.20 cal barrel length?

[jhilton]

What is the barrel length you guys are using? I was wondering if I need to cut a little off of my 20 tac. And would like to know on a 20vt also. thanks

 

[bmx]

I have 2 .20 cal barrels, one a 20-1/2" and a 26"

I get better chrono numbers and the best accuracy form the 26" barrel. I only use the 20-1/2" barrel for fire forming cases since I got my new barrel.

 

[wildcatter1450]

My Savage in .204 is 26". My Cooper in 20 VT is 24".

Mike

 

[jhilton]

I left my 20 tactical 28" long and didnt know if i should cut it of a little or not. 3750 vel 40grn v-max

 

[mkstjohn]

My Cooper is 24" but when I had my 20 Tac built by Stiller Precision I had them do a 26" which finished at 25.5 and it is great. I also used Stiller's new Predator action.
Mike

 

[Craigyboy]

this info may help you Click Here
also from the reaserch I have done 26 inch does seem to be the best, and if you look at the manufactuers offering .204 rugers they mostly offer them in 26 inch.

 

[wildcat284]

Craig,

Ok, just to throw a spanner in the works, my Kimber Pro Varmint .204,22 inch barrel) with the 39gr Sierra Blitz King and 27.7grs Hodgon H4895 gives 3873 fps average for 5 shots,2 of those went over the chrony at 3910fps). According to the Hodgon load data, 27.7grs of H4895 behind a 40gr Hornady V-Max gives 3741fps in a 24 inch barrel.

I'm not going to say that all Kimbers will shoot with that velocity, but it shows that you're potentially not handicapped with a shorter barrel. Short barrels also tend to be stiffer and therefore accurate. I read on one site where a guy started off with a 24 inch barrel then cut it off an inch at a time down to 15 inches and recorded the velocity for 5 shots. In his test, 23 inches proved to be the optimum length.

Accuracy in my rifle by the way was between 1/4 and 1/2 moa for 5 shots.

Regards,

Michael.

 

[ThadJB]

26" Douglas Premium in 204 Ruger and 22" 20 VT MGM

 

[benjamin199]

I also have a Kimber Pro Varmint in 204.
My load is 27.5 gr of H4895 which gives me a 10 shot average velocity of 3700 fps. My rifle will generally group between 1/4" and 1/2" as well for 5 shots.
I used a CED M2 chronograph, my trajectories match very close with my ballistic software predictions as well.
Maybe I have a slower barrel or our chrono's read a little different or probably a combination of the two.
Ben