Best groove for a 20 caliber

[Matt_3479]

I read once somewhere that a larger land surface and less of them is better on the smaller bullets like a 17, 20 or 22 caliber barrel. Now I do see that 5r is used in plenty of 22 calibers.

curious as to what groove works best for the 20. Should I stay away from 5r or 6 groove? Asking due to one of the barrel I want to use is only offered in these two options

 

[ronemus]

My choice would be the 5R - it puts less stress on the bullet since a land is opposite a groove. Either will work well, and there are many other factors that will have larger effects on accuracy.

 

[L.Sherm]

Hands down 3G

 

[17VLD]

I like my 3 groove PacNor.It shoots very well and I think the extra material in the lands can’t hurt.Of course there are lots of opinions on this,but I would definitely get one and see,pretty sure you will like it.

Matt

 

[Ledd Slinger]

3 groove shoots very well and people have been reporting 10% - 20% longer barrel life since the lands are much wider and take longer to wear down. Of course your shooting habits with how often you let a barrel cool down will have more effect on barrel life, but all being the same, a 3 groove should last a little longer before needing to be set back.

I had a 3R groove 11 twist barrel in 20 TAC on an AR15 platform and it had no problem putting 5 rounds well under 1/2” at 100 yards with multiple loads. Barrel was extremely easy to find loads for

 

[Bill K]

All my 20's have 3 groove. Works super.

 

[varget204]

Got 6- 204 barrels,2,factory,2 Criterion, 1 Krieger,1 X-caliber ,None are 3 groove,all shoot bugholes

 

[DogBuster]

Been shooting Pac Nor 20's for many years....3 G

New 20 PT barrel on order....10 T - 3 G - 28" long full cylinder-large shank Savage