jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
I guess I'll chime in now since the coyote thing became involved. I've been using my 222 for paper, squirrels, and coyotes for almost forty years now. Even shot a couple deer with it. It was absolutely great for all of this, and you could NEVER go wrong by owning one. (although I wouldn't recommend the deer thing except in very controlled situations)
After eleventeen thousand some rounds though, my little triple duce was burned in the barrel, and needed a new tube. I've been hearing guys raving about the 20's for pretty much everything I've used the 222 for, and in the interest of trying something different I turned my rifle into a 20-222. My logic was that I can mimic Vartarg velocity OR darned near 204 if I want to. I twisted the barrel at 1/11 to handle 40 gr bullets, which is what I've been using in the 222, and am pretty sure that it will handle coyotes which I call. It's rare for me to shoot coyotes (or much of anything) further than 200 yds.
My new rifle is shooting pretty good, mostly sub .5 MOA , and I've got a few groups in the .2's now. I haven't got on the coyotes yet, but squirrels fear me.
I'd like to say that getting this little 20 up and running has been EASY in the reloading department. Our fellow Snert helped get me set up with the basic bushing die for my sizer, and I've made use of the many 222 dies and accessories that I've acquired over the years. I'm using a lot of old 222 brass that would be worn out by anyone elses standards, and they're shooting fine.
I'm a lazy bastard about a lot of the minutiae that guys talk about on this forum, and I think I'm still shooting this rifle better than I have a right to. I'm not the only guy who has fallen for the .20 thing. jd
After eleventeen thousand some rounds though, my little triple duce was burned in the barrel, and needed a new tube. I've been hearing guys raving about the 20's for pretty much everything I've used the 222 for, and in the interest of trying something different I turned my rifle into a 20-222. My logic was that I can mimic Vartarg velocity OR darned near 204 if I want to. I twisted the barrel at 1/11 to handle 40 gr bullets, which is what I've been using in the 222, and am pretty sure that it will handle coyotes which I call. It's rare for me to shoot coyotes (or much of anything) further than 200 yds.
My new rifle is shooting pretty good, mostly sub .5 MOA , and I've got a few groups in the .2's now. I haven't got on the coyotes yet, but squirrels fear me.
I'd like to say that getting this little 20 up and running has been EASY in the reloading department. Our fellow Snert helped get me set up with the basic bushing die for my sizer, and I've made use of the many 222 dies and accessories that I've acquired over the years. I'm using a lot of old 222 brass that would be worn out by anyone elses standards, and they're shooting fine.
I'm a lazy bastard about a lot of the minutiae that guys talk about on this forum, and I think I'm still shooting this rifle better than I have a right to. I'm not the only guy who has fallen for the .20 thing. jd