.20 V

[Lloyd A. Leinmiller]

good day,

Think'in about having built a 300 yard prairie dog boltgun. Gettin' old, so maybe a small caliber, and a .20 trips my trigger!
Does anybody know of a .20 based on the .17 VHA? Would appreciate any input.
By the by, if any of you live in the mid-west and lookin' for a doggin' partner, let me know!!

God Bless

dullknife

 

[NorCalMikie]

You might consider the 22TCM case necked down to 20. A lot easier than dealing with the 17 VHA. Better brass available and case head is the same as a lot of others in the .223 range. The OAL of the TCM case is just a bit over 1" so it's pretty stingy on powder. I have the VHA but am not too impressed so far. IMHO,the TCM is a better choice.

Or, consider the 20 VT. Close to the .221 Fireball, in 20 caliber with a different shoulder angle. Brass can be made from Fireball with one pass. Got one of those too but so far, still prefer the TCM.

 

[Lloyd A. Leinmiller]

You might consider the 22TCM case necked down to 20. A lot easier than dealing with the 17 VHA. Better brass available and case head is the same as a lot of others in the .223 range. The OAL of the TCM case is just a bit over 1" so it's pretty stingy on powder. I have the VHA but am not too impressed so far. IMHO,the TCM is a better choice.

Or, consider the 20 VT. Close to the .221 Fireball, in 20 caliber with a different shoulder angle. Brass can be made from Fireball with one pass. Got one of those too but so far, still prefer the TCM.

Hey Mikie,
Thanks for the prompt reply. How do case capacities compare between the TCM and 17 VHA? From what I've read, it appears the TCM is quite smaller. McPherson, in 2013 I believe, wrote of the H&K case far superior to the Hornet (but then, a paper sack might also qualify!). He later, and currently, advises the .17 on an improved .221 a better choice -- in a minimumlist category. That is the only reason I was considering a .20 VHA. Yes, the .20 VT is on my short list. Have you experience with a .20 TCM? If so, what are the ballistics? Who mfg. the reamers? Thanks again for your input.

God Bless

dullknife

 

[Phil]

You could always hang a 40* Ackley shoulder on that 20 vartarg, that makes it even more fun!!!!!!!


Phil.

 

[NorCalMikie]

There's a few of us working on the TCM. Couple of Guys necking down to 20 and 17. Work is still going on with reamer choice. You start with a dummy round with your choice of bullet stuffed into the neck to the shoulder/neck junction. Ship it off and have a reamer cut to those specs.So far, I havn't got that far. (life keeps getting in the way )
Got brass necked down BUT, the case measurements don't match the case print. Too much taper at the shoulder compared to the base measurement. Right there will be a BIG problem. Sizing cases will get you problems when the brass gets scuffed in the die. Still trying to sort things out. I could pick up a die with the case measurements the same as the print then fire form my brass. Still in the thought process.

You could always go to a 20 Fireball just be necking down the case neck. But, you're talking 18 to 20 grains of powder.
I just went out and dumped powder in a couple of cases.
The 17 VHA holds 10 grains of ball powder to the top of the neck.
The 22 TCM holds 14.5 to 15.0 grains to the top of the neck.
The TCM case wasn't necked down. I had to stuff a fired primer in to hold the powder.
IMHO, the TCM brass is MUCH BETTER than the 17 VHA. A lot thicker and easier to work with.
I think I need to get more trigger time with the 17 VHA. I just might change my mind a bit.

You might start questioning Phil and see what he favors. He may have something that we "both" might like. He could be holding out on us.

My goal is to fire a shot and see my hits thru the scope and I'am thinking the 17 or 20 TCM might be the ticket. I could be all wrong. The 17 VHA hasn't shown that to me yet.
The only way to really find out how any round will perform is to build it and get some trigger time.

 

[NorCalMikie]

There's a few of us working on the TCM. Couple of Guys necking down to 20 ans 17. Work is still going on with reamer choice. You start with a dummy round with your choice of bullet stuffed into the neck to the shoulder/neck junction. Ship it off and have a reamer cut to those specs.So far, I havn't got that far. (life keeps getting in the way )
Got brass necked down BUT, the case measurements don't match the case print. Too much taper at the shoulder compared to the base measurement. Right there will be a BIG problem. Sizing cases will get you problems when the brass gets scuffed in the die. Still trying to sort things out. I could pick up a die with the case measurements the same as the print then fire form my brass. Still in the thought process.

You could always go to a 20 Fireball just be necking down the case neck. But, you're talking 18 to 20 grains of powder.
I just went out and dumped powder in a couple of cases.
The 17 VHA holds 10 grains of ball powder to the top of the neck.
The 22 TCM holds 14.5 to 15.0 grains to the top of the neck.
The TCM case wasn't necked down. I had to stuff a fired primer in to hold the powder.
IMHO, the TCM brass is MUCH BETTER than the 17 VHA. A lot thicker and easier to work with.
I think I need to get more trigger time with the 17 VHA. I just might change my mind a bit.

You might start questioning Phil and see what he favors. He may have something that we "both" might like. He could be holding out on us.

My goal is to fire a shot and see my hits thru the scope and I'am thinking the 17 or 20 TCM might be the ticket. I could be all wrong. The 17 VHA hasn't shown that to me yet.
I need to do some double checking. Seems that my 20 VT "short" round holds the same amount of powder as the TCM case. I forgot to mention the "short". It's a 20 VT case with the shoulder pushed back .200". Same idea of the TCM but a real bear at times to get brass formed. Primer pockets get deformed on some brass and you end up with FTF. Once fired, they seem to work good. The TCM has it all over the "short" case.
The only way to really find out how any round will perform is to build it and get some trigger time.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I forgot to mention my 20 VT "short". A 20 VT with the shoulder pushed back .200". Brass can be a bear to make but the TCM solved all those problems. I'd have to check but it seems like the "short" and the TCM cases hold the same amount of powder?? Maybe I won't be gaining much except better brass.

 

[greg8012]

good day,

Think'in about having built a 300 yard prairie dog boltgun. Gettin' old, so maybe a small caliber, and a .20 trips my trigger!
Does anybody know of a .20 based on the .17 VHA? Would appreciate any input.
By the by, if any of you live in the mid-west and lookin' for a doggin' partner, let me know!!

God Bless

dullknife

20-223 practical is a 300+ yard rifle I have 2 and they are great.

 

[Phil]

Mikie,

I thought the 22TCM necked to 17TCM AI would be fun, but i`m waiting for the experts to chime in on that one.....

Right now my small guns are the 17 Fireball and the .20-221AI, i primarily shoot at pasture poodles so i want the case forming to be pretty simple...i do turn necks though.

1000 pcs. of brass for each cal. keeps me pretty busy, i`d personally not want much more case forming than i currently have to be going on here.....


Phil.