Another build – 20 practical or 22 arc ??

[JB10]

I have about a thousand of them, so got some shooting to do lol. When i built the rifle hornady was only thing on the shelves. So when i found a load i stockpiled them. I do like them on prerrie dogs. Lots of acrobatics with them.

 

[Lefty2506]

My first thought was that since you were wanting faster follow up shots for bonus dogs, and you're farthest shot in 5 years was 230 yds, the 20P is the obvious choice. Then you said you're using a bolt gun. Bolt gun and fast follow ups are not 2 words I'd use together. If you were in an AR, 20P all the way. If you're using a bolt gun, I don't see where the 20P would do anything for you that a 223 could do, and even more so with the 22 ARC. Then again, at sub 250 yds on coyotes, I can't think of anything the ARC will do for you that a 223 won't already do a very good job of.

 

[Oso]

The 22ARC was designed to shoot high BC heavy bullets, which means they are long. The standard ARC chamber has a longer freebore to accommodate these long bullets. If you are wanting to shoot light bullets 50gr - 70gr then you might want a chamber with less freebore to better fit the shorter bullet length. Also, as mentioned above the standard twist rate for 22ARC barrel is geared toward heavy projectiles that require faster twist rate to stabilize. Lighter bullets perform better in a slower twist.

Food for thought when selecting a barrel and chamber for 22ARC. Good Luck!

 

[AckAck]

I’ve got a couple 20 Practicals and absolutely love them. One is an AR upper and the other is a Ruger Precision rifle that was originally a 223. Both of them shoot tiny groups and are laser beams out to about 300yds.
They are super easy to load for and a pleasure to shoot.

 

[Leveraction35]

I’ve got a couple 20 Practicals and absolutely love them. One is an AR upper and the other is a Ruger Precision rifle that was originally a 223. Both of them shoot tiny groups and are laser beams out to about 300yds.
They are super easy to load for and a pleasure to shoot.

Would you choose it over a Handloaded 204?

 

[AckAck]

Would you choose it over a Handloaded 204?

I sure would. I went prairie dog hunting with a buddy of mine. I took the 20P and he brought his 204. Now he has a 20P.

 

[Leveraction35]

Why do you think that is

 

[Woollybugger]

The 22ARC was designed to shoot high BC heavy bullets, which means they are long. The standard ARC chamber has a longer freebore to accommodate these long bullets. If you are wanting to shoot light bullets 50gr - 70gr then you might want a chamber with less freebore to better fit the shorter bullet length. Also, as mentioned above the standard twist rate for 22ARC barrel is geared toward heavy projectiles that require faster twist rate to stabilize. Lighter bullets perform better in a slower twist.

Food for thought when selecting a barrel and chamber for 22ARC. Good Luck!

been there, A .080-090 FB works way better than Hornady’s (saami) .1314

 

[AckAck]

Why do you think that is

I think because for 20P you can just use 223 brass and neck it down. If you loose it, it’s no big deal. He spent a lot of time searching the sage for spent 204 brass.

 

[searcher]

Seems a lot of guys aren't using brass catchers. Why?
I like the 20P a LOT. Since all your shooting will be around 300 yards or less, the 20P would be my choice over the ARC. The last coyote I shot was out further than I like to poke with the 20P, but at just over 600 yards, it rolled the coyote but didn't keep him down. Was using a 32 V-Max. A 38 SBK or 40 V-Max would have been better, but that is still far for any of those bullets on coyotes. My main coyote gun is a .223 A/R with a heavier 24" Shilen tube on it (9 tw.), shooting 50 grain Varmint Grenades. That is because most coyotes are within about 400 yards that we shoot at. It is a rare day the coyote doesn't drop if a solid body hit - anywhere on the body with the 50 VG within that range. Those bullets really put the screws to them. It puts them down with FAR more authority than any bullets shot out of the 20P. The benefit of the .223 over the ARC is brass. Also, as OSO noted, the ARC is going to be throated more for heavier bullets, while the 20P and .223 more so for the lighter bullets most commonly used for varmints. The .20p is great for smaller critters like squirrels and can take coyotes. The .223 is next, not quite as good as the 20P on squirrels (trajectory) but better on coyotes. The ARC would not be as good of a choice for squirrels but better on coyotes - with the ability to shoot much further with the heavier bullets. - though might not be as accurate with the lighter bullets due to the throating. Your quandary reminds me of the decision I made between .22 Nosler and the Valkyrie. Same deal. The Nosler was better throated for the lighter bullets I wanted to shoot (a bit faster than a .223). If distance was my main concern, I'd have gone with the Valkyrie. The 22 Nosler is probably the best all-around for the smaller critters and coyotes within 500 yards or so - but the brass is the drawback - as only Nosler makes it (Nosler also makes Dogtown at Midwayusa) and it costs significantly more than .223 brass which is used in the .223 and 20p. Pick your medicine.