Help with chamber identification

[Trooper836]

I have traded for a custom savage striker with what is reported benchmark barrel that was originally a 204 ruger that had been set back and chambered in 20 vartag. The individual I got the gun from had purchased the barrel from someone else, that has a good reputation. The previous owner had not fired the gun. I also got dies, 20 vartag ammo which was not loaded for this gun as well as loading components in the deal.

I have since discovered that the chamber is clearly NOT 20 vartag. I have spoken to the previous owner. He is confused by this and has told me he will attempt to contact the individual he purchased the barrel from. I am not mad at the previous owner. Apparently he has been going through chemo for a year, so I think he has either forgotten what the barrel was chambered in or got screwed on the barrel.

I have attempted a chamber cast using since I do not have any cerosafe here at home. The following rough dimensions are what I have come up with.
Overall length 1.622
Diameter at shoulder .354
Diameter at base .363
Length of neck .208
Length to base of neck 1.4
Length to beginning of shoulder 1.29
Shoulder angle is about 30 degrees
All of the measurements were taken with digital calipers but I would certainly not consider this precise. There are several 20 cal wildcats and I am just not coming up with anything that makes me feel confident about what I have.
As you can see in the photo, this is not a 20 vartag.
Please, before you make comments about there being more than 1 piece of brass in that condition, I know, that was stupid.

Thanks for any help you can provide. I plan on doing a cast with cerosafe later this week if my crayon results are insufficient.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Put a tight patch in the bore at the start of rifling. Spray chamber with Pam, fill with melted candle wax. Cool it down, wax cast should push out easily. If by overall length you mean the chamber, similar to 20p.

 

[Trooper836]

I guess I should specify how I measured. For overall length I measured the length of the cast and added .122 for the depth the case sits in the bolt face. May be wrong. The overall length of the cast is 1.5. The neck at the shoulder junction is .236.

 

[snert]

just order cerrosafe...

 

[RegionRat]

I agree, just play it safe and cast the chamber while you wait to hear back on the history from the past owners. I hope that pans out.

I would not have tried an unknown rig, and even if I did I doubt I would have tried it a second shot after seeing the first one.

This has come up with my friends from time to time after some widow sells off unknown guns. It has resulted in some near tragedies so please don't become an example.

Another thing you can try in the meantime is to check if you can close the bolt on some other dummy cases to get an idea if the shoulder of those blowouts was real.

This wouldn't be conclusive without the chamber casting, but it would also help estimate the offset to the bolt face. The photos sort of look like they got into the shoulder but I wouldn't count on it. I would also scope that bbl to see what the FB looks like and for more clues as to what it really is.

Being a Savage Striker, you are in a position to take that bbl off easy enough to make the casting job easy.

I have no idea how easy it is to come by Striker bbls, otherwise why not screw a known bbl on while you figure this one out later.

 

[Trooper836]

I have other strikers. This one may end up with a new barrel if need be.

 

[Bill K]

Could it be a 20-222 or a version of one ? Chamber cast and good measurements might

 

[L.Sherm]

If I had to guess 20 Javelina by your measurements but I would still do a chamber cast

 

[snert]

I am gonna bet $1 on a 20 practical. But hedge my bet with $.50 on 20/222

May the bids begin!

Following this

 

[Trooper836]

I am hoping it is at least something that is simple to make cases for.

 

[snert]

Well, one good thing...a guy on the forums had a post up wanting 20 VT dies.....

 

[Trooper836]

Always a silver lining!

 

[pintopete]

I have traded for a custom savage striker with what is reported benchmark barrel that was originally a 204 ruger that had been set back and chambered in 20 vartag. The individual I got the gun from had purchased the barrel from someone else, that has a good reputation. The previous owner had not fired the gun. I also got dies, 20 vartag ammo which was not loaded for this gun as well as loading components in the deal.

I have since discovered that the chamber is clearly NOT 20 vartag. I have spoken to the previous owner. He is confused by this and has told me he will attempt to contact the individual he purchased the barrel from. I am not mad at the previous owner. Apparently he has been going through chemo for a year, so I think he has either forgotten what the barrel was chambered in or got screwed on the barrel.

I have attempted a chamber cast using since I do not have any cerosafe here at home. The following rough dimensions are what I have come up with.
Overall length 1.622
Diameter at shoulder .354
Diameter at base .363
Length of neck .208
Length to base of neck 1.4
Length to beginning of shoulder 1.29
Shoulder angle is about 30 degrees
All of the measurements were taken with digital calipers but I would certainly not consider this precise. There are several 20 cal wildcats and I am just not coming up with anything that makes me feel confident about what I have.
As you can see in the photo, this is not a 20 vartag.
Please, before you make comments about there being more than 1 piece of brass in that condition, I know, that was stupid.

Thanks for any help you can provide. I plan on doing a cast with cerosafe later this week if my crayon results are insufficient.

It almost seems as though someone did what you described, and shortened a .204 Ruger. They may have called it something but going by the numbers, neck length, etc. it certainly seems like it.

 

[Bill K]

How about having your gunsmith check into setting the barrel back and making it into a 20 VT, for sure, since you have dies and all ?

 

[Trooper836]

So, today I removed the barrel and did a cast with cerrosafe. I think it is a 20 vartag turbo, but honestly it doesn't matter. There is a ring inside the chamber that I did not see with the barrel on the action and there is also a small piece of metal protruding inside the chamber that almost looks like a gouge when I verified it with a borescope. As Bill K suggested I think the best course of action for this barrel is either a setback and rechamber or a tomato stake. A couple of friends of mine are gunsmiths and when one of them saw the chamber and cast he said, that chamber is crap. I have to concur. I am making the decision now on the setback option or just a new barrel. I attached a picture of the cast to hopefully show what I have tried to explain.. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Bill K]

If it is the 20 VT turbo, then that basically is a 20-222 improved. But again, since you have the dies and all and now the barrel off, I would invest in re-chambering to a righteous 20 VT and enjoy it. Bet it will be a fine shooter.

 

[Trooper836]

Any recommendations on a savage prefit? I don't want to spend a fortune, I mean this isn't a dedicated benchrest gun obviously but I like to chase that one hole group like everybody. From what I have found it looks like the shilen profits from NSS may be about the best buy.

 

[Bill K]

I have had great success with the pre-fits from Preffered Barrel Blanks. Bryce will walk you through what he has and all. Prices run in the area of 460.00 plus/minus. Check his website out and email or call him and discuss what you may want. And, of course, there are other makers on the market, now days.

If you have a gunsmith in your area, I would first check with him about set back/re-chamber, as that would be the least cost, at this point.