Help me decide please

[L1986]

I am in the process of putting together a pair of twin savage rifles. Both will be on RBLP savage target actions. I already have one action and two walnut mini tracker stocks. These will be prairie dog guns and only shot from a bench with a rest. Everything is decided except for caliber. I originally planned on doing a 17 fireball and 20 vartarg but recently have been thinking 20 and 22 ppc. I already have 17 fireball brass and enough 221 fireball brass for the vartarg but ppc brass is easy to come by and obviously of great quality. I have also thought about a 222 and 20-222. Again with these great lapua brass. I really like the idea of being able to by one type brass and necking down or up to accommodate both rifles. I really like the 17 fireball and have wanted a vartarg for a while but the ppcs sound like awesome rounds. I want something with great accuracy mild recoil and decent barrel life. I know I could do a switch barrel setup but have found that doing so while hunting to not work well for me so I am not looking to do so. Any comments or other ideas would be great and thanks in advance.

 

[st338]

The vartarg is a no brainer. That little round simply amazes me more each time I take it out. My second choice would be a 20 practical. Easily sourced brass and it is a laser on dogs. If you wanted to go a little bigger my next choice would be a 20br.

 

[hogpatrol]

What do you figure will be your longest shots, and average shots? The .17's aren't wind friendly so my choice of your picks would be the Vartarg and .221 Fireball.

 

[L1986]

The vartarg is a no brainer. That little round simply amazes me more each time I take it out. My second choice would be a 20 practical. Easily sourced brass and it is a laser on dogs. If you wanted to go a little bigger my next choice would be a 20br.

I already have a practical in an AR and the BR sounds like a little bit of a barrel burner but I could be wrong.

What do you figure will be your longest shots, and average shots? The .17's aren't wind friendly so my choice of your picks would be the Vartarg and .221 Fireball.

Most shots are inside of 400 but occasionally up to 600 if the need arises.

I probably should have added in the beginning but I have a fast twist 22-250AI for long range a, 20 Practical AR, a 19-223 Calhoon, and a 17 Ackley Bee for some of the shorter shots. I usually take all these with me when I go and rotate out as needed. I try to go out to Eastern CO twice a year to shoot dogs and spend a few days each time.

 

[17VLD]

If it was my choice,I'd build a 20 VarTarg for sure as it will do 90% of the task's you ask of it.The 20 VT is probably the best of all worlds with the .221 FB case.
You will be amazed at how well it flips dogs in the air.It reaches out there too,I've killed pds at 542 yards with that 32 grain bullet.My second choice would be the 20ppc with an eleven twist to shoot the 40's ,it will make the 600 yard shots easier,and with your Savage action the bolt head change should be a snap.You already have some nice rifles,this is just a final revision,have fun.
Matt

 

[Phil]

.223AI / .20-223 AI ??????????

8 twist for the 75 amax and 11 twist for the 39`s......

 

[DogBuster]

20-222.........10 or 11 twist

223 AI.........8 or 9 twist

 

[greg8012]

I have both 20 vartarg and a 20 pract. I shoot many p dogs here in Colorado and fin that both do the trick.. no complaints from me or the prairie dogs.. 20 vt is a 250 yd rifle and the 20pract is a 250++.
Use a good rifle and a better scope and shoot straight..

 

[shadrac]

+ 1 on the vartatg very accurate

 

[L1986]

Thanks for all the insight guys!! Sure seems like the vartarg is a winner!