20 Vartarg

Yes
20 VarTarg built by Bob Green
Trued Rem Mod 7
Rock Creek 24" 11 twist #3 contour SSM
Jewell trigger
Mcmillan Hunter stock
Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 with VHR

20VarTarg010_zps81b5c9e4.jpg


It's one of the most accurate rifles I have for a walking varminter I've killed many groundhogs past 400 yrds
 
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Yes, 1 is a Cooper 38 Varminter. The other 2 are on a Savage actions that I set up as single shots as they don't feed and extract very well. The 20vt is a great cartridge, little powder and almost no recoil with great barrel life. I have killed groundhogs at just over 500 yds with mine. Most well say go with 11 twist over the normal 12 twist as some guys couldn't get the 39 or 40 gr bullets to shoot in a 12 twist. Mine are all 12's and I have not had any issues.
 
A friend has two and waiting on a light weight barrel for a third one. I guess he likes them as well. I've been kicking around the idea myself. His third barrel will be an 11 twist also.
 
Thinking about sending my 788 in 222 to Douglas and having them rebarrel it to 20VT. I got so much in it already, whats a few more bucks? But I do like the 222 so its a hard decision. What to do, what to do????
 
Skip the 20VT and have them build you a 20-222. You can neck down your 222 brass and if you have 222 bushing dies, they'll work too.

A 20-222 will feed better, eject with no issues, shoot a little faster, and you can use a lot of what you already have.

I love my 20-222.
 
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+1 on the 20/222, 20/223 makes more sense to me. If you use lapua 222 brass, reamer has to be built around that slightly larger web.
 
I had Douglas put 20vt barrel on CZ 527 this winter. Went with 22" 11 twist #5 contour. Nice light rifle. Shoots very small. No recoil. I run 40 vmax @ 3500.
 
Originally Posted By: tj66I had Douglas put 20vt barrel on CZ 527 this winter. Went with 22" 11 twist #5 contour. Nice light rifle. Shoots very small. No recoil. I run 40 vmax @ 3500.


#5 is about .700 at the muzzle isn't it? Thats about what I would like and the same twist. I think it would make a nice rifle. Not to heavy but not a pencil barrel either.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogWith the 20-222, what are you using for dies?

I use Redding's 222 competition bushing three die set but those are just the dies I prefer, there are others you could use too.

If you already have a 222 FL die and a 222 bullet seating die all you would need is a 222 bushing die, Redding part#71109, with the appropriate bushing. I don't recall what size bushing I'm using with 222 Lapua brass to make my 20-222 but I can look if you'd like to know.

If you don't already have any 222 dies the Redding 222 three die premium set, Redding part #68109, would also be a good set for less money than their Competition three die set.

I neck them down in one pass and I'm running 1-1.5 thou neck tension.
 
I have 222 RCBS dies. Do you seat bullets with the 222 seater dies without any problems? I would need a bushing die to resize though. I need to call Douglas and see if they can chamber 20-222 first. Then decide if thats the direction I'm going. Then I'll get back to you on bushing size. Thanks!
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogOriginally Posted By: tj66I had Douglas put 20vt barrel on CZ 527 this winter. Went with 22" 11 twist #5 contour. Nice light rifle. Shoots very small. No recoil. I run 40 vmax @ 3500.


#5 is about .700 at the muzzle isn't it? Thats about what I would like and the same twist. I think it would make a nice rifle. Not to heavy but not a pencil barrel either.

Yes. All set ready to go came in @ 9 lbs. So really light compared to what I usually end up at. Lol
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI have 222 RCBS dies. Do you seat bullets with the 222 seater dies without any problems? I would need a bushing die to resize though. I need to call Douglas and see if they can chamber 20-222 first. Then decide if thats the direction I'm going. Then I'll get back to you on bushing size. Thanks!

Yep, I use a 222 seater die for it and no problem at all. I use a 22-250 seater die for my 20-250 and same deal, no issues at all.

All you would need is Reddings bushing only die and you'd be all set.
 
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Well, talked to Douglas this morning and they didn't think they could/would do a 20-222. Guess I'm back to the VarTarg if that's the direction I want to go. Still thinking about how much I'll have invested in the little 788. It would be a neat rifle for sure.
 
There are plenty of "smiths" out there with 20-222 reamers, it's a fairly common cartridge.

Nothing wrong with the 20 Vartarg but it really doesn't do anything better or different than a straight 20-221, except cost more for the dies.

Your 788 will feed and eject a 20-222 with no issues so you should be good with that one but the 221FB case can sometimes be a finicky little sob on actions that were converted and didn't come from the factory as a 17 or 221 FB.
 
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