best .20cal ??????????

S

schilla

Guest
What would be the best 20 cal to get? Im looking for high velocities for
shooting prairie dogs?

I was looking at the 20BR, Any of you guys have any good/bad comments?

thanks
 
For prairie dogs I'd have to say the 204 Ruger...factory brass being the primary consideration and it shoots fast and as flat as a 22-250 with much less powder. Either that or a 20 Tac (223 case I believe) for the same reason as plentiful (cheaper) brass and easy case prep.
 
20 Practical

If you're into wildcats & custom bbl's.....20 Practical
slightly less powder consumption than the 204R..but as fast or faster depending on bbl....my 12 twist Pac Nor clocks a 40 V max moly at 3900 fps..
223 brass is parent case simply necked down with a 223 Redding bushing die
I use a 204R Forster BR seater & Redding bushing neck die to size....thats why its 'Practical'....the only better 20 is the 20 Vartarg (20 Fireball) just not as much punch....but a sweet p/dog removal tool out to 500 yds in calm conditions...
 
Armed in Utah said:
If you're into wildcats & custom bbl's.....20 Practical
slightly less powder consumption than the 204R..but as fast or faster depending on bbl....my 12 twist Pac Nor clocks a 40 V max moly at 3900 fps..
223 brass is parent case simply necked down with a 223 Redding bushing die
I use a 204R Forster BR seater & Redding bushing neck die to size....thats why its 'Practical'....the only better 20 is the 20 Vartarg (20 Fireball) just not as much punch....but a sweet p/dog removal tool out to 500 yds in calm conditions...
Click to expand...

And those calm conditions would be where???:cool:
 
Another vote for the 20 Practical if you are going to have a barrel specially made up. Lots of good brass probably for free & easy to form just by running through a FL sizing die. For a factory gun, get a Savage LRPV in 204.
 
20's are a hoot

+2 on the practical....

But as a factory chambering.......204Rug is all there is..

Though I love the 20-222..............! Outstanding.!:) 3900 with 38-40gr and bughole capable. And Lapua .222 brass is back...!!!:):)

The 20-221 is cute as heck as well...

20's are a blast..!

cale
 
My 20BR will shoot 33gr Hornadies at over 4400fps and the 139gr Sierras over 4000fps with a 24" barrel. It's easily the best hot rod 204 without getting crazy. It shoots beautifully with H322 and Ramshot Xterminator.
 
Armed in Utah: I "got's" to know!
How, do you, get "faster velocities" from a smaller case using less powder?
I am a big 204 Ruger fan and currently own 5 Varminters in 204 Ruger caliber (and when I say I am a BIG 204 Ruger fan that would be a definite understatement).
If theres a better SIMPLER way to get better velocity/ballistics from a 20 caliber Varminter then I want to know about it.
I remember back decades ago (1964) when other folks mentioned that the then new 225 Winchester would "get 22-250 velocities or faster" with less powder and a smaller case - and we all know that turned out to not be reality.
Folks have tried this exageration from time to time it seems ever since that first situation I witnessed back in 1964.
Therfeore I must ask - are you comparing "hot loads" in the 20 Practical to safe loads in the 204 Ruger to achieve your contention, by any chance?
Many folks try this tactic but I prefer not to stretch things in that manner.
Same bullet, similar pressures I contend the 204 Ruger would best the 20 Practical - would it not?
Long live the 20 calibers!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
Wapiti: If you want to shoot Prairie Dogs in calm conditions then do what I do.
I camp right on the edge of my intended shooting area and get up early in the morning. Thereby I am shooting Priaire Dogs at first light and for a couple of hours before the sun starts warming the air and the wind begins!
I have had some of my greatets Prairie Dog shooting with the just rising sun still at the horizon and at my back!
No lounging in town in the nice soft motel bed or chasing the waitress at the cafe while eating breakfast in town - I am out and about at first light and enjoying the usually "calm conditions" Prairie Dog shooting!
There is ANOTHER time o'day when the air movement is usually calmish and when most Prairie Dog Hunters are "back in town" eating their dinner at a nice cafe.
Yep, about then you'll find me right in the middle of a Prairie Dog town with my rolling portable shooting stand set up, whackin away at them as the air becomes calmer and calmer the closer it gets to sundown!
During the middle of the day or when all else has failed and the conditions are NOT "calm", I simply roll my portable shooting bench until the wind is either directly in my face or directly at my back and then I commence firing.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
I think the 20 ppc or even a 20 ppc short is one of the most efficient cases.
Not the fastest possible but most efficient.
 
VarmintGuy said:
Armed in Utah: I "got's" to know!
How, do you, get "faster velocities" from a smaller case using less powder?
Click to expand...

Just a wild guess here.....by "as fast" he may just mean that shooting 40's at 3900 is as fast as what a some .204 shooters say they're getting. And "or faster" probably means that 40's at 3900 is faster than what many .204 shooters are getting. The "depending on barrel" should be self explanatory.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ackman: I need more "explanation" than you have tried to produce!
And again review my caveat that clearly defines loads to similar pressures - I won't accept higher pressure loads being compared to standard pressure loads - to do so would be bogus to the max!

Question #1: Are YOU saying that with a smaller case and a smaller charge of powder you can produce "faster velocities"?
A simple yes or no would suffice here.

Question #2: Are you saying barrels from the same maker will make for smaller cases and smaller powder charges producing "faster velocity"?
Again a simple yes or no will suffice here.

Like I say I have learned this lesson MANY times since the 225 Winchester incident, back in 1964, of which, I spoke of before.
Compare comparable pressures or there is no valid comparison.
In other words a "hot load" in a 20 Practical being compared to a normal load in a 204 Ruger is an invalid and useless comparison.

Common sense tells me that the larger powder charge will push the same bullet faster (as in the 22-250 vs. 225!) - or is that sense not correct?

Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
Well vg, you poor guy. I couldn't have made it any simpler. Now here you go demanding again.....always demanding, never seeming to understand. And what Armed in Utah said shouldn't even need explanation. I understand it, if you don't then you just don't.
 
Schilla, sorry about the detour.
A couple friends shoot the 20BR. It's accurate and fast and deadly on prairie dogs. And interestingly enough, it feeds nicely from an unaltered short Savage action. Building a .20 though I'd do either a 20Practical or a 20Vartarg. The 20Practical because I have lots of 223 brass and it'll fit the magazine of a small Sako-size action, the 20Vartarg because I have the reamer.
 
Ackamn: Nothing "poor" about me!
I am just asking you a simple question - that you are unable and unwilling to answer - and, you have placed yourself in a corner you can't get out of.
That's not my problem its yours.
If you can't answer a simple question then don't try to insinuate you know better than ANYONE else in that regard!
I will ask you again - "are you saying that with a smaller case and a smaller charge of powder you can produce "faster velocities"?
Man up there bucko and admit your contention is in error or explain yourself!
Please!
If there is a better way to get "faster velocity" with less powder and a smaller case I (and many others!) would like to know about it.
And while you are evading that, maybe you could show me where I have "demanded" anything of anyone!
Please!
Your description of me never seeming to understand is a very red herring.
Its not a matter of me understanding anything - its a matter of YOU proving something that I contend is unprovable!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
I'll add some more info.....

My two 20 cal's I'm shooting were at one time each had a 204R chambering..they are now my 20 Practical and my 20 Vartarg...both 12 twist/3 groove Pac Nor SS SM tubes...that I screwed into...yes...s/shot Savage actions....the VT ended up just about 24" finished length...std shank w/no taper..MV with 19/322 & moly 40 V max shows 3554 fps....rifle weighs 14# w/glass...brass used is Win 223 & std Rem 221FB...glass is a Weaver 4-14 Tactical.....the PT has a large shank action w/no taper tube...re-finished length of 26"...glass is 6-20 Vortex Viper...Choate Varminters on each one...I guess I got bored with the 204R...the PT load..which is safe in my rifle is 26/H4895..my Chrono measured 3900 during load development...the original 204 bbl clocked 3850 w/moly 40 V's..burning 29.5/BLC which shot best.....apparently the 20PT is a more effiecient case than the 204R....thats my two terrific 20's..Great p/dog removal tools............ :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yeah vg, poor you. Poor pathetic keyboard cowboy you....play the same stupid game over and over. Now Armed in Utah has spelled it out so nobody should have to interpret anything for you this time.

Armed, that's interesting stuff.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
20 Tac

I am a huge fan of the 20 Tactical. To form the brass just run it through the 20 Tactical full length die and load it up.

My formula includes
Brass = IMI
Primers = Remington 7 1/2 or Wolf small rifle magnum
Powder = Hodgdon H4198
Bullets = 32 Grain VMax

My 20 Tac shoots best at 4300 fps. It will cause some major drama on a prairie dog. No doubt my favorite PDog gun.

Adrian
 
20 Tact vs 20 Pract

The reason I went to the PT was I had no dies to purchase....only bushings..same 223 brass....204R Forster BR seater die...nearly the same performance....26 grs of H4895 pushing a moly 40 V max @ 3900 fps...I never used the 32s much...the heavier/higher BC 40 V's hold and carry downrange much better than the 32s..when you flip a p/dog off his mound @ 500 yds using the 20 Vartarg or 20 PT the 20s can be amazing....why 'Big Green' never brought out the 20 Fireball (VT) instead of the 17 FB is my question.....but thats another subject....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top