Short barrel 20 practical build?

Coyotejunki

Coyotejunki

Well-known member
I am in the process of a lightweight Coyote rifle in 20 Prac. I am debating what the difference between a 16.5" barrel compared to an 18" barrel would be. Mostly for weight and maneuverability. Any of you shoot a short barrel 20? What are your experiences?
 
Down to 18" the velocity drop isn't too bad, but after 18" it really drops.

I was thinking about cutting one to 16.5" to run suppressed, but after seen this chart I'm stopping at 18"
 
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I decided I'm to old to invest in supressors and built my 20P bolt gun at 21"
 
I built a 20p upper, ordered a light weight 22" threaded from BHW. Even with the Sig 556 suppressor it is still lighter than some of my bolt guns. Without the suppressor, don't really notice it on my shoulder.
 
Originally Posted By: AWSI decided I'm to old to invest in supressors and built my 20P bolt gun at 21"

If I wasn't going to try the suppressor, I would have got a Fieldcarft with the 21" unthreaded barrel. I think 21" is the perfect length.
 
I chopped my .20-250 to 19" when I had it threaded a few years ago. With it, lost a hair over 40 fps for every inch that was chopped. Ended up 245 fps slower than it had been at 25" with the same load. But it still outruns the .204R
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- DAA
 
Yea Dave, 30-40 fps per inch is about what I was guessing. This is going to be a beater, lightweight calling rifle. Probably going to put a little VX 2-8 Leupy on it. I like to call them in close. Sometimes I have to shoot them way out there, long range stuff, you know 100-150 yards.
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It should still out run the 20 VarTarg.
 
My 20 Practical has a 1.5-6x40ish Meopta on it, I like them close also but can get out a few hundred if needed.
 
I'm planning on rebarreling one of my Kimber Montana 223's to a 20 cal. Was planning on a 204R, but also have considered a 20 Vartarg. My buddy and his dad have several Vartargs and also 204's in 24" barreled praire dog guns and the Vartarg is only 100-150 FPS slower than the 204's with 32 grainers. We were stunned how close the Vartarg was to the 204 when we chronographed them.

I am planning on a short threaded barrel so I can run a suppressor and am wondering how close they would be to each other in an 18" barrel. Will the spread be bigger in the short barrel or will they be even closer since the Vartarg is so efficient and the 204 won't have the barrel length to exploit the larger amount of powder?
 
They'll be closer.

Chopped 6" off a .17 Mach IV, from 24" to 18" and lost 200 fps. Compared to losing 240 fps taking 6" off a .20-250 from 25" to 19".

The Mach IV isn't very heavy, built on a 700SA in a factory Classic stock (started life as a factory Classic .221), with a Lilja #4. At 18" it still moves 20 Vmax at 4k and with TBAC U7 is about like shooting a pellet gun. A bit less recoil than a springer air rifle, actually. Too much fun on colony varmints. Fun jackrabbit popper too.

- DAA
 
Overbore is a term the internet haters like to use. I prefer low expansion ratio
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- DAA
 
Originally Posted By: DAAOverbore is a term the internet haters like to use. I prefer low expansion ratio
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- DAA

LOL
 
I cut two barrels down when I threaded for a Ultra 7 Suppressor. First was my .22-250 Ackley Improved started out at 26” and was running 60 grain Bergers at 3800 fps. Cut and Threaded it to 21”, tweaked the load a bit and it’s now running around 3700 fps Suppressed. My Other rifle I cut down is Factory CZ 527 .204 Ruger had a 22” barrel when I bought it, I had it cut and threaded to 20”. When I first bought it I was shooting 35 grain Bergers at right at 3900 fps. After I cut it and tweaked the loads I’m at about 3850 fps with the 35 grain Bergers Suppressed. Haven’t even noticed different in how they kill Coyotes. Just less recoil, and easy on the ears.....
 
Originally Posted By: DAAThey'll be closer.

Chopped 6" off a .17 Mach IV, from 24" to 18" and lost 200 fps. Compared to losing 240 fps taking 6" off a .20-250 from 25" to 19".

The Mach IV isn't very heavy, built on a 700SA in a factory Classic stock (started life as a factory Classic .221), with a Lilja #4. At 18" it still moves 20 Vmax at 4k and with TBAC U7 is about like shooting a pellet gun. A bit less recoil than a springer air rifle, actually. Too much fun on colony varmints. Fun jackrabbit popper too.

- DAA I am having a little CZ527 sporter re-chambered from 17 Hornet to 17FB, at the smith right now, should get it back within a couple weeks. I have a 20 Vartarg with a light varmint barrel That is unbelievably accurite, hoping to use this summer on colony critters.
 
Originally Posted By: DAAThey'll be closer.

Chopped 6" off a .17 Mach IV, from 24" to 18" and lost 200 fps. Compared to losing 240 fps taking 6" off a .20-250 from 25" to 19".

The Mach IV isn't very heavy, built on a 700SA in a factory Classic stock (started life as a factory Classic .221), with a Lilja #4. At 18" it still moves 20 Vmax at 4k and with TBAC U7 is about like shooting a pellet gun. A bit less recoil than a springer air rifle, actually. Too much fun on colony varmints. Fun jackrabbit popper too.

- DAA

That's what I figured. The reamer used to build my buddies Vartarg has a short throat and was designed around the idea of shooting the 32 grainers. Our other buddy has a short throat match 204 reamer so I'm pretty set whichever way I choose. I'm leaning more toward the 204. I already have brass and dies, and more horsepower is always good.
 
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