20VT & 20P Barrel Length?

[Mike in Oregon]

Both will be shot off the bench and used for the rat patch. 24 or 26-inch guys?

 

[L.Sherm]

I see no reason to go longer than 24"

 

[Tommie]

It’s likely you’ll gain some speed going longer than 24”. How much - dunno (especially with the VT). Unless weight is an issue, why not go with more barrel?

 

[MikeT49]

Kinda the point for shooting 20 cals is getting them "up to speed and voltage". As it will not be used as a walk about gun, I'd go with the 26". The 2" increase provides free extra velocity.

 

[Hotshot]

From 24 inch to 26 will not give you much in a 20P. I have two 24 inch and one 26 inch 204R's. The 26 is only about 30fps faster with my favorite pd load.
My 20VT is 22 inches. I use it for 300 yards and closer. It is capable of farther hits but why bother when you have a 204R. My next 20VT will probably be 20 inches.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I went with 22" on my 20p and I run a can on it. You want the velocity.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

More than 22 inches on a 20 Vartarg is not needed for 18-18.5 grs of powder!

Ive had all lengths from 20 inches to 26 and i would not go over 22 inches on the 20 VT.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

What's rule of thumb, 25 FPS an inch?

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

What's rule of thumb, 25 FPS an inch?

Some barrels lose more speed than others.

Ive had some lose 30 fps per inch and some not lose 25 fps with 2 inches cut off it!

You want know til you try it but id do a 22-24 inch on 20P and 20-22 on the 20 Vartarg

 

[L.Sherm]

What's rule of thumb, 25 FPS an inch?

There really is no rule of thumb on small cals your dealing with 18- 25 grains of powder not 60-80 or more. Some barrel are just faster than others can easily be 25 fps.
I built 2 - 20BRA one with 26 and 28" inch barrels they both were 10fps apart with exactly the same loads.
Theres alot to over think and a 24 vrs 26 is one of them, I would be more concerned with how the gun is put together and accuracy.
Every 20 VT ive loaded for (5) has been 3700 -3730 with the 34gr bullet with AA2200 is were they shoot with a 24" barrel

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I'm liking what you and HillbillyLongRifle said. Do the 20P with a 24" and the 20VT with a 22". Be a little better balanced too, I think.

 

[L.Sherm]

I'm liking what you and HillbillyLongRifle said. Do the 20P with a 24" and the 20VT with a 22". Be a little better balanced too, I think.

Or just make it easy go 24" with both.
Balance is gonna depend on conture and length, personally I like a little barrel heavy even freehand off a rest even more.

 

[chuckshooter]

My 1st vartarg was on a 40x rem action and I made the mistake of going short on the barrel. it just looks stupid with a bad fat heavy barrel and it's just too short. A new barrel for it from Bruno's arrived today. Kreiger #9. finish at 26" . Sometimes looks are important

 

[Mike in Oregon]

How short? I hear you on looks.

 

[JB10]

I went with a 22in on my 20p. Mine is a walking around for coyotes. I use a suppressor, with 40gr vmax im getting 3,846 fps and not trying to push on it.

 

[chuckshooter]

How short? I hear you on looks.

22 1/2"

 

[JSH]

Buddy built a 20P a while back. He paid extra for the length, forget if it was a 30” or 32”.
Speed with the 20P was right with or better than my 204. He was using 39’s and a case full of CFE223.