20 Vartarg comparison vs 204 ruger vs 20 ppc

[SD guy]

Granted inside of 150 yards the 20 Var Targ, 204 Ruger & 20ppc will likely achieve our task quite effectively. Stretch that out to 400 yards & could the same be said? Say we load all 3 up with the same bullet & use a upper end load. I'll choose a 39 gr Sierra BK for all three. What are the pros & cons with each cartridge. Measures to be used would be trajectory, effectiveness on varmints - prairie poodles too Coyote. Then I suppose we may do well to consider barrel life as well.

Choose another bullet if you see fit, just compare the same bullet in each cartridge.

 

[Prose]

The vartarg is not competitive with those other cases at farther ranges. If you want acrobatics it's not up for it past about 200 (assuming prairie dogs). It will kill them, but with no show so what's the point? I think the 17 fireball is vastly superior to the vartarg if you want to see "on target effects." But if the point is just to kill them the vartarg works fine. The 39 is way better than the 32's, but it just doesn't have the speed and energy to make it memorable.

Barrels are a consumable. It should be the last thing you consider far behind ballistics. There is nothing worse than being out in a prairie dog town with a custom wildcat watching your buddies launch em 7 feet high with a 60-70 grain 223 out of a 30 y/o remington while you politely knock them over with an efficient wildcat (20 VT). Forget about doubles, triples, and quads too. It just can't do it.

If you want to roll your own and have cheap brass do the 20-223 or the AI version. Factory get the 204 or a straight 223. Whatever you do just get a bigger case than the fireball. I've got about 30 years shooting pd's and about 50k kills and have seen it all. The VT is enjoyable, pleasant, effecient, easy on barrels ect, but it's flipping boring and the brass is a PITA.

 

[varmintshooter]

204 will reach a little farther but use more powder and have less barrel. The 20vt is the opposite. Go beyond 400yds to see the difference

 

[jpx2rk]

No red mist is boring. JMO.

 

[SongdogHunter]

There's guy in TX killing hogs with one shot at decent ranges with a 20 PPC.

 

[North Fork]

Get a 220 swift and watch them fly

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I seldom shoot PD's any more due to the driving distance, plague and the price of fuel now. We've got rock chucks and GS's here which give me all the excitement I could ask for. But for ground squirrels which we have beaucoup right here, the 20VT works just dandy out to 400 or so. When the shots are longer, I usually grab one of my 204's and get the launches and terminal effects we all seem to like.

Don't have any PPC's, so no comment. But for what we do here in Orygun, the primary rifles in 20VT and 204R seem to get it done in grand style. Throw in a 223, and it's all good. YMMV

As for North Fork's 220 Swift comment.....After 40 years of fielding mine (Ruger M77 Varmint Tang Safety), I sold it. Realizing it doesn't take over 30gr+ of powder to launch a GS, it just seemed silly when I've got so many other 'worthy' rifle calibers to do the same thing with less blast and powder. Besides, the barrel life issue was eating at me, and seeing the hits/misses was another minus for this caliber. The plus to all this? We've got more caliber choices right now that ever before.

 

[Gabe22BR]

204 ruger with light load or 20 Vartarg for 20 Vartarg velocities

If a shooter is happy with 20 VarTarg velocities & appreciates the barrel life of the slower round, Would downloading a 204 Ruger be a viable option for the 204 Ruger? Could a shooter realize anything close to 20 VarTarg barrel life if they were to reduce 204 Ruger velocities to similar to the...

forum.accurateshooter.com

20 VarTarg barrel life vs 204 Ruger?

Can we expect much longer barrel life from the 20 VarTarg, all else being equal in terms of barrel quality & rate of fire? How much better barrel life may we expect from the 20 VarTarg due to slower velocity & less of a powder charge?

forum.accurateshooter.com

20 VarTarg vs 20 Practical

Considering 20 VarTarg on a CZ 527 action. I already have all reloading components excepting the dies. The 20 practical or 20 Tactical seem pretty popular as well. A 204 Ruger already exist in my bag of tricks. Any compelling reason the 20 VarTarg may not be a good fit for me if the majority...

forum.accurateshooter.com

Rechamber 204 Ruger to 20 Vartarg?

I have a factory Rem 700 SPS in 204 that I was considering rechambering in 20 VT, just to try out the cartridge. I understand the magazine length and feeding issues, but my question is if it is even possible to set a Remington 700 barrel chambered in 204 Ruger to 20 VT? How far back would it...

forum.accurateshooter.com

Seems these have the answers you seek…

 

[L.Sherm]

I can assure you I could smoke a 220 swift barrel in 1 day in a good rat patch. 2 max.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Get a 220 swift and watch them fly

Tried that, see my post above. L.Sherm got it right.
There are much better choices especially if you don't mind replacing barrels almost daily for high volume rat patch fun.

 

[Just Say Moe]

I shoot 32's in my Vartarg with plenty of doubles and a few 3 'fers with plenty of "air time" out to 250 no problem.

 

[Evlshnngns]

Go 20 practial, or tactical. Or a 20-222. Both have plenty of brass options.

 

[jcm24m]

I currently own all 3 calibers and have shot all 3 at prairie dogs. My FAVORITE is the 20 PPC hands down since the shooter is stationary and the brass can be saved easily
jcm24m

 

[L.Sherm]

If you do much P.D or sage rat shooting you better have atleast 3 rifles.

 

[L.Sherm]

I currently own all 3 calibers and have shot all 3 at prairie dogs. My FAVORITE is the 20 PPC hands down since the shooter is stationary and the brass can be saved easily
jcm24m

My 20PPCAI is growing on me the more I shoot it, its a good compromise between the 20VT and 20BRA

 

[varget204]

A Good 204 Ruger 26" barrel should shoot 1/4 to 1/2 MOA groups at 600 yards on low wind days ,have shot 40 V- Max out to 1000 yards on calmer days,best 3 shot groups @1000 were less than 1/2 MOA ,My goal is to try to get 3/8 MOA or less @ 1000. have been shooting 2 6BRA's,have slacked off the 204 the last couple of years , Got 5000+40 V-Max,500 Nosler 40 gr. to load. I have shot 39 Gr Blitz King, out to 600-650 yards,Have Not found any bullet 40-45 grans that would Outperform the 40 V-Max at distance.have tried 40 Berger,40 Nosler, 39 Blitz King,& 40 V-Max. have some 45 grain HPBT from Don Unmussive. {" orgot how to spell his last name " that are very good. Have shot approx 6,000 to 7,000+ rounds @ 600 to 1000 yards with the 204 Ruger out of 7 different barrels, 2 Savage, 3 Criterion, 1 X Caliber, & 1 Krieger barrel ,I'll have to look up my SD cards with some pictures of groups & post a few The 204 Ruger & 40 V-Max Rules. lol

 

[SD guy]

A Good 204 Ruger 26" barrel should shoot 1/4 to 1/2 MOA groups at 600 yards on low wind days ,have shot 40 V- Max out to 1000 yards on calmer days,best 3 shot groups @1000 were less than 1/2 MOA ,My goal is to try to get 3/8 MOA or less @ 1000. have been shooting 2 6BRA's,have slacked off the 204 the last couple of years , Got 5000+40 V-Max,500 Nosler 40 gr. to load. I have shot 39 Gr Blitz King, out to 600-650 yards,Have Not found any bullet 40-45 grans that would Outperform the 40 V-Max at distance.have tried 40 Berger,40 Nosler, 39 Blitz King,& 40 V-Max. have some 45 grain HPBT from Don Unmussive. {" orgot how to spell his last name " that are very good. Have shot approx 6,000 to 7,000+ rounds @ 600 to 1000 yards with the 204 Ruger out of 7 different barrels, 2 Savage, 3 Criterion, 1 X Caliber, & 1 Krieger barrel ,I'll have to look up my SD cards with some pictures of groups & post a few The 204 Ruger & 40 V-Max Rules. lol

Sounds like a fair bit of experience with the 204 Ruger. Mind if I ask about your preferred barrel twist & your barrel life experience with the 204 Ruger?

 

[SD guy]

If you do much P.D or sage rat shooting you better have atleast 3 rifles.

Chambered the same, or different for varying distances?

 

[L.Sherm]

Chambered the same, or different for varying distances?

Both, it depends on what my target is for the day P.D or sage rats what I pull out of the safe.
P.D normally are longer distances for the most part, they don't hang around so to speak after shooting at them atleast pressured ones don't.
High volume sage rat days i never leave without atleast 3 rifles couple might be the same cartridge like a 20VT

 

[L.Sherm]

Chambered the same, or different for varying distances?

I've also had quite a few 500-600 round days some more than that, when its that good Im not stopping to clean so at 150-200 rounds 1 gets put away and another gets pulled out.