What length would be the the best for accuracy, 24, 26 or 28?
Having a custom one built. Thanks for any and all help.
Having a custom one built. Thanks for any and all help.
20 vartarg barrel length
- Thread starter Pahunter1975
- Start date
th82457
Silver $$ Contributor
I am not sure barrel length will affect your accuracy in a 20VT unless you go with a long light contour barrel which may have negative affects due to harmonics. My 20VT shoots extremely well at 22.5" and is a relatively light #3 taper. I am sure it gets near max. velocity on a round that only burns 18-19 grains of powder at 22.5". Usually all else being equal a shorter stiffer barrel will be more accurate unless you need barrel length to get max. velocity from a cartridge. Just my experience on a great little round.
I have 2 20 VT's, one with a 22 inch barrel, the other with a 25 inch barrel. Both
are tack drivers and are heavy varmint contours.
are tack drivers and are heavy varmint contours.
I don't know if there is a best length but with both 20" and 24" I am getting very good accuracy and did not lose much velocity with the shorter barrel. As stated not much powder to burn. I am shooting 32 and 39 gr bullets for the most part.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Accuracy depends on how well the rifle is built, how well you handload ammo, and how well you shoot. Barrel length will increase speed a little bit when using slower powders. I like 22" on the little varmint rounds. The 20VT I had years ago wore a 22" and was very accurate with good speeds.
24" would work fine as well. 26" is starting to get a little ridiculous for such a small round because it's not designed for blazing speed. 28" on a 20VT makes no sense to me at all.
24" would work fine as well. 26" is starting to get a little ridiculous for such a small round because it's not designed for blazing speed. 28" on a 20VT makes no sense to me at all.
Thank you all. I am having a #5 contour installed. So if I'm understanding everyone correctly a 24 inch length 1:12 twist with 32gr pills will be great.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
I like at least 1 in 11" twist on my 20 cal barrels just in case I want to shoot 40gr bullets. Still works good with 32s
Go with a 1 in 11 twist. Sometimes 1 in 12 twist barrels have a problem with the 40 gr bullets.
Not going to get all that splat with a 20 vt although a faster twist may help. Mine are 12 t and work with 39 and 40 gr bullets but some don't.
You must not own a Vartarg to say it does not splat. Mine cuts sage rats in half, filets them, lifts them way up in the air and sometimes explodes them into chunks. I hit one at 410 yards and it did a 720 degree flip in the air. 32 grain Vmax,
I shoot a 23” Benchmark 12 twist. I don’t feel I left much velocity on the table but I do wish I had chosen a 11 twist or faster as mine really only shoots the flat base 35 gr Berger really really well. The 32 and 39/40 gr vmaxes and Sierras are only mediocre accuracy.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Yeah I have the 39gr Sierra's to shooting extremely well in a 12 twist (1/2" groups at 200 yards), but it's a 204 Ruger pushing them at 3980 fps. The higher velocity assists with stabilization. Could never get the 40gr bullets to shoot very well at any velocity in that barrel tho. Only a little under 3/4" at 100 yards was about the best I could achieve.
I own 3 20vt's but shoot Groundhogs here in the east and they weigh a bit more. My longest kill was 504 yds with a vt, it is my favorite cartridge.
LA50SHOOTER
Sworn To Protect The Constitution.
I just ordered my action yesterday from Greg Taylor (Borden model BR) - I'm planning on running a 24" 1-11 twist in Vartag and a 24" 1-10 in 20 Tactical. (rifle will be a switch-barrel rig). Both barrels will be cut-rifled.
Your going to be very happy with that setup
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