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Which .20 Caliber Cartridge for Varmint & Target Shooting

Mark W said:
I’m getting ready to cobble together another Savage project and trying to decided on a caliber. I will be single feeding a model 12 action in a HS Precision stock. The plan is to use a 24” Shilen barrel in bull contour from NSS.

My bases are well covered on .22 and 6mm cartridges so I’m thinking about doing a .20 caliber. It will mostly be used for informal target shooting from 100 to 300 yards (that is the ranges that are readily available to me) with a trip to two a year to prairie dog land.

I don’t care about the availability of factory ammo and won’t consider the 204R for this build. I just want to do something different.

The cartridges that I’m most interested in are 20 Practical, 20 VT, and 20 PPC. I’ve also been reading some good things about the 20-222.

Other than being accurate, I’m wanting low recoil to see hits and low heat build up to facilitate long strings of fire without overheating.

Any thoughts or ideas appreciated!
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I don't have a 20VT but close, lol.

I had a 204 Cooper M21, it was a great rifle but 204 would heat a barrel quick and it was loud. I thought it a better coyote rifle than PD rifle.

How about trying a 20VT AI, or 20SCC, or 20-221 AI, or my version which is 20FBI. These are probably the most efficient 20's???
I have a CZ with a 11 twist and a M700 Bench rifle with a 12 twist. I'm running light loads at 3740 - 3780 fps with 32's and pretty sure 3900+ is doable with H4895, not that speed is more important than accuracy. If I had some AA2200 the fps would be 100 more. My load work needs to be finished in all aspects because I just got them, but they are more accurate than anticipated, as is.

I like the small amount of barrel heat per rounds shot in succession. The tiny amount of rifle upset. Frugal 18-19.5 grains of powder a shot. long barrel life.

For farther out, like past 400Y, I'd rather use a 22 or 24 than a 20 because of the higher BC bullets. Mentioning this because even the .28BC of the 40's in 20 cal isn't much when one considers a 22 cal 75 ELDM has almost twice the BC and half the drift at 400Y, in say, something like a 22 Creed.
 
The .20 Practical is the easiest wildcat I have ever formed cases for...Mainly because there's nothing to it!! Close to 3800fps, itty bitty groups with 40 Vmax and low recoil. What's not to love? Have to admit I almost went with a 20VT but, I'm very happy with the 20P.
 
For a 1-gun prairie dog session the 20 Practical with 40 grain V-Max pills would be my choice. Similar exterior ballistics to a 22-250 shooting 55 grainers without all the recoil drama.

Smaller cartridges are quieter and larger cartridges can connect further out but nothing covers the 100-400 yard sweet spot better than the 20P.
 
Heck of a good thread.As you can tell by all the great respones,you just cant go wrong with any 20.I have quite a few different 20s and each has a usefull purpose.I have 3 20 Dusters(20-222imp)which are purpose built pd (BAT)and coyote(Sako)rifles.For your original thought I think the 20VT will serve perfectly,the 20VT will throw pds in the air so well you wont believe it.I have had it on 500 round days in Montana and cant think of any other rifle I would want by my side.Build a nice one and you will win those bench matchs you spoke of as well.Once you shoot the VT and see how well it does you wont be able to stop at just one:D
Matt
 
"...It will mostly be used for informal target shooting from 100 to 300 yards...with a trip to two a year to prairie dog land...Other than being accurate, I’m wanting low recoil to see hits and low heat build up to facilitate long strings of fire without overheating."

Based on your criteria above, the 20VT would be an exceptional choice.
 
You have gotten a lot of good advice based on my personal experiences; I have about a dozen different 20's now. The 20VT and 20P are good rounds, but if you like something a little different, look at the 20-221FB AI and the 20-223AI. Both are easy to live with and offer almost 10% performance increase. I am using AA2200 in the 20-221FB AI with 32's safely @ 3900 - 4000 fps, and H4895 with 39/40's in the 20-223AI @ 4000+/- fps. Both give .2 +/- accuracy. Would also recommend the 11 twist barrels unless you are sure you won't be shooting 40's, then 12 twist works great. My rifles are all Dakota Predator/Varminters which are ideal for these cartridges, but Sako L461/A1, CZ 527, Howa Mini are all good choices for the small cartridges. For stocks I like the old Winchester Marksman pattern and the HBR pattern depending upon whether you want a flat bottom forend or not. Barrel-wise there are lots of good choices; I use Dakota factory barrels, PacNor, Lilja, Mullerworks, and X-Caliber all with good to great results. Hope this helps a little without adding too much to the confusion.
 
DeadWoodDan said:
I say this, only as that is my decision and road I am taking. You didn't mention reloading, not that its not my #1 thing to do I enjoy shooting better and what gets me there faster is less brass prep.
DWD
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You will enjoy your 20 Practical. Mine shot Nosler 40gr Ballistic Tips the best.
 
Would also recommend the 11 twist barrels unless you are sure you won't be shooting 40's said:
Good advice. I went with a 1:12 twist Lilja on my .20 Practical, and I wish I'd gone with an 11 twist. Not that I can't still shoot the 39/40 still, I just think it is marginally stable.
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I appreciate all of the great feedback on the .20 Calibers. There’s so many choices and none of them seem wrong! I think for me it going to come down to a 20 VT for lighter bullets with a 20 Practical for heavier bullets not far behind.
 
what is the contour and length of the Cooper Montana Varmint 20 vartarg... that is what I would want to get... a poor man's Cooper....LOL.... or maybe I should just round up some loose money and get one of those Beauties.
 
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Question...???

If I bought a savage 12 fv in 204, how much trouble would it be to turn it into a 20 Vartarg...?

looking at my 6.5 creedmoor savage 12 fv that I just got from cabelas... this heavy barrel thing is just a straight tube, which looks like there is plenty of room to ream and thread. I'm guessing that their 204 is the same diameter.
But that barrel is probably a 12 tw... and not a 11... which I would prefer for 32 gr bullets.

So... what do you guys think about lopping this thing off and re-boring it?
 
daniel brothers said:
Question...???

If I bought a savage 12 fv in 204, how much trouble would it be to turn it into a 20 Vartarg...?

looking at my 6.5 creedmoor savage 12 fv that I just got from cabelas... this heavy barrel thing is just a straight tube, which looks like there is plenty of room to ream and thread. I'm guessing that their 204 is the same diameter.
But that barrel is probably a 12 tw... and not a 11... which I would prefer for 32 gr bullets.

So... what do you guys think about lopping this thing off and re-boring it?
Click to expand...

I had a 12 FV 223 barrel punched out to 22-243 and it turned out great. I’m not sure if it would be worth having having to cut threaded and completely rechambered.
 
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