20 Vartarg on a Sako 85 XS

[Bixahsheesah]

After a bad experience with a 6.5 Grendel chambering job I decided to try my hand at doing it myself. With 30 years of being a home shop machinist, lathe work is familiar to me. My problem was the lathe I have is an ancient American and doesn't cut metric threads.
A friend of mine is a machinery rigger, and after perusing the classifieds without finding anything I wanted, I sent him a text. His response was, "I have the perfect one." It was an Acer 1440 and it's a dream to run after using one that was close to 100 years older!
I obtained a Lilja 20 caliber barrel in a Kimber sporter contour, which is a close match to the sporter stock of the Sako, and last week I finally was able to get to work on it. It's definitely a learning curve but it was a lot of fun. A few practice runs with some scrap cold roll for the 1.5mm threads and I dove in.
It shoots like a dream! I loaded 10 rounds with a starting load from Todd Kindler's " The Terrific Twentys" and the first 3 shots at 100 yards came in a bit under 3/16", and a 5 shot group under 3/8". It would have been even better, but I got too excited to shoot a good group! I can see the 20 VT quickly becoming my favorite round.
Now I need to finish off the barrel and get ready for a pd hunt the end of May...

 

[1raggedhole]

Nice job.
The 20VT is a personal favorite of mine. It’s easy to love in my Cooper 38, and I’m sure will be equally perfect in that Sako XS action.

 

[SD guy]

Sweet, looking forward to hearing more.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Thats a nice 20 Vartarg you made!

I love that round and have had many different 20 Vartargs on several actions in the last 14 years!

Super Efficient and Effective Varmint Cartridge!

 

[Lightfoote]

Dang! That is an awesome rifle! I’ve been waiting to find a Sako mini action for just such a project. How does it feed?

 

[Bixahsheesah]

It actually feeds very well. I've put about 30 rounds through it, and filled the mag numerous times and cycled the action, and it's never once jammed. The mag is a 223 so it's too long but doesn't seem to cause any problems. I did notice that if I fill the mag with all 6 rounds they tend to slide forward but still cycle just fine. I may add a spacer to the mag at some point.
I picked up the action from Accuflite Arms. They're pricey but perfect size for the Fireball sized cartridges. The gun with the Leupold 4.5x14 scope weighs 7 lbs 10 oz. so it's nice to carry

 

[Mark M.]

What would your barrel twist be?

 

[boltfluter]

That's a beautiful looking rifle and a tac driver! A friend had a .20 VT and some of the groups he shot were simply amazing. Great little round. Have fun.
Paul

 

[Bixahsheesah]

What would your barrel twist be?

It's an 11 twist

 

[Bixahsheesah]

That's a beautiful looking rifle and a tac driver! A friend had a .20 VT and some of the groups he shot were simply amazing. Great little round. Have fun.
Paul

Thank you

 

[Bixahsheesah]

Thats a nice 20 Vartarg you made!

I love that round and have had many different 20 Vartargs on several actions in the last 14 years!

Super Efficient and Effective Varmint Cartridge!

Thank you!

 

[Mark M.]

Let me know when you're ready to sell it...lol

 

[Mike in Oregon]

WOW!!! That is a beautiful Sako sir. I too am currently under way with a custom 20VT.

 

[Bixahsheesah]

Thank you! What is your build?

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Thank you! What is your build?

I'm doing Stiller "Predator" with a Pac-Nor 24-inch, 3G, 12T with a MTU contour, sir. This will be laid into a PCS Vartag Kavaler, Carbin-Fiber stock.

 

[Bixahsheesah]

Very cool! We'll want to see some pictures when it's done

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Very cool! We'll want to see some pictures when it's done

My smith put the order in for the action a month ago, still waiting. Then I switched up and decided to go with the Pac-Nor instead of a Benchmark. 3G vs 6G was advised by two gurus to do a PN. Mt smiths go-to barrel is Benchmark, unless it's a 17teen, then he does Lilja.