Joined the 20vt club

[Fern]

Well I was going to build my cz 223 into a 20vt had bought new bell Carlson stock and things were coming along.
An opportunity came up to pick up a sako A1 with a pack nor 11/1” twist barrel from a fellow member (will leet him say who he is if he chooses).
This rifle is an absolute beauty and I haven’t even shot it yet (sourcing rings ). Even Okmy son who saw it said “dad that rifle is best looking one yet. Too good for you “. Little stinker.
I sometimes feel I was born in the wrong era as I admire the beauty of wood stocks more than plastic ones. They all have their place I know
I spent a lot of time reading in sakos and learned about their tapered mounts which was new to me.
Now I am going to load up some test loads to try with H4198 and 32g vmax

 

[Phil Peterson]

Nice! I haven't forgotten about your parts, either.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Thats a Nice Rifle!

It will shoot small groups no doubt!

Wood stocks are what should come on all rifles my opinion!

Im not into the plastic ones either.

 

[17VLD]

Your son is right ,that is a beautiful rifle. I'm glad you took the opportunity and got it. I can also tell that it will shoot well judging by that script on the barrel. I am blessed to have a few built by Greg and I am sure you will love how it shoots matching its great looks.
Matt

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Fern, you've struck gold there buddy!

A very nice Sako chambered by one of the best speciality smiths in a most excellent caliber, and with goodies too! Time to buy a lottery ticket!

Seriously, it will most likely be a shooter, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she shoots with her pet load once worked up. Looking at old issues of Small Caliber News, Greg Tannel has always been recognized as one of the leading smiths in small caliber rifle builds. His work has always been stellar, and your rifle will surely demonstrate this. You have a prize there, my friend.

 

[TheCZKid]

Hey Fern, excellent looking rifle, and great gunsmith to have built it too, as Rick said!

I'm looking forward to seeing your load progress. If you don't have rings yet, I found the Leupold's rings for the Sako are excellent. Extremely well aligned for concentricity front to rear ring.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Clancy]

Beautiful rifle. Feed it something better than those v max!

 

[TheCZKid]

Mine has a steady diet of V-max 32 grain, and it does great, and they're inexpensive and accurate. But, more expensive options I'm sure would work as well, and likely slightly better.

 

[Fern]

Thats a Nice Rifle!

It will shoot small groups no doubt!

Wood stocks are what should come on all rifles my opinion!

Im not into the plastic ones either.

Agree but unfortunately most of the wood out there I feel came from Home Depot’s. very rarely do you see an exquisite piece of wood any more.
You almost have to find someone who is cutting down a 100+ year old tree and try to get a piece of it and find a stock maker.
I honestly feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to own it and can tell how much work went into the rifle
I spoke with Greg about the rifle and about his involvement in the early stages of the development and was super helpful. I honestly wish I would have got into the smaller calibers much sooner.
I did end up ordering a set of Leupold mediums per the recommendation of the the seller and his scope was on it perfectly low to the deck.

 

[searcher]

That should prove to be a really nice rig! I also have a few Sako's, in 6PPC and a nice .375 H&H, both of which have really nice wood. I've long since converted most of my wood stocks over to composite as I feel terrible each time I get a little scratch on such nice wood - but that just comes with actual use. I just spent a lot of time fixing a bad gun safe scratch on a wood stock a few weeks ago. I did seriously think about yanking it and putting on a composite. Kinda glad I didn't after it was sparkly again. Some of the exhibition grade wood on the old shotguns just mesmerizes me.

 

[craig55]

Wait until you shoot it!! Shoots better than it looks!

 

[Fern]

Wait until you shoot it!! Shoots better than it looks!

Rings can’t get here soon enough lol
In meantime i am loading some rounds with H4198 from 17g and working up from there and working on finding a good seating depth

 

[craig55]

Don’t go over 18gr

 

[TheCZKid]

Any update on testing this rifle?

 

[Fern]

Any update on testing this rifle?

lol man I go the rifle and shortly after I took a vacation to celebrate our 20 year anniversary. I had to track down some Leupold rings but they were too low so ordered another set. I have rounds loaded and ready to go just life happens. We recently had some heavy rains so more delays. I’m hoping to get to the range this week.
I have pulled the rifle out couple times to admire it and the work that went into it. I have found myself re reading my copy of terrific twenties and Todd’s info on it.
Made up some dummy including one to be at the lands and documenting it into my notes.
I ended up finding some 32g vmax pulls and a great price so what the hell ordered a thousand.
I may pick up some 32sbk to try as well but want to try some vmax that I have already on hand

 

[Rick300]

H4198, RL7, and N120 have all worked well for me. Depending on your chamber, It might shoot best from 18.1 - 18.5 of H4198. RL7 is pretty close in charge weight as H4198, I drop to the mid 17 grains for N120. Beautiful rifle!

 

[7315br]

H4198, RL7, and N120 have all worked well for me. Depending on your chamber, It might shoot best from 18.1 - 18.5 of H4198. RL7 is pretty close in charge weight as H4198, I drop to the mid 17 grains for N120. Beautiful rifle!

H4198 in the .20 VT has been my go to powder for years in both rifles and my XP-100. AA2200 "ain't" bad either.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Fern, you might find the most accurate bullet in that 20VT very well might be the 32gr SBK, as it shines in all my 20's as the most accurate.

Only downside is the higher cost compared to the other offerings. When shooting a hot rat patch, going through a 100 cnt box in a couple of hours makes the Nosler's or V-Max's seem like a better fiscal decision. They all launch the rat well, but I'm just not sure the extra expense of the SBK's is worth it in the end.

I'd like to know why the SBK's are so much more expensive. Great bullets, but geeez.....

 

[TheCZKid]

I agree, I can often find the V-Max on sale, sometimes as Midway "seconds" etc, and they shoot well in my 20VT, and also the 40 grain in my 20 Practical.

 

[L.Sherm]

Rick its why I shoot the 34 V- nightmares.
Back in the day when I first started they were 39.00- 500 last I bought paid 350.00 for 5,000 I'm well stocked.
I can easily get them to shoot .5 moa in multiple rifles