20 Pratical Barrel Question

[K9TXS]

I'm going to build a 20 Practical and have a few questions. I'm not interested in a .204 Ruger or the Tactical 20. I already have a .223, 20 Vartarg and a 6BR. So the 20 Practical will be built. The 20 VT may be sold later.

It will be a Varmint - Target rifle. No competition, just range shooting when not hunting. After load/bullet development and sight in, all my shooting will be from either a tripod with an arca rail or pig saddle, or a Swagger Q42 bipod which is my favorite.

When prairie dog hunting, I like to walk the fields as the wind changes or increases in speed. Since I started walking my kill ratio has really gone up.

It will be shooting 32 gr to 40 gr bullets through a REMAGE barrel.

Questions:

Barrel length? I was thinking in terms of 24" or 26", recessed crown, non threaded.

Muzzle diameter? Around .830 would lighten the barrel somewhat to make it a little lighter to carry. However, a 1" muzzle would be a little heavier, but it is also a cost a little less. My 6 BR weighs in at 14 lbs and I do not walk the fields with it.

Twist? I currently use an 11 twist on another rifle, but have found quite a few barrels in the 10 twist. I'm leaning towards the 10 twist.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ricco1949]

I re-barreled a 20 VT with a 10T for client who shoots 20K+ rounds a year at PDs......all 40 VMax. He has several VTs.

He said that there appears to be a little more spatter from the 10T compared to 11T due to the additional RPMs.

 

[B23]

An .830 muzzle, depending on the taper, is what a Remington Varmint/Sendero contour has and that should be plenty big enough for you.

For 32-40gr .204 bullets an 11tw is fine but if you can get what you want right now without waiting but it's a 10tw, I'd jump on like a rat on a Cheeto.

As for a 24 or 26 finish length, with the contour you're looking at, I'd go 24 but that's just personal preference and either would work. You can always start with it longer then have it shortened up at a later date if you decide it's to long.

 

[L.Sherm]

A 10 or 11 will easily do what you want, that being said im a 3G fan.
If you want the splat factor I have found bullets matter more. The 39BK is undoubtedly one of if not the most accurate and explosive 20 cal bullet if you can swallow the price to shoot them alot
The V- Max and TNT are no slouch

 

[JB10]

Im in same process. Looks llile i will be getting 10 twist for min. Going to mainly shoot 50 vmax unless berger ever gets some 40gr in production. Im going to have it made at 22 inch since i will suppress it

 

[Mark M.]

I build a sporter, 24" Bartlein 11 twist, .670 muzzle dia., when I do my part, easily 1/4 moa with N133 and Sierra 39gr Blitz.

 

[L.Sherm]

Going to mainly shoot 50 vmax

Were are you getting these?
I want some lol

 

[JSH]

I don’t walk much, do enough at work.
I have a 20” 222 Howa mini with what I would call their varmint taper. It’s not light, but not heavy either. Getting closer walking, loosing a few hundred FPS I don’t see as a down fall. Always seems like it is further back to the truck and gear is heavier than when I left lol.

 

[JB10]

Were are you getting these?
I want some lol

This was a typo on my part. 40gr vmax is what i will be using unless 40gr bergers are available

 

[L.Sherm]

This was a typo on my part. 40gr vmax is what i will be using unless 40gr bergers are available

Dang it, thought you had a secret there LOL

 

[GLShooter]

I built what you are talking about doing a REMAGE with a Remington Varmint weight. I threaded mine. It came out nicely using a Tactical Ordnance 24" tube. Accuracy is down below 0.5 MOA with virtually no work. Mine is a 10 twist.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

GL that looks very comfortable to shoot.

 

[GLShooter]

GL that looks very comfortable to shoot.

It is plus it was my first suppressor. I've shot the PRAC and TAC for decades in AR's but this was my first bolt gun in it. I've got another 20 cooking that I will reveal once we wring it out...lol

 

[jpx2rk]

I built a 20P on a R783 action with a X caliber 10 T IIRC, at 24" and threaded. Put this into a Boyds AT1 stock and bedded it. Gun is heavy enough so I can spot my hits/misses, it's even easier to spot myself if the can is on. I use a portable shooting bench, so I wanted some weight, you indicate you prefer to walk the dogtowns. Weight is something only you can decide on. There is some recoil w/o the can, sounds and acts like a mouse fart with the can on it.

 

[JB10]

Has anyone tried a wilson 20 cal barrel? I have a wilson 6mm barrel that shoots good and am thinking of getting a 20 cal one for my practical

 

[TheCZKid]

Recently got a Savage model 10 in 20 Practical here on AS. It has a Shilen barrel at 26" and 10tw. I used to shoot a 20P AR upper with 24" bull barrel 10tw, and both rifles shoot a 40 Vmax extremely well. The AR did well with 32 grain too, haven't tried any in the Savage. The new rifle with the 26" barrel with .8125" OD at tip, and no scope or rings, it weighs 10 pounds. With scope and rings 11 pounds 9 ounces.

 

[L.Sherm]

Has anyone tried a wilson 20 cal barrel? I have a wilson 6mm barrel that shoots good and am thinking of getting a 20 cal one for my practical

Unless they have changed they use to only make a 12 twist.
I see you can get a 10 twist now

 

[JB10]

Yeah i will be after the 10 twist since they dont have an 11. I have heard of good results just wanted to hear it first hand from someone

 

[SLAYIN'SWEDE]

I'm currently using an 11 twist, 3 groove, 24" X-caliber varmint contour in 20 Practical on my Savage and it shoots lights out with 32 or 40gr bullets

 

[bobcat93]

I'm going to build a 20 Practical and have a few questions. I'm not interested in a .204 Ruger or the Tactical 20. I already have a .223, 20 Vartarg and a 6BR. So the 20 Practical will be built. The 20 VT may be sold later.

It will be a Varmint - Target rifle. No competition, just range shooting when not hunting. After load/bullet development and sight in, all my shooting will be from either a tripod with an arca rail or pig saddle, or a Swagger Q42 bipod which is my favorite.

When prairie dog hunting, I like to walk the fields as the wind changes or increases in speed. Since I started walking my kill ratio has really gone up.

It will be shooting 32 gr to 40 gr bullets through a REMAGE barrel.

Questions:

Barrel length? I was thinking in terms of 24" or 26", recessed crown, non threaded.

Muzzle diameter? Around .830 would lighten the barrel somewhat to make it a little lighter to carry. However, a 1" muzzle would be a little heavier, but it is also a cost a little less. My 6 BR weighs in at 14 lbs and I do not walk the fields with it.

Twist? I currently use an 11 twist on another rifle, but have found quite a few barrels in the 10 twist. I'm leaning towards the 10 twist.

Thanks for the help.

I assembled an 18" .20 practical it was a straight tube
It was so accurate it was boring to shoot..
I sold it off..
That rifle was a cool build and I had great fun exploring it..
I think it was everything the .223 tries to be..but can't quite pull it off..
I dont know the math involved..maybe Neil D Tyson can explain it...but I cant...something is magical about those .20 cal's...
Oh...I almost forgot why I sold it and need to warn you....it was loud...hahahahaba...I mean...like nasty loud...I thought I had a dbl charge my first shot...every one at the shooting range was like...WTF was that?!!!..
So yea...there was that