Best 20 caliber barrel - LOL

[nakneker]

Before you say go search the topic I have and there’s a ton of information on it. Many of the threads are old though, a few fresh ones but the barrel world changes and I was wondering what some of your current opinions are. I‘m wanting to shoot 32-40 grain bullets, don’t ever see me using this rifle with 55 grain Bergers so I was thinking a 1-10 twist in a #5, just need to get one ordered and thought I’d ask. If you’ve had multiple 20 caliber barrels even better. Cartridge I plan to build is a 20-222 simply because if the amount of Lapua brass I have in 222. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dean Slater]

Before you say go search the topic I have and there’s a ton of information on it. Many of the threads are old though, a few fresh ones but the barrel world changes and I was wondering what some of your current opinions are. I‘m wanting to shoot 32-40 grain bullets, don’t ever see me using this rifle with 55 grain Bergers so I was thinking a 1-10 twist in a #5, just need to get one ordered and thought I’d ask. If you’ve had multiple 20 caliber barrels even better. Cartridge I plan to build is a 20-222 simply because if the amount of Lapua brass I have in 222. Thanks in advance.

I have had good luck with Krieger 20 cal. barrels. I have an 11twist on my 20-222 shoots 40 grain bullets real well . Just got an email that my 10 twist is being shipped today. I ordered it the first week of Jan. so they take awhile to get. Bartlien said they are not making 20 cal. right now because they are to busy.

 

[B23]

My 20-222 wears a Hart #4 11tw to shoot up to the 40's. Had a Krieger 8tw Sendero/Varmint contour put on my 20-250. Hart and Krieger, regardless of caliber, have always been my "go to" barrels and they're what I have the most of, but, I also have Brux, Broughton (they closed shop a few years ago) Lilja, Proof, and one select match Shilen that have all been great barrels too.

Personally, when it comes to barrels I don't think there is a "Best" barrel but rather a bunch of them I'd consider top tier barrel manufacturers.

If you want a button rifled barrel Hart, Benchmark, Lilja, and PacNor will serve you well. If a single point cut rifled barrel is what you want Krieger, Bartlein, and Brux would be my top three choices.

As to which method of rifling is best, button rifled either pushed or pulled, or single point cut, that's a debate that will likely never end. IMO, you get a barrel from any of those I mentioned and how it shoots will be more dependent on the smith, reamer, and your load development than it will the method used to rifle the barrel.

 

[jds holler]

Didn't Urban Rifleman just have a good deal going on 20 cals. ??

I love my 20 in 1/11 twist. PacNor. It's a #6 at 26".. I'd kind of like to have another with the same chamber with maybe #4 at 20 inch. jd

 

[Mark M.]

My 20-222 wears a Hart #4 11tw to shoot up to the 40's. Has a Krieger 8tw Sendero/Varmint contour put on my 20-250. Hart and Krieger, regardless of caliber, have always been my "go to" barrels and they're what I have the most of, but, I also have Brux, Broughton (they closed shop a few years ago) Lilja, Proof, and one select match Shilen that have all been great barrels too.

Personally, when it comes to barrels I don't think there is a "Best" barrel but rather a bunch of them I'd consider top tier barrel manufacturers.

If you want a button rifled barrel Hart, Benchmark, Lilja, and PacNor will serve you well. If a single point cut rifled barrel is what you want Krieger, Bartlein, and Brux would be my top three choices.

As to which method of rifling is best, button rifled either pushed or pulled, or single point cut, that's a debate that will likely never end. IMO, you get a barrel from any of those I mentioned and how it shoots will be more dependent on the smith, reamer, and your load development than it will the method used to rifle the barrel.

Bartlein disconnected there 20 cal. Barrels about 6 months ago.

 

[Hntnhrd]

I have a proof research .20 caliber barrel on my 20 br. Not carbon fiber, full barrel in stainless. Grabbed it last year on gunbroker for $200. They had two and wish I bought them both now. As for Wilson barrels I have one on my 338/06 and it will put 5 225 grain nosler partitions in a group you can cover with a quarter. I have shot two other rifles recently with Wilson barrels and the were lasers. Thinking of rebarelling a Remington 700 I have into 6mm Remington and it will probably be a Wilson barrel. I don’t think I would hesitate to get one from urbanrifleman!

 

[B23]

Bartlein disconnected there 20 cal. Barrels about 6 months ago.

I mentioned Brux also and I'm not sure they make 20 cal barrels either.

 

[Doorgunner1]

Check with urban rifleman he’s got 20 caliber prefetch you can’t go wrong I presently have two and they shoot lights oCheck with urban rifleman he’s got 20 caliber prefix you can’t go wrong I presently have two and they shoot The 20 exploder he has other chamberings you won’t be disappointed

 

[nakneker]

I appreciate all the feedback and opinions. I think I’m gonna go with a Lilja #5 this time, I’m on Zack’s @ Old Dominion‘s books. The last two he built me shoot itty bitty. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I’m gonna make up some 20-222 dummy rounds for JGS and make sure the print they have will work, it looks good but I just want to double check it. The brown box 222 Lapua I have consistently measures .011-.012 for sidewall thickness. The blue box 222 I have averages .0127-.0134.

I’ve been watching Urbanrifleman and that 20 exploder mentioned in Post #8, hes got a good thing going with those Wilson barrels and his know how. I’m sure our paths will cross in the near future.

I swore I was only gonna build one rifle this year, that didn’t last long. Hanging out here doesn’t help either.

 

[revoman]

I have a 26" - 1/11" twist - 20 Practical barrel from Preferred Barrel Blanks (PBB) in Utah and have been super pleased. I understand Bartlein is the go-to barrel maker but in 2020 there was an 18 month lead time when I started my build and PBB got me mine in less than 2. It also shoots the whiskers off a mosquito at 100 yards.

Forgot to mention I'm using 32gr vmax's with Reloader 10x at the moment.

 

[Hntnhrd]

I appreciate all the feedback and opinions. I think I’m gonna go with a Lilja #5 this time, I’m on Zack’s @ Old Dominion‘s books. The last two he built me shoot itty bitty. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I’m gonna make up some 20-222 dummy rounds for JGS and make sure the print they have will work, it looks good but I just want to double check it. The brown box 222 Lapua I have consistently measures .011-.012 for sidewall thickness. The blue box 222 I have averages .0127-.0134.

I’ve been watching Urbanrifleman and that 20 exploder mentioned in Post #8, hes got a good thing going with those Wilson barrels and his know how. I’m sure our paths will cross in the near future.

I swore I was only gonna build one rifle this year, that didn’t last long. Hanging out here doesn’t help either.

lilja makes great barrels. I have one on my 375h&h. My local smith swears by them. Helps that Plains is only about an hour and a half away from where I live.

 

[varget204]

Before you say go search the topic I have and there’s a ton of information on it. Many of the threads are old though, a few fresh ones but the barrel world changes and I was wondering what some of your current opinions are. I‘m wanting to shoot 32-40 grain bullets, don’t ever see me using this rifle with 55 grain Bergers so I was thinking a 1-10 twist in a #5, just need to get one ordered and thought I’d ask. If you’ve had multiple 20 caliber barrels even better. Cartridge I plan to build is a 20-222 simply because if the amount of Lapua brass I have in 222. Thanks in advance.

Can;t go wrong with a Krieger or Criterion barrel ,have multiple # 5 bullsporter barrels ,shoot as good as varmint barrels

 

[Tommie]

Can;t go wrong with a Krieger

Um. Yes you can. Been there.

 

[17VLD]

Have had good luck with my PAC-Nor barrels,my 20Duster#1(20-222imp) is an 11 twist and as you might think it handles the 40 v-max and the 39 BK well.The 20 BR is a Lilja and is very accurate with the 40 Berger and has killed multiple pd’s past 500 yards with the 39 BK,it is a twelve twist btw.The 20 AR was built many years ago when all you could get was a 13,it’s a Pacnor and it loves the 33 VMax and 40 Berger.The 20 Dasher is a Pacnor 9 and it absolutely loved the 50 Berger and currently is enjoying a diet of the Berger 55s when I can find them and powder

Matt

 

[Hntnhrd]

Have had good luck with my PAC-Nor barrels,my 20-222 imp is an 11 twist and as you might think it handles the 40 v-max and the 39 BK well.The 20 BR is a Lilja and is very accurate with the 40 Berger and has killed multiple pd’s past 500 yards with the 39 BK,it is a twelve twist btw.The 20 AR was built many years ago when all you could get was a 13,it’s a Pacnor and it loves the 33 VMax and 40 Berger.The 20 Dasher is a Pacnor 9 and it absolutely loved the 50 Berger and currently is enjoying a diet of the Berger 55s when I can find them and powder

Matt

You my friend, seem to have a problem with 20 calibers!!! ( in that I don’t see a 204 ruger or 20 practical in that list!!! Lol!)

 

[urbanrifleman]

I have been beyond pleased with my Wilson 10 twists.

 

[jepp2]

If you’ve had multiple 20 caliber barrels even better.

I've had 204 Ruger, 20 Practical, and 20 Bobcat (multiples of each). I've used 12T, 11T, and 10T. All stabilized everything I have shot up to 40 gr. Prefer the single point cut barrels. But my Cooper all shot extremely well.

 

[Cemetery21]

Lilja works for me in 20P. I also have a Wilson in 223AI that is excellent.
3/4" pasters, three 5 shot groups with sight changes between each.

 

[hogpatrol]

Have used or are using Lilja, Muller, Pac Nor and whatever Robert Whitley uses on his .20 AR upper assemblies, all in 20 Practical. They all worked but for a new build, I'd go with a 10 twist Muller or Lilja.

 

[nakneker]

I've had 204 Ruger, 20 Practical, and 20 Bobcat (multiples of each). I've used 12T, 11T, and 10T. All stabilized everything I have shot up to 40 gr. Prefer the single point cut barrels. But my Cooper all shot extremely well.

Is the 20 bobcat Kevin Weaver‘s design, it is isn’t it?