• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Finally Took the Vartarg to the Dance - 1st Pdog Trip

Well, it has been a long 18 month build and load development, but finally got the new Vartarg build out for prairie dogs. I was thrilled to go 12 for 12 on my first shots from the Vartarg at prairie dogs from 200-350 yards.

Life started out for this gun as a CZ 527 MIP. The last new one in stock I could find at the LGS when they were discontinued in 2022. Pulled the 223 rem barrel off and sold the stock. Had is re-barreled with a 22" Pacnor Barrel 11 Twist to Match a CZ varmint contour. After 1+ year of searching, finally found a MTR stock. Put a Meotpa Optika5 5-20x50 on top (As a side note, the optics on this scope are amazing, every bit as clear and bright as a Nighforce and tracking is very good).

Using Nosler 17 fireball brass neck turned. Also tried several 222 rem brass formed and they worked fine, the nosler brass was easier to form and more consistent. Tried the Sierra 32gr Blizkings with AA2200, LT30, IMR 4198, X-terminator, and R7. They all shot .5 moa, none shot better than .35 moa. Moved to the Nosler 32 Varmageddon bullet which is able to seat deeper in to the brass and still be at the lands. Tried the same powders and this time consistent .35moa groups, with none better than about .3moa. Not bad, but not good enough.

Then my lucked turned 2 weeks ago and found H4198 on the shelf of my LGS. Had my seating depth dialed in and loaded up groups 17.6 to 18.4 in .2 increments. All shot better than .3moa with the 18.0gr coming in well under .2 moa. Loaded up some more to confirm and sure enough 18.0gr in new brass doing multiple .15" 3 shot groups at 3640fps average. Found my load and off the pdog grounds.

Hit the prairie at about 9:30 am to 35 degrees and calm winds. Tried a spot I have never been to and they started coming out as the temps started to warm. 1st shot at 204 yards hit true, and then the next, and the next, and so on. Hit 12 for 12 without a miss in dogs between 200 and 350. Well, 1 or 2 were in the 150-160 range. Pushed it out a bit to try a couple shots in the 450-600 range, but no verified hits, although one at 475 was a likely hit. At this point went to check the damage. First pic is 2 dogs right at 200 yards. The last one was a dog at 300 yards. Excellent performance from this little bullet. Wind picked up and moved to towns with average shot distances at 500 and used the 6br and 22br the rest of the day.

This is my most accurate, light build and should be solid to 400 with no or mild wind. Could see all hits in scope with minimal recoil. Solid to 350 with plenty of damage to detect hits. Hits beyond 450 or so may be tough to detect if bullet doesn't expand as well. Will be in the rotation for sure.
 

Attachments

  • vart.JPG
    vart.JPG
    402.1 KB · Views: 165
  • vart2.JPG
    vart2.JPG
    42.9 KB · Views: 165
  • vart3.JPG
    vart3.JPG
    303.9 KB · Views: 141
  • vart4.JPG
    vart4.JPG
    268.4 KB · Views: 163
toasty: Nice write-up on your new 20VT.

Sounds like your PD trip went well, and now you "have the VT love" also. My Cooper 20VT has become my favorite for ground squirrels and rockchucks here, giving me all the performance one could ever want or need for these critters with that small case and only 18.5grs of powder doing it.

Nice build on that CZ too. Looks good, and appears to shoot very well. Mine thrives on RL-7, but H4198 also gives great performance and accuracy, as well as A2200, but that powder although very accurate with the 32's, does not give the same higher velocity. When my Cooper VT barrel finally gives up the ghost, it will be replaced with a Pac-Nor 11 twist also, as that barrel configuration is on a custom M700 in 204 Ruger Match I have, and it's a death-ray in the rat patch shooting the 39gr SBK, as well as any of the 40's.

Enjoy that rifle, and post up further field adventures!
 
Congrats on building an excellent rifle and having an awesome first outing with it. Love the stock you found and Pacnor barrels have served me well on my pd guns. I wouldn't be surprised if you slowly went up a tenth at a time if you got rid of the vertical ;)
Half kidding here,that is an excellent group. Welcome to the 20vt club :)
 
Great little round IF the wind isn't blowing. (I'd like to try that just once). I take a heavy barrel fireball that's works great till it starts dusting pretty hard, then out comes the 250s and br's. 80gr blitz is a nasty bullet
 
Well, it has been a long 18 month build and load development, but finally got the new Vartarg build out for prairie dogs. I was thrilled to go 12 for 12 on my first shots from the Vartarg at prairie dogs from 200-350 yards.

Life started out for this gun as a CZ 527 MIP. The last new one in stock I could find at the LGS when they were discontinued in 2022. Pulled the 223 rem barrel off and sold the stock. Had is re-barreled with a 22" Pacnor Barrel 11 Twist to Match a CZ varmint contour. After 1+ year of searching, finally found a MTR stock. Put a Meotpa Optika5 5-20x50 on top (As a side note, the optics on this scope are amazing, every bit as clear and bright as a Nighforce and tracking is very good).

Using Nosler 17 fireball brass neck turned. Also tried several 222 rem brass formed and they worked fine, the nosler brass was easier to form and more consistent. Tried the Sierra 32gr Blizkings with AA2200, LT30, IMR 4198, X-terminator, and R7. They all shot .5 moa, none shot better than .35 moa. Moved to the Nosler 32 Varmageddon bullet which is able to seat deeper in to the brass and still be at the lands. Tried the same powders and this time consistent .35moa groups, with none better than about .3moa. Not bad, but not good enough.

Then my lucked turned 2 weeks ago and found H4198 on the shelf of my LGS. Had my seating depth dialed in and loaded up groups 17.6 to 18.4 in .2 increments. All shot better than .3moa with the 18.0gr coming in well under .2 moa. Loaded up some more to confirm and sure enough 18.0gr in new brass doing multiple .15" 3 shot groups at 3640fps average. Found my load and off the pdog grounds.

Hit the prairie at about 9:30 am to 35 degrees and calm winds. Tried a spot I have never been to and they started coming out as the temps started to warm. 1st shot at 204 yards hit true, and then the next, and the next, and so on. Hit 12 for 12 without a miss in dogs between 200 and 350. Well, 1 or 2 were in the 150-160 range. Pushed it out a bit to try a couple shots in the 450-600 range, but no verified hits, although one at 475 was a likely hit. At this point went to check the damage. First pic is 2 dogs right at 200 yards. The last one was a dog at 300 yards. Excellent performance from this little bullet. Wind picked up and moved to towns with average shot distances at 500 and used the 6br and 22br the rest of the day.

This is my most accurate, light build and should be solid to 400 with no or mild wind. Could see all hits in scope with minimal recoil. Solid to 350 with plenty of damage to detect hits. Hits beyond 450 or so may be tough to detect if bullet doesn't expand as well. Will be in the rotation for sure.
Yes, you absolutely did a great job building that rifle. Patience always pays off. I have rushed a few builds for different reasons and they were all mystiques. Photo 4 did you shoot that one from the front or was that a Texas Heart Shot?
 
It am pretty sure it an impact directly in the mid section. What I am not sure of if it was facing towards or away from me. Probably away from me.

A 222-20 would be interesting cartridge. I shoot 40gr BTs out of my 222 which would be very similar to a 222-20. It has been my most accurate build to date with IMR 4198. Just have to watch out when temps get really high, it gets a little squirrelly.
 
Congrats on the 20 VT build. I could tell ya' the story of me getting my 20VT, but the short side of it is; there's this person who goes by "Rick In Oregon" who was telling me about it few years back. At the time, I was a mere novice to varmint hunting/shooting that became hooked on the 204 Ruger. He posted some load test results with the powder loads and I said "hmmm" to myself. Long story short, I went looking for a Remington 700 Fireball action and built mine into a 20VT. It's the beige one posted herein although I have swapped out scopes since this picture was taken. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy my 204 Ruger.

Another nifty caliber on a Fireball case is the 221 Fireball, they're the pair I have posted together. Quite frankly, accuracy, blast & recoil, I don't see a difference and I'm sure a 17 Fireball would be just as fun to shoot too!

Last of all, I'd like to tip my hat to you in staying with the effort to get the most out of your rifle loads. It seems that many will except a good load but it may not be the best it can do. So congrats on that and remember, the only way to make your target bigger is to make your groups smaller...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5097.JPG
    IMG_5097.JPG
    471.8 KB · Views: 63
  • IMG_3460.JPG
    IMG_3460.JPG
    495.3 KB · Views: 63
Those are some nice rifles right there tjtjwdad!

Sems you've come to the same conclusion as I have, in that the 20VT and 221 "Furball" are two of the most underrated varmint calibers in terms of powder used for the accuracy potential.

Care to tell the story behind your screen name? Just curious, been wondering.....
 
tjtj: 1st letters of my kid's first names;
w: 1st letter of my last name;
dad: thats me!

In the world of ever-changing user ID's, password's and entrepreneurs that are up to no good, hiding under the cover of darkness behind a monitor and keyboard with nothing but time on their hands to steel our identity; it was the best I could think of at the time and remember.
 
Okay, I get that. Good job, and I agree with the shady ones in their hoodies, hiding behind their keyboard causing grief for us.

My screen name came about back around 1998 or so when I was on the GGVG board. Now I wish I had come up with something a bit more unique and interesting, but alas, a bit too late now. But I'm still Rick, and I'm still in Orygun, so I guess that's that.
 
It am pretty sure it an impact directly in the mid section. What I am not sure of if it was facing towards or away from me. Probably away from me.

A 222-20 would be interesting cartridge. I shoot 40gr BTs out of my 222 which would be very similar to a 222-20. It has been my most accurate build to date with IMR 4198. Just have to watch out when temps get really high, it gets a little squirrelly.
Congrats on a successful build. I shoot a 20-222. Have 2 of em. A 788 & an L461. Feeds flawless. Accuracy is incredible w h4198 and 32’s @ 3850 w 20.5grs. Ive always wanted to do a vartarg but i doubt i ever will because i have so many 222 brass. Always enjoy reading anything 20 cal. Keep up the good work
 
What scope magnification was most useful for you?
I am taking the .204 out to Wyoming this year and I can't decide between the 3.5-18x44 and the 6.5-26x56.
Great story!
 
What scope magnification was most useful for you?
I am taking the .204 out to Wyoming this year and I can't decide between the 3.5-18x44 and the 6.5-26x56.
Great story!
I use 8.5-25 and 14.5-35 (6.5-20 Premier bumped) Leupolds.

Most often set to about 15x in mirage.

However it's nice to turn 'em up when there's little to no mirage.
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,889
Messages
2,205,390
Members
79,185
Latest member
Kydama1337
Back
Top