3 groove 20 caliber barrel bullet compatibility

[chop house]

does anyone have experience shooting 32 varmageddon and/or 39 tnt bullets in a 3 groove? thx.

 

[GAnderson]

Yes, 3 groove works fine with any bullet...in fact, some say that the 3 groove 20cal is preferred. I shoot the bullets you mention and they shoot fine...you will have no problems.

Gene

 

[chop house]

thanks gene. any others have experience or opinion? my only concern was bullet design.... short bearing surface and frangible jackets.... trying to sort through the 'net chatter and all.

 

[GAnderson]

chop,
I shoot a lot of the 39TNT's and push them pretty hard...204, 20 Tactical, 20 Practical, 20Blitz(20ppc improved), 20VT and all of my barrels are 3 groove with the exception of one being a 6 groove Krieger which is soon to be replaced and will have a 3 groove. Have not had any issues with these bullets at all.

Gene

 

[Forum Boss]

I like 3 grooves with small bullets -- and I can tell you a good 3-groove can also shoot 6mm 80s, 95s and 105s exceptionally well.

You may find that 3 groove barrels clean up easier than a 4- or 6-groove, especially if you use Wipe-Out regularly. I can't really explain why, but that has been my experience.

 

[chop house]

thanks boss... and thanks for moving the thread. (i had tried a couple of times in the past to move a thread, but never could find a button at my level...)

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Three Groove 20 caliber barrels rock! Ive used several over the years that all shot well with 32-40 gr bullets. You want be disappointed with a 3 groove barrel.

 

[Fast14riot]

My last 20 cal barrel had 3 "groove" polygonal rifling and shot very well, cleaned up nicely. I'm tempted to get another one.

 

[TAJ45]

I have yet to hear or read where 3 grooves was and of itself - problematic.

 

[JohnW...ski]

I don't have a three groove .20 but, I do have 3 groove barrels in .14/.221, .17 Mk IV and .22 Fireball. They all shoot very well.
John

 

[Barossa_222]

My 20VT is built with a Pacnor 3 groove and it shoots everything I chuck down it. Disappointed the factory burned down because I was going to chuck a 3 groove 17 cal barrel in my 17 Rem.

 

[1raggedhole]

I had a couple pac nor three grooves and they were extremely accurate with both 32 vmax and 32 blitzkings. Both were 10 twist, and I did have trouble keeping the 32 zmax bullets from coming apart at 4200 fps.

 

[Bill K]

All my 20 calibers have a 3 groove, 1/11 twist in them. Shoot just about all the 32-39 grain bullets very accruately. and the barrels clean up nicely.