of the action for sheet. Other actions may work better but anything with a 204 or 223 bolt in a Rem 700 requires extra work to make them run smooth with anything off the Fireball case so I opted to go 20-222 and any wildcats based off of the 222 or 223 case feed/extract/eject smooth as silk in just about any small bolt face action.
That isn't true in my case. I built a 20VT off of a Remington 700 ADL and it ejects perfectly. I cut the spring down so the empty falls on the table about 6" away.
For the OP- I like my 20P but I LOVE my 20VT. I think the only solution is to do both, the VT for 32's, and the 20P for 39/40's. That way you won't have an argument with yourself.
 
ALL good answers , I have 2- 1.25 pac-nors here. I is 1-11, 20cal and the other is 1-10. Plus a couple of MACK BROS single shot actions . They ought to make a couple of good plinkers. But Rick300 if I argue with myself who wins! LOL
 
If both isn’t an option for you (and I do like that suggestion )…you can load a 20-222 down to Vartarg velocities but you can’t load a Vartarg up to 20-222 velocities. One is as accurate as the other in my opinion. And both as so dang good your goal should be to have both someday.
I still have the target where my 3rd shot out of my first 20-222 drove a housefly through the paper target at 100 yds. You can still see the remnants of him on the paper. Lucky? Probably…but someday when I tell the story to the grandkids they may not know that.
 
Ha! Funny you should mention that. I was doing some load development one day and a fly landed on the target and I couldn't resist.
 

Attachments

  • D07A1EEB-41A3-4C4E-859C-1E298EA5DD61.jpeg
    D07A1EEB-41A3-4C4E-859C-1E298EA5DD61.jpeg
    153.6 KB · Views: 36

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,177
Messages
2,190,860
Members
78,721
Latest member
BJT20
Back
Top