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c.g
Guest
thinking about building a short barrel 20cal for varmint hunting looking at the 20-222 .anybody shoot one.what kind of velocity and range can i get with a 20,22 inch barrel .thanks c.g
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AVanGorder
Guest
20 Cal
Coming from a 20 Cal fan, have you thought about the 20 Practical, 20 Tactical or 20-223? The 223 brass is easier to find and quite inexpensive. How about 204 Ruger or 20 VarTarg?
Coming from a 20 Cal fan, have you thought about the 20 Practical, 20 Tactical or 20-223? The 223 brass is easier to find and quite inexpensive. How about 204 Ruger or 20 VarTarg?
S
sicero
Guest
---------------------------------------------------------------------------c.g.---If I had it to do over I wouldn't change a thing.
Long Winded Warning. I started with a CZ American 204. Removed the CZ stock and replaced it with a Richards Microfit straightline thumbhole in economy black walnut. I wanted to cut the weight everyplace I could without doing the unthinkable. [Plactic Stock.] "My choice" The original piece of wood they sent me weighed 3lb & 4oz with a 2&1/2" wide forearm. I cut the length more of a carbine length. About one inch shorter than the factory stock. I like a short buttstock, so I cut the original butt pad off drilled two 7/8 inch holes in the butt about 6" in depth for weight reduction and replaced the buttpad. I kept the 2 & 1/2" varmint width on the forearm but trimmed it all I thought I dare. The final stock configuration weighs 2lb & 2oz. [ about 2 oz less than a CZ stock.]I pulled the barrel and cut the chamber end about 0.230 and run a chucking reamer in the neck 0.100 depth to get that much closer to the riflings. I did not check this exactly since I was only interested in cutting the chamber to exactly the same dimensions as my 20 Bulldog CZ Varmint. In order to do this I first set the headspace with a case from the other rifle and intensionaly left the outside of the barrel a few thousands long, to be cut exact later. I wanted to use the same 223 brass and maybe even the same loads. I then cut the barrel length to 19" and recrowned it to a 90 degree recessed. I installed the barrel back on the action. I then made a unigauge for checking headspace. I did this with a piece of aluminum cut just slightly smaller than the chamber with the end designed to contact the chamber 1/2 way up the shoulder. The other end of the gauge is threaded for a long set screw and then another piece the size of the cartridge head threaded and screwed onto the other end of the set screw. I then put this gauge into my original chamber and adjusted it to the exact length. I then measured the exact length of the gauge. I then did the same to the new chamber. I then knew I needed to remove 0.0074 from the outer ring which would give me the exact length pluss one thousands to be gained when tightening the barrel into the action. I worked up a load that shot around 3/4" at 100yd while this rifle was a 204 Ruger just so I had something to compare it to after the rechamber and barrel shortening. I fired it and my other 20 Bulldog yesterday. I first worked the new rifle up to my leftover prairie dog loads. Set the Redfield Illuminator BDC 3 to 9 scope in for 1& 1/2" high at 100 which should make me close at 200yd. I set the crono up and the info on the box of loads said 39gr Sierra BK @ 3700fps. I got an average reading with the new short barrel right at 3500fps. I then shot from the same box with the 26" varmint barrel and it was reading right at 3600fps. I shot these before in warmer weather. May be the cause for slower readings. I was surprised there was not more velicity loss with the barrel 7 inches shorter. As far as accuracy these loads grouped a little better than my 204 loads before the remodeling. I did put pillars in the stock but have not bedded it as of yet. I think it only appropriate I call her Shorty. Kenny [around 1/2 @ 100 is common]
Long Winded Warning. I started with a CZ American 204. Removed the CZ stock and replaced it with a Richards Microfit straightline thumbhole in economy black walnut. I wanted to cut the weight everyplace I could without doing the unthinkable. [Plactic Stock.] "My choice" The original piece of wood they sent me weighed 3lb & 4oz with a 2&1/2" wide forearm. I cut the length more of a carbine length. About one inch shorter than the factory stock. I like a short buttstock, so I cut the original butt pad off drilled two 7/8 inch holes in the butt about 6" in depth for weight reduction and replaced the buttpad. I kept the 2 & 1/2" varmint width on the forearm but trimmed it all I thought I dare. The final stock configuration weighs 2lb & 2oz. [ about 2 oz less than a CZ stock.]I pulled the barrel and cut the chamber end about 0.230 and run a chucking reamer in the neck 0.100 depth to get that much closer to the riflings. I did not check this exactly since I was only interested in cutting the chamber to exactly the same dimensions as my 20 Bulldog CZ Varmint. In order to do this I first set the headspace with a case from the other rifle and intensionaly left the outside of the barrel a few thousands long, to be cut exact later. I wanted to use the same 223 brass and maybe even the same loads. I then cut the barrel length to 19" and recrowned it to a 90 degree recessed. I installed the barrel back on the action. I then made a unigauge for checking headspace. I did this with a piece of aluminum cut just slightly smaller than the chamber with the end designed to contact the chamber 1/2 way up the shoulder. The other end of the gauge is threaded for a long set screw and then another piece the size of the cartridge head threaded and screwed onto the other end of the set screw. I then put this gauge into my original chamber and adjusted it to the exact length. I then measured the exact length of the gauge. I then did the same to the new chamber. I then knew I needed to remove 0.0074 from the outer ring which would give me the exact length pluss one thousands to be gained when tightening the barrel into the action. I worked up a load that shot around 3/4" at 100yd while this rifle was a 204 Ruger just so I had something to compare it to after the rechamber and barrel shortening. I fired it and my other 20 Bulldog yesterday. I first worked the new rifle up to my leftover prairie dog loads. Set the Redfield Illuminator BDC 3 to 9 scope in for 1& 1/2" high at 100 which should make me close at 200yd. I set the crono up and the info on the box of loads said 39gr Sierra BK @ 3700fps. I got an average reading with the new short barrel right at 3500fps. I then shot from the same box with the 26" varmint barrel and it was reading right at 3600fps. I shot these before in warmer weather. May be the cause for slower readings. I was surprised there was not more velicity loss with the barrel 7 inches shorter. As far as accuracy these loads grouped a little better than my 204 loads before the remodeling. I did put pillars in the stock but have not bedded it as of yet. I think it only appropriate I call her Shorty. Kenny [around 1/2 @ 100 is common]
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C
c.g
Guest
i allready have dies and brass for the .204 but was afraid with the larger cases like the 204 ,20tac or 20pt i would lose a lot of velocity.if i went with the 20-222 the max velocity might not be as much as a 204 even with the short barrel.i still want a heavy barrel just short easy in and out of the truck .cant tell where a fat ground hog might pop up.thanks c.g
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caroby
Guest
C.G.,
I absolutly LOVE my .20-222.............!!! It IS my go to varminter for hunting small anumals out to 400yds or so.
My rig is a Savage 12BVSS. Bedded, with a PacNor SSSM 24" 3 groove barrel.
My two favorite loads are the 32gr Vmax and a good dose of 322. It shoooots! Blasts crows into a black feather explosion..! PDs too! Farthest shot on a P.D. so far about 340yds. Don't hold over!
Velocity: 3920 shoots dots... Can get it to just 4050 but pressure gets things tight and brass (Win) primer pockets get beat-up a tad.
Favorite Coyote load is the Sierra 39gr at about 3835fps......... Very accurate and deadly!
Barrel life (throat errosion) is quite acceptable... I believe it's in the 2000 rd area.
You won't be dissapointed...!
cale
C
c.g
Guest
is your 20-222 just necked down without any changes to the neck,thats what i had in mind .do you think i can get those kind of velocities with a little shorter barrel .yes mine will be a savage also .aint shootin crows a hoot.thanks c.gC.G.,
I absolutly LOVE my .20-222.............!!! It IS my go to varminter for hunting small anumals out to 400yds or so.
My rig is a Savage 12BVSS. Bedded, with a PacNor SSSM 24" 3 groove barrel.
My two favorite loads are the 32gr Vmax and a good dose of 322. It shoooots! Blasts crows into a black feather explosion..! PDs too! Farthest shot on a P.D. so far about 340yds. Don't hold over!
Velocity: 3920 shoots dots... Can get it to just 4050 but pressure gets things tight and brass (Win) primer pockets get beat-up a tad.
Favorite Coyote load is the Sierra 39gr at about 3835fps......... Very accurate and deadly!
Barrel life (throat errosion) is quite acceptable... I believe it's in the 2000 rd area.
You won't be dissapointed...!
cale
C
caroby
Guest
is your 20-222 just necked down without any changes to the neck,thats what i had in mind .do you think i can get those kind of velocities with a little shorter barrel .yes mine will be a savage also .aint shootin crows a hoot.thanks c.g
Yep.... For the life of me, I can't remember the neck diam.... Think I'm useing a .228 bushing on no turn Win 222 brass. Shoots wonderful and never lost a case to pressure... The no turn reamer that Chris has at PacNor is just right...
I'm gonna order a Pacific on the same Dim.
cale
Yep.... For the life of me, I can't remember the neck diam.... Think I'm useing a .228 bushing on no turn Win 222 brass. Shoots wonderful and never lost a case to pressure... The no turn reamer that Chris has at PacNor is just right...
I'm gonna order a Pacific on the same Dim.
cale