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Anyone have/shoot a 20 Practical?
toad67
Member Posts: 13,009 ✭✭✭✭
Have a new Remington 700 Varmint in 204 Ruger that am thinking about re barreling to 20 Practical. Anyone have a 20P? If so, thoughts on the chambering and its capabilities?
Comments
Never heard of a 20 practical?? What is wrong with the 204 to make you want to re barrel it??? What is the 20 Practical necked down to/from???
.223, just another flash in the pan
20P is just a standard 223 necked down to 20 caliber. It is slower than the 204 by about 100 fps or so, but uses about 5 grains less powder. Recoil is less, along with muzzle blast and less free bore for throat erosion.
Not for me
Not quite, it's .204 diameter. Please explain your experience with it, I'd like to know your thoughts on how it shot and what it was...
It is a .223 case necked to .20. I was just answering Oakie's question.
I have a 204 Ruger, Remington 7. Shoots like a laser.
Also shoot 220 swift, it is a laser.
Agree they shoot like a laser. I just don't care for the bark of the 204R. If I can get close to the same ballistics with less recoil and powder, then I'd be willing to try one. Plus, I'm looking for something new to play with. The snow is finally starting to melt and the creatures should be popping out soon....
https://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek061/
Years ago, before the 204, I barreled one for a customer.
Reported it was accurate, great on prairie dogs and coyotes.
The reason as I remember was availability of brass.
There was also the 20 tactical, pushed the shoulder back a bit.
Animal or target usually can't tell the difference of a 100 fps.
I've a Rem M7 S/S in 204R(for yote calling.....but haven't taken it out yet). Then there's the Nesika 20PPC(built for pds.......but have only fire-formed cases so far). And.....a beautiful Cooper 20VT that I bought from a friend.....unfired so far.
But......my Searcy actioned 20BR terrorizes pds WAY past 500 yards, with the Berger 50LTB @3950fps.......pic below.
I'm still trying to find out which is better, the 9MM or the .45 A.C.P.
Soooooo, my question is: If the 700 is new, why not try it first? In my opinion you have a 30-30 .32 Special delima. Which is better??? They are nearly identical.
I guess it's not really new, it has about 100 down the pipe. It's just so obnoxious for what it is. If I can do the same thing with less powder, why not?
Doesn't sound like somethin' you'd want to hunt griz with, pilgrim.
Nope, but the p-dogs will catch hell....
Since you asked......The cost of rebarreling, new dies and cases will buy an awful lot of powder. So, saving a few grains of powder doesn't justify the expense. On the other hand, go for it or you will never know........
Now I am really intrigued!!!! I love that odd caliber stuff. I like to neck stuff down and especially the lower calibers . My next rifle is going to be a 220 swift. I always wanted one. Once Rocky got me reloading the 22 Hornet the "RIGHT" way, my interest peaked. I then started reloading for my 218 bee and 219 Zipper. I then added a 22 Jet. This was about 15 or so years ago.
I guess I like the smaller calibers and odd ball stuff, because I get more enjoyment out of them, rather then my shoulder taking a pounding all day with an M1 Garand or my 308 and so on. I can sit all day and comfortably shoot and enjoy myself. Now my son, he is another story. He like all those large calibers. Now if I could only get him to reload his own stuff, instead of shooting up all my factory ammo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me know what you decide to do and if you like the outcome. If so, I might try it also. Just something else to play with. Oakie
Oakie.......
Should you become interested in centerfire 17 calibers.....give me a holler. They've always had my interest.
Here's a pic of one of my Winslow/Sako 17-222 rifles.
It would go good with my 17 Fireball and 17 Mach IV.
I had the Remington 700 CDL SF 17 fireball. I shot it twice and sold it. The reason I sold it is, I couldn't shoot it with the slightest wind at all. It was all over the place. I bought it to shoot groundhogs at my mountain house. I ended up buying a Marlin 1894cb 218 bee with the proceeds. Now I wish I would have been more patient and spent some time reloading it. Oh well.
Oakie......
I would suspect something else was going on........as a 25 grainer at about 3800fps has much better ballistics than many think........old wives tales not withstanding. Heck.......in years past, more than a few people at the range thought the "17" I was going to shoot, was a pellet rifle. 😄
toad67.......
Did you say 17 Mach IV ????......here ya go. 😉
It's a 17 Mach IV that I bought from a friend in the late 1980's. It originally was an H&R Model 317 in 17-223.......that was re-barrelled with a Shilen tube, and refinished.
I had a .17 Remington and at ranges especially above 250 yards I experienced the same thing. I LOVED the .17 Rem on prairie dogs. You could shoot and keep the scope on target and watch the impact. Gusty winds in Kansas and Oklahoma rendered it so useless that I'd grab my .22lr instead. Now, that isn't quite fair to say, but due to the lower muzzle report of the .22lr, the 'dogs popped up closer and didn't stay down as long so it was just as effective. I still preferred the long shots though. There is nothing better than a 400 yard shot with the .220 Swift.
Regarding the original topic, if the OP reloads, I'm sure a load can be found that can reduce it down to achieve the same results with what you already have. Plus, then you'd still have the ability to go to the .204 Ruger when desired.
I would be surprised if you noticed an appreciable difference in recoil or bark unless you're shooting hundreds of rounds back to back of each caliber.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain