Anyone have a 20 Practical AR or 20 VarTarg?

[squirrelsnpr]

I was thinking about venturing into the 20 cal world. I was initally thinking about building a bolt action in 20 VarTarg. I was then thinking about going the semi auto route, hence the 20 practical.

Here is what I'm looking for. I live in the San Joaquin valley in Ca and shoot ground squirrels during the summer. These are not prarie dogs, but ground squirrels (much smaller). I have a .17hmr which I use for shots to about 150 yards. I want a rifle to fill the gap between 150 yards to 400 yards (going to build another rifle for 400 yards +)

I have a sacrafical Savage short action with an interanal magazine, and an AR lower. So either way I have a good platform to start with. A quick question I have about the 20 VarTarg is how does it feed from a blind magazine (like I have in my Savage).

Here's what attracts me to the 20 VarTarg. It's efficient, uses less powder, and supposedly makes less noise.

Here's what attracts me to the 20 Practical. I have dies, and brass to load .223 already, so I have a pretty good jump on reloading supplies/equipment already. And the availability of Lapua brass.

Im looking for some input from anyone who has had expirence with either of these rounds.

 

[FURMAN]

I do not have a 20 practical but I do have a 20VT. The 20VT is very impressive. Low noise almost no recoil and I get close to the same performance as my .204R. You can not go wrong with either of the two. Since you are using a Savage why not do both?

 

[RJinTexas]

I built a 20VT on a Savage Target Action last year, got the barrel from SSS, a 27" Douglas, glass bedded it into factory Savage "F" class laminated stock, slapped on a new 8-32x56 SIII and load it with 40Vmax's and it performed extremely well out to 400yds this year in the p-dog towns, a true joy to shoot. As mentioned in the earlier post I also believe mine gave up very little to my .204R. I'd think it would be a great caliber for the g-squirrels. I've no idea on how it would feed from your mag as I'm shooting a single shot action but I once owned a Rem 700 LV chambered in 221 FB that feed well from it's ADL platform.

Regards
RJ

 

[squirrelsnpr]

Thanks for the info guys. Is either one more accurate than the other? And please keep in mind I am comparing accuracy between and AR in 20 Practical and a bolt gun in 20 VarTarg.

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

Here's the one I used to own.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3584314.0/topicseen.html

 

[squirrelsnpr]

Dennis, Thanks for the link. What kind of brass catcher did you finally end up with, and why did you sell it? I wish I could figure out expected barrel life.

 

[cclawman]

Squirrelsnpr;
I am planning on building a 20 VT. The main reason is I currently shoot 221 FB for varmints and really like it. Low report because I only use 15.5 grns of Lil gun behind a 52 gr ballistic tip. It is pushing 3500 fps. Not the fastest but VERY pleasant to shoot and as accurate as I can shoot.

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

Dennis, Thanks for the link. What kind of brass catcher did you finally end up with, and why did you sell it? I wish I could figure out expected barrel life.

I had a rigid brass catcher made by E&L.
http://www.brasscatchers.com/store/univbc.html

As far as expected barrel life, you can contact Robert Whitley and he can fill you in on just about anything you would want to know about the 20 Practical rcw3@erols.com.
His website also has some interesting stuff http://www.6mmar.com/20_Practical.html.

And you asked why I don't own that rifle anymore? Well someone wanted it more than I did so I sold it (they made me an offer I couldn't refuse).

 

[Recko555]

I have a 20 Practical and I am loving it. The recoil is nothing and I see every shot. Here is my project thread from a different forum. http://www.saubier.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7527

You'll see Dennis's in there too.

 

[kimberguy2004]

Dennis, Thanks for the link. What kind of brass catcher did you finally end up with, and why did you sell it? I wish I could figure out expected barrel life.

I had a rigid brass catcher made by E&L.
http://www.brasscatchers.com/store/univbc.html

As far as expected barrel life, you can contact Robert Whitley and he can fill you in on just about anything you would want to know about the 20 Practical rcw3@erols.com.
His website also has some interesting stuff http://www.6mmar.com/20_Practical.html.

And you asked why I don't own that rifle anymore? Well someone wanted it more than I did so I sold it (they made me an offer I couldn't refuse).

How did you use the rigid brass catcher without it interfering with the side charging handle, or did you?

 

[DogBuster]

I have both the 20 VT & the 20 PT....but they are both in Savage s/shot actions....heavy Pac Nor 12 twist barrels....strickly portable table p/dog rigs....they both work extremely well.....3500 with the VT and moly 40 V max....3900 with the PT and moly 40 V's...they have both exceeded my expectations in the field...have been using the three summers or so....they are both recycled 204R barrels I built....the VT barrel had 2500+ rds out while the PT only had 400 or so before rechambering...brass is the only issue with the VT...either Rem 221 FB or reform 223s down...which is alot of work...