.20 Vartarg

coolhand

coolhand

New member
Hey Guys,
I'm wanting a 20 Vartarg bad. I would love to have one of the Cooper MVT's, but not sure if I want to spend that much. Is there any more economical way to get into this cartridge? I do have an Encore rifle, but don't know anybody who chambers a barrel in this round. I also have a .204 Ruger barrel for the Encore. Could it be rechambered? I also have Remington 700 in 270, could it be rebarreled?
I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks
 
You could get the Ruger rebarreled or the Remington (but the Rem is a long action and the bolt head is the wrong size). The 204 chamber is too long to just cut a new chamber. The barrel would need to be cut back and then a new chamber cut, but it should work, provided that you have enough length to allow it. I am not sure what's involved in getting am Encore rebarreled. Contact a local gunsmith.
 
Buy a cheap used Savage short action for a donor. Having a Savage barrel chambered and installed is a snap. Having a custom barrel made for an Encore will set you back 4 bills plus but you'd get a great tube.
 
I have a Cooper 20 Vartarg and I have several encore custom barrels and one is a 17 Mach IV (17 Fireball). You can have a encore barrel made by www.matchgrademachine.com for about 350. I can say that the Match Grade Machine barrels are incredible, at least the one I have is. I personally think this would be the most economical route. If you don't mind a single shot then you will have a sweet 20 VT.

I think I would rather have the Encore than the Cooper anyway. They are both single shot and my Encore flat shoots and then you don't worry so much about taking them in the field. Another thing about the Cooper is that mine did not even come with sling studs, I have to have them installed.
 
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Originally Posted By: skb2706Buy a cheap used Savage short action for a donor. Having a Savage barrel chambered and installed is a snap. Having a custom barrel made for an Encore will set you back 4 bills plus but you'd get a great tube.

Yep. That is how its done. I just did my first Savage barrel swap last night (10 minutes).

Plan of Action:
Purchase a Stevens chambered in the 223 (same head bolt size as 20 Vartarg). $289.

Buy a barrel from ER Shaw chambered for the Vartarg for $190 (more if you want it fluted).

Buy a Rifle Basix trigger and install it yourself in 15 minutes. $84.

Sell your 223 barrel on Savage Shooters to help finance the cost of the project. $60

The stock??? Depends on how much you want to spend.

Total Cost: $503 plus whatever you want to spend on a stock.


Just an idea. Savage is not the where all end all in the shooting world but they are an option.
 
Their are supposed to be feeding issues out of Savage repeater magazines with a .20 VarTarg. When I was deciding on a barrel for a .20 cal build I ran this by some of the forums and people who had done a VarTarg build advised against it with a Savage, unless single shot. It seems the .221 Fireball, .20 VarTarg & .17 Fireball feed more reliably out of a shorter, single stack magazine. Which may be the reason Savage doesn't offer any of them in factory chamberings.
 
T/C's custom shop is called Fox Ridge and they wiil make you a barrel for your Encore. That was about $300 last I checked, but that was some time ago. The 221 barrel they made for my Contender is a tackdriver.
 
Thanks for all the good ideas. I like the idea of a new barrel for my TC, but I would need a trigger job also. Might still be the most economical way to go. My biggest fear is spending $600 or so on the TC, and still not have a tight shooting rifle. BTW, the prime use for this rig will be Pdogs out to 500 yds.
 
If you have a .223 Browning you could have a new barrel put on it. The removable magazine that I prefer is on a Browning, single stack on the A-bolt, not positive on the x-bolt.
 
IMHO, the 20VT, on PD size targets, is one of the most incredible calibers you could own. I have two of them, admittedly, they are both Coopers.

Without any doubt, the 20VT is my go to gun and that has been the case for almost five years now.

Figure out a way to build one that fits your budget. I can't believe, for a minute, you would ever be sorry.
 
Originally Posted By: wdchuckhuntrTheir are supposed to be feeding issues out of Savage repeater magazines with a .20 VarTarg. When I was deciding on a barrel for a .20 cal build I ran this by some of the forums and people who had done a VarTarg build advised against it with a Savage, unless single shot. It seems the .221 Fireball, .20 VarTarg & .17 Fireball feed more reliably out of a shorter, single stack magazine. Which may be the reason Savage doesn't offer any of them in factory chamberings.


Wow. I went over on Savage Shooters and checked and you are correct. I was planning on starting this project early next year. I am glad to find this out an save myself the headache.
 
Ok, Here's another option. I have a brand new in the box Remington 700 SPS in .270. I should be able to trade it back to the guy I bought it from for the identical gun in 17 Fireball. Couldn't I then easily rebarrel it for the 20 VT? Or could that barrel be rechambered? And, if I rebarreled with a heavier barrel would I then have to restock it?
 
It can't be rechambered the bore diamater is different. A rebarrel would be your only option.

The magazine should work fine.

You may have to open up the barrel channel or restock it.
 
Originally Posted By: claimbusterIMHO, the 20VT, on PD size targets, is one of the most incredible calibers you could own. I have two of them, admittedly, they are both Coopers.

Without any doubt, the 20VT is my go to gun and that has been the case for almost five years now.

Figure out a way to build one that fits your budget. I can't believe, for a minute, you would ever be sorry.

I have friend who is making a 20vartarg AR... drilling out the gas hole 3 thousandths at a time to get the gas hole right in the barrel.... thinks 112 thous is it....
should be a fun gun in the AR.... deadly, accurate and only 18 gr of powder when you go bang.... or in the case of the AR ...bang, bang, bang& bang
 
Find a Rem 700 used in 223, 222, 17 fireball, or 221 fireball and have it rebarreled.

Then you can pick barrel length and contour.
 
Originally Posted By: Tactical .20 The removable magazine that I prefer is on a Browning, single stack on the A-bolt

That's weird.
My A-Bolt magazine is stagger stacked.

IMO,,,, if you want a repeater, get a CZ 527 in 204 and have the barrel set back and re chambered. No need for a new stock or trigger.
For a single shot, the Cooper would be my first choice, but for allot less money a Remington 700 in 204 could also be set back and re chambered, and a single shot follower added. The SPS varmint would be a good choice to get ya started, with tons of after market parts available if you want to upgrade at a later date.
A break action like the Encore is a poor choice for shooting PD's from a bench IMO.

Lots of ways to skin this Cat, but no doubt, worth skinning.

Luck
Charlie
 
Maybe my best bet is to trade my existing 700 SPS for the same gun in 17 Fireball. Then just have it rebarreled in 20 VT. Where is the best place to get a barrel? Also, does anybody know a good gunsmith for the rebarrel job? Thanks
 
If you want a 20 VT repeater, then I would trade it for the 17FB.

I had a new 204 rechambered to 20 VT, but I use it as a single shot.
 
Originally Posted By: coolhandMaybe my best bet is to trade my existing 700 SPS for the same gun in 17 Fireball. Then just have it rebarreled in 20 VT. Where is the best place to get a barrel? Also, does anybody know a good gunsmith for the rebarrel job? Thanks

That'll work since the 17FB has had the bolt mods made to eject the FB sized cases.
Thing is,,, if you want to change the POS stock out to something nice along with re barreling, you'll have close to the cost of a Cooper in it. Of course you'll get some trade in on the SPS but not as much as you spent to start with.

If going that route, ya just might want to keep it as a 17FB and save the cost of re barreling.

Any of the major barrel manufacturers will be fine. Ask your smith which he prefers, because he probably gets a better deal than you will.

I have my rifles re barreled by Pac-Nor using their barrels.
Kevein Weaver or Greg Tannel would also be good choices.
Lots of good smiths out there, just make sure to get references, and actually talk to them.

Luck

Edit; once again,,, you can simply have a CZ in 204 set back and rechambered.
It'll feed and eject fine due to the single stack magazine and CRF. The barrel will more than likely shoot just as well as a custom if you have a nice tight chamber cut and the lead set for the bullet you plan to use.
Just saying
 
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