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20 Vartarg, 20 Practical, 20 Tactical, or ???

SVT_Tactical

SVT_Tactical

Gold $$ Contributor
Have a 223 savage that hasn't ever shot the way I want it. Going to re-barrel it and given a healthy stable of 223s that do shoot already I want to try out a 20.

  • Needs to be based on the 223 parent with cases formed with simple neck sizing with minimal steps (have thousands of 223 cases I can form from)
  • Reloading dies easily obtainable
  • Headspace gauges are easy to obtain/rent/borrow
  • I can find prefit barrels for all three mentioned so far but if others are suggested a supplier has prefit options.

My list shows the Vartarg, Practical, Tactical are all options. not finding a standout between those three but also new to researching the 20 options.

What say the 20 gurus? Any I'm missing or any of those mentioned easier to load for/tune? Toss a coin?
 
My personal preference is the 20 tactical, and can be made from 223 brass. The 20 practical would technically be the easiest! The 20 vartarg would most likely be a single shot as it has all sorts of feeding, and extraction problems if the acrion isn’t set up right.
 
20 VT with 32's or 40's.......a fitting compliment to your 223 stable. I use this combo for PDs......however the VT with 40's gets the lions share of the work.

The VT is just soooooo accurate and easy to tune. 18 grains of CFE Black and 40's needs no can or brake to see impact in my 16 lb rifle and is a refreshing change from a standard .223 load.

Shoot it all day unless it gets fast and furious......needing a barrel cool down......then switch to a .223.
 
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I’m not sure why, but 204 Ruger doesn’t seem to come up first.
You would not have to form brass at all, and there are barrels, tools, and dies for it here and there. This however would not be based on a 223 case reuse. The 20 Practical being the obvious easy button.

I would also consider one of the books over at The Woodchuck Den called The Terrific Twenties by Todd Kindler. In that book, now in the fifth printing, you would find over 160 pages of detailed discussion and blueprints dedicated to all the 20 cal designs.
 
I have had lots of 20 caliber rifles in 20 Vartarg, 20 Practical, 20 TAC, 20 PPC, 20 BR, 20 Badger, 204, 204 Ackley improved, 20 Vartarg Ackley improved just to name a few. If i was building a new one tomorrow i would have to build a 20 TAC. I like the 30 degree shoulder on that case vs the 20 practical. They will both run about neck and neck on performance.
 
Going to go with the Practical it sounds like. Now on the hunt for a prefit in stock.

Something crazy in me kind of wants to go with a carbon wrapped barrel..... I hate the voices in my head sometimes.
 
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