204 ruger rebarrelling opinion

[Fern]

I have a cz 527 Kevlar varmint in 204 ruger. I been pondering about sending it to pac not to have the barrel changed out to a faster twist (leaning on 10 twist)
Question I have is on what barrel profile should I go with they can match factory contour and should be able to use existing stock but would you choose something different?
I own a 20 tac with 30” barrel already and love it just in case you wanted to suggest it lol

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

What do you use it for? My TC 204 R dimension barrel is 1/10. I used a 1/10 for my 20p build.

 

[Fern]

Varmint and p dogs couple times a year.
I love the 20 cal rifles

 

[Bill K]

If that barrel contour has been working for you and the stock it is in. Then just have the new 1/10 twist barrel contoured the same and stick with it and the stock. You will be satisfied, I am sure.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I built my 204RM (Ruger Match) using TK's reamer design but tweaked just a bit, to minimum freebore, having Pac-Nor do all the work; blueprint the action, supply/chamber/install a SS Super Match bbl in M700 varmint contour, 11 twist, 24" finished length. I had them also skim-bed it into the H-S Precision stock, Holland lug, Jewel trigger. Dave at PTG ground the reamer to my spec's.

Primary mission: Ground squirrels, PD's, occasional rock chuck. Would I change anything now after fielding it for six seasons? Absolutely NOT! It shoots both the 32's and 40's with no seeming preference, both shoot 1/4" or less.



My rat shooting crew coined her the "Silver Princess of Death" for the very impressive field performance she's shown in that time.

 

[B23]

I like the "Varmint" contour on the CZ 527's. It's kind of that Goldilocks size, not to big, not to small, but just right.

The 11tw should take care of anything up to the 40 grainers so I don't know that you need anything faster for the 40's and lighter but if you have your heart set on a 10tw, it's your money get whichever one makes you happy.

Also, I'm with Rick, I'd have it skim bed while Pac Nor is chambering the new barrel. I believe those CZ Kevlar wear HS Prec. stocks. I have multiple HS Prec stocks on builds and for the money they're a very good solid stock but those aluminum bedding blocks don't always match up to the bottom of the receiver perfectly so I always have them skim bed.

New PacNor barrel chambered with a tighter spec reamer and the stock skim bed to the receiver and you should have yourself a fine shooting rifle.

 

[L.Sherm]

My vote is Varment contour 3G 11twist.
Bedding those 527's does help them out.

 

[17VLD]

To the OP I don’t think you can go wrong with PacNor at all, I’ve always liked their barrels. I’m sure if you sent the whole rifle they would do a great job, the skim bedding is a great idea as well. Perhaps they could open the barrel channel a bit if the Remington contour is slightly larger than the CZ, either way I tend to pick the heavier barrel and if they have it in hand it would be very easy to decide.

Not to hijack this thread but, Rick that is certainly a sweet rifle.
I have two XR100 rifles and am always pleased with how well they shoot factory ammo as well as handloads. I’m wondering if your reamer allows the use of factory ammo as well as your handloads. I’m sure like me you reload for your custom builds but in a pinch if you were heading out for a quick coyote hunt and only had a box of factory 204 would they function ok. Obviously it makes more sense to have enough handloads ready, but I think we all have been in a situation where going out or not could have been easily remedied by the ability to grab a box of ammo on the go.
Matt

 

[nakneker]

Nice rifle Rick.

To the OP, I’d go with what post #4 suggested and just duplicate the contour, 20 caliber is such a small bore diameter that even lighter contours still have some meat on them. I have a 20 PPC custom with a thick barrel on it and I’ve always wished I would have gone lighter, I also have a fresh 20-222 with #5 fluted I just had built, I really like the #5!

I included some pics to help. The number #5 pretty much feels like a varmint barrel with that small .20 cal hole. The bigger diameter barrel feels really heavy. It’s inky advantage is watching impacts but I can do that with the lighter barrel Too.

 

[Hotshot]

I've had a few 12 twist barrels that wouldn't shoot 40 vmax very well so I always rebarrel with 11 twist. I guess a 10 twist would work okay but it's not needed for any of the production bullets out there. The only 10 twist I ever tried disappointed me so I just stick with 11.

 

[L.Sherm]

I've have sporter and varment contures in the 6-527's I have. I will go varment conture evertime from now on, big difference in high volume sage rat shooting with heat and watching the splat factor.

 

[Fern]

I wasn’t aware pac nor would do a bedding job on the stock. I thought I had to remove action and send it in.
I have lots of 40g vmax that I want a twist that would shoot them good. I thought about the 11 twist but wondered if it was fast enough or just go with a 10 twist.
The 12 twist it currently has will not group the 40s no matter what combination of components I put together.
I bought this rifles used so have no idea how many rounds been shot through it but I have about 200-250 through it.
I finally got my hands on some 39g sbk which I have had good success with a partial box someone gave me to try

 

[searcher]

It seems some (most?) manufacturers 1-11' twist barrels will easily stabilize a 40 V-Max and 39 SBK. I have three Hart barrels, all 1-11" twist, plus a few friends have them and no stabilization issues at all. I'd ask Pac Nor of their opinion, based on customer feedback. I can't imagine having to go to a 1-10", but?

EDIT: I wasn't thinking when I typed that my Hart barrels are 1-11". They are all 1-12" and no stability issues.

 

[searcher]

Curious. The rifle won't group the V-Max 40's with anything tried, yet you are getting some good success with the 39 SBK's. If I were in your situation - this is what I'd do. I'd be sure to try some Accurate LT32 and H 4198 powders if you haven't already done so. If it still won't shoot the 40's, then use those same powders and focus on the 39 SBK

When you look at the cost of a new barrel, chambering, bedding, waiting, etc. - that is a lot to pay for wanting to shoot up some V-Maxes you bought, especially if the existing barrel will shoot the 39's. Even with the $8.00 higher price for the 39's, you will shoot many thousands of them before you approach the overall cost of putting on a new barrel. You can sell those V-Maxes on this site if need be.


Good Luck!

 

[L.Sherm]

The O.P has a 12 twist which theres alot of 12 twist that won't shoot the 40 vmax but will shoot the 39BK which i guess is because the BK is shorter.
I would either step down to 32-35gr bullets or rebarrel. Honestly I dont know why anybody makes a 12 twist in a 20 cal anymore

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Not to hijack this thread but, Rick that is certainly a sweet rifle.
I have two XR100 rifles and am always pleased with how well they shoot factory ammo as well as handloads. I’m wondering if your reamer allows the use of factory ammo as well as your handloads.
Matt

Thanks Matt, answer is 'no'. The 204 factory loads are all predicated on the very long freebore in the factory chamber, usually something like .120" and more in some I've measured. Todd's reamer design that I tweaked and tightened up a bit with .015" freebore, and a 'no-turn' neck of .230" pretty much negates any use of factory ammo.

But I do indeed handload for all my rifles, and almost all of them have never had a factory round fired in them. I've never been out of ammo on a rat shoot; it's both comforting and disturbing to bring home a couple of full .50 cal cans with 400 rnds/can after a rat shoot. Good to have for future outings, disturbing that I didn't get to shoot them all. Oh the horror!

 

[chuckshooter]

But I do indeed handload for all my rifles, and almost all of them have never had a factory round fired in them. I've never been out of ammo on a rat shoot; it's both comforting and disturbing to bring home a couple of full .50 cal cans with 400 rnds/can after a rat shoot. Good to have for future outings, disturbing that I didn't get to shoot them all. Oh the horror!

Rick I have only had one trip in 35 years where I ran out of ammo, 5246 rounds in 9 days. best shooting trip I ever had, but like you said it was both comforting and disturbing. then came the reloading, almost makes me want to slow down on the shooting, but nah

Fern, if 32's or 39's will shoot, why not shoot the barrel out with those and then rebarrel with a 10 or 11 twist. In my personal opinion, I like 32vmax's better than 40vmax's anyway. I believe they blow up better. I know some will disagree and some will argue about better wind drift with the 40's. I have found it just doesn't matter in high volume shooting of sage rats and prairie dogs.
remember a barrel is a consumable just like bullets, powder and primers. shoot it till it's done. I rebarrel about 3 rifles a year at my current pace.

 

[Tommie]

Curious. The rifle won't group the V-Max 40's with anything tried, yet you are getting some good success with the 39 SBK's. If I were in your situation - this is what I'd do. I'd be sure to try some Accurate LT32 and H 4198 powders if you haven't already done so. If it still won't shoot the 40's, then use those same powders and focus on the 39 SBK

When you look at the cost of a new barrel, chambering, bedding, waiting, etc. - that is a lot to pay for wanting to shoot up some V-Maxes you bought, especially if the existing barrel will shoot the 39's. Even with the $8.00 higher price for the 39's, you will shoot many thousands of them before you approach the overall cost of putting on a new barrel. You can sell those V-Maxes on this site if need be.


Good Luck!

Good advice. But for the past few years the major issue with Sierra 39’s has been availability not price

 

[JSH]

Good advice. But for the past few years the major issue with Sierra 39’s has been availability not price

And that is why I don’t get upset about them since I went to a Vmax. Maybe I have been lucky, didn’t see enough difference in the two to make me search any Sierra’s down.
I was fortunate to have gotten a goodly supply of them when I first went to a 20 caliber. A Vmax is still what I reach for first.

 

[searcher]

Good advice. But for the past few years the major issue with Sierra 39’s has been availability not price

Yeah - I hear you on that! I do see them pop up periodically. Saw some about six weeks ago when looking for them. When you see them and buy enough for several years, it becomes much less of an issue, if one is able to do so. Those 40 V-Maxes shoot so close to the SBK's in my rifles that it really is hard to justify paying more - even if they were available. The price difference between the two over 4,000 rounds pays for the new barrel blank.

I PREVIOUSLY NOTED MY BARRELS STABILIZE THE 39'S AND 40'S JUST FINE - BUT THEY ARE NOT 1-11" TWIST AS I SAID - THEY ARE 1-12" TWIST.