204 Ruger or 20-222

[Mark M.]

Rebarreling my CZ to a 20cal. Most likely this would not be a high volume shooter, Just a occasional Coyote or ground hog, Reading all the different opinions on the different 20 cals. Kind of narrowed it down to the 204 ruger or the 20-222, what's your opinion?

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I was just in the same delima. Shot out my 204 barrel. Was considering 20 practical. But then found a factory rtakeoff 204 barrel for like $150.. So I stayed 204

 

[B23]

Naturally, I'm partial to the 20-222 as I had one built not to long ago and recently sold my CZ 527 204 Ruger. BUT, the 20-222 has a little bit of a case size disadvantage to the 204 Ruger so it won't shoot quite as fast. It's not a lot, but the 204 will definitely shoot a little faster. A better comparison, if you're looking for 204 Ruger speeds, would be to consider a 20 Practical AKA 20-223 VS 204 Ruger and between those two, I'd take the 20 Practical every time and neck down Lapua 223 brass which is the best you can buy and will last you forever.

 

[Mark W]

Since the OP mentioned Coyotes & Groundhogs, I’m saying 204R twisted for 40s. A 20-222 twisted for 32s would be great for colony varmints.

 

[jepp2]

what's your opinion?

Just another option:

 

[1raggedhole]

Some of my pals complained of less than stellar results with 204R on big yotes. But if 20 cal is your plan, stick with the highest power and factory brass/dies. 204R makes most sense, imho.

 

[Ilmo]

I would get an 11 twist barrel whatever you decide...... will help stabilize the 40 gr bullets better especially if you go 20-222. Maybe will stabilize a 45 gr bullet.

I think 35 gr berger would be my choice for coyotes.. i feel it is a tougher bullet .... better to penetrate on a coyote....

 

[varget204]

Go with the 204 ruger,it's a .222 Magnum necked down to 20 cal,faster than 20,practicle,tacticle,and Var tag turbo, Quality Brass and bullets readily available.Makes a HUGE difference at Distance,1 in11" twist will stabilize 40-45 grain bullets.

 

[snoopy001]

Go with the 204 ruger,it's a .222 Magnum necked down to 20 cal,faster than 20,practicle,tacticle,and Var tag turbo, Quality Brass and bullets readily available.Makes a HUGE difference at Distance,1 in11" twist will stabilize 40-45 grain bullets.

Yea , i been so stupide few years ago and boght a Ruger M77 model in the 204 R caliber with the stupide,senseless twist of 12". The 45 grain bullets are almost unstabilized
beyound 250 yards. Thats the reason i will never again buy anymore
any kind of factory shit. I saw the twist rates available in 20,22 and 6 mm calibers are completely inadequate even for varmint bullets.

 

[varget204]

Yea , i been so stupide few years ago and boght a Ruger M77 model in the 204 R caliber with the stupide,senseless twist of 12". The 45 grain bullets are almost unstabilized
beyound 250 yards. Thats the reason i will never again buy anymore
any kind of factory shit. I saw the twist rates available in 20,22 and 6 mm calibers are completely inadequate even for varmint bullets.

If your rifle won't stabilize 40-45 grain bullets,suggest rebarreling to 11 twist,Got 2 1 in 11",have shot out to 1000 yards with 40 grain bullets,zero problems

 

[B23]

With so many different companies making a 40gr 20Cal bullet and the 12tw being marginal at best, I don't understand why all these off the shelf 204 Ruger chambered rifles don't come with a 11tw barrel.

 

[varget204]

With so many different companies making a 40gr 20Cal bullet and the 12tw being marginal at best, I don't understand why all these off the shelf 204 Ruger chambered rifles don't come with a 11tw barrel.

Be cause the 204 was designed to shoot 32 grain bullets at over 4000 + fps.Most shooters think faster speed is better;but a 32 grain bullet at 4200 fps is slower than a 40 grain bullet at 3800 fps at around 250 to 275 yards.Berger,Hornady and Nosler are only Factory made 40 grain bullets,if you want another 40 grainer,you have to go to custom bullet makers

 

[Greyfox]

Probably depends on your budget and how much time you want to spend with brass work. 204 Ruger reamers are available and dies are as well. Nothing exotic or very expensive here. 20-222 reamers and dies are not so readily available or as cheap. The 20-222 probably has the edge on accuracy and a little less muzzle blast and recoil. You can get brass for either one, but the 204 requires no prep or fire forming. The 204 will be faster, but I doubt most live targets will know the difference. Anyone who can't kill a coyote with either doesn't have a speed/bullet problem, they have a shot placement problem. My personal choice would probably be the 20-222, but then I tend to go toward odd stuff. I would add that my favorite colony varmint rifle is a 20 Vartarg, but you didn't ask about them.

Rick

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

TC Dimension and venture 204r barrels are 1/10 shoots the 40-45 gr very well.

 

[snoopy001]

If your rifle won't stabilize 40-45 grain bullets,suggest rebarreling to 11 twist,Got 2 1 in 11",have shot out to 1000 yards with 40 grain bullets,zero problems

You're fully right but rebarreling in Europe is at least 3 times more expensive as in your country.
Last year i rebarreled a Rem Sendero with a 26" Krieger barrel.The gunsmith did not a great job as he not made the action blue printing ,anyway the barrel (750 €) +
Gunsmith (500 €) work (chambering 6XC) mades 1250 € bugs .
Now as the first job i need to find another smith in case of any future barrel change.I future i want never change a barrel without a proper blue print action job.

 

[varget204]

You're fully right but rebarreling in Europe is at least 3 times more expensive as in your country.
Last year i rebarreled a Rem Sendero with a 26" Krieger barrel.The gunsmith did not a great job as he not made the action blue printing ,anyway the barrel (750 €) +
Gunsmith (500 €) work (chambering 6XC) mades 1250 € bugs .
Now as the first job i need to find another smith in case of any future barrel change.I future i want never change a barrel without a proper blue print action job.

Check to see if you can order Pre FIT Remington barrels,Maybe a gunsmith could order you one,Last 2 ss Match barrels i got were $300 +$ 19 shpg for Savages ,Remington barrels are about $350- $425

 

[snoopy001]

Check to see if you can order Pre FIT Remington barrels,Maybe a gunsmith could order you one,Last 2 ss Match barrels i got were $300 +$ 19 shpg for Savages ,Remington barrels are about $350- $425

The problem is the shipment and custom fee expenses, i know in the states you can buy a barrel 300 bugs but
if you make an order from Europe the final price will
at least double or more.I feel gunsmiths in Europe are never at the same professional level as in your country.
Europe except UK unfortunately is the wrong place for
shooters and reloaders,everything is unreasonably expensive and complicate.For example:
in Italy any wildcat caliber is forbidden,there is no way to get a permisson.The are only CIP registered cartriges
permitted.My dream is to get a semicustom rifle in .22 Creedmoor,hoffenly in the next few years the cartridge becomes the CIP registration otherwise i can only dream of them

 

[KY_Windage]

This Bartlein beauty arrived yesterday. Silly me, I have a bunch of 204's but still bought a 204 bbl with 12 twist, because it is exactly what I want. In fact, I have Krieger building another 204 bbl in 12-twist.

How unfortunate, to be so happy with a twist that so many experts know is all wrong.

 

[JohnHenry]

20-222 or 20-223. Good selection of 204 brass, but in my experience none of it is as durable and/or uniform as Lapua 222 or 223. Following link ref. 20-222. I like the bullet seating flexibility of the longer neck 222.

http://saubier.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9548

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

I will take a 12 Twist 20 caliber barrel any day of the week! All my 20s that ive had 12 twist on will shoot any bullet 30-40 gr very well! Several have told me i cant shoot 40 V-MAX in them but ive done that many times. If its a true 12 twist 40s will hammer!