Easy to shoot varmint cartridge
- Thread starter jrock
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
Lone Hunter
Well-Known Member
If you were going for budget and availability I would go .223 You can get brass 1x fired , .22-250 more expensive had to find .220 almost impossible .204 you can but pricey . .223 is an accurate caliber and very easy to reload for. I like the .22-250 the best but nothing wrong with the .223 at all. That would be my choice.
Dad and I just went threw 6,000 rounds of 20 practical in three weekend ground squirrel shoots, both of us shooting Savage actions with Shilen 26" barrels. I took extra rifles, a couple 223rem bolt guns and an AR15. I shot them all but got the most enjoyment out of the 20 practicals, in my opinion the 223s where no fun, period, next to the little 20 cal 32 grain V-Max @4200FPS! Hits on ground squirrels where easy out to 400 yrds, even in heavy wind. Longest shots where at 600 where I took down 4 of the little critters but defiantly at the far end of the range limits.
The accuracy is unreal with these guns and the lack of recoil allows you to spot your hits at any range. The ability of these 20 cal bullets to pop the little ground squirrels was awesome.
My stock Savage 12BVSS 223rem shoots very small groups too but...... I like the 20s!
When loading 6 thousand rounds my wallet appreciated the 25-26 grains loads of the 20 or 223 vs. the 35 grain loads of the 22-250s
Forming the 20 practical brass is easy! I take all that spent 223rem brass and one push into a CH-4d 20-223 FL die and VOLIA! a 20 practical ready to load!
I am considering selling my 223s simply to buy more 20 practical barrels. All though shooting single shot the 20s never got all that hot. Must have about 3-4000 rounds down the tube now and accuracy is still amazing.
BT
The accuracy is unreal with these guns and the lack of recoil allows you to spot your hits at any range. The ability of these 20 cal bullets to pop the little ground squirrels was awesome.
My stock Savage 12BVSS 223rem shoots very small groups too but...... I like the 20s!
When loading 6 thousand rounds my wallet appreciated the 25-26 grains loads of the 20 or 223 vs. the 35 grain loads of the 22-250s
Forming the 20 practical brass is easy! I take all that spent 223rem brass and one push into a CH-4d 20-223 FL die and VOLIA! a 20 practical ready to load!
I am considering selling my 223s simply to buy more 20 practical barrels. All though shooting single shot the 20s never got all that hot. Must have about 3-4000 rounds down the tube now and accuracy is still amazing.
BT
Easy to shoot?
I'd pick a "20" then if you want a laser without kick.
I have a bunch of cartridges I hunt with.
.22 Hornet, .204 Ruger, .223 bunches of them , 22-250, 243 Win. 25-06 .... three of them
I also have Savage barrels in .220 Swift and .22-243 AI 40 that I have yet to mount up .........
............ so I run the gamout ..........
In my case, I get plenty of .204 Hornady once fired from a friend that is paid to hunt predators and has no time to handload ....... he has the stuff and the experience but not the hours to get it done. The "dept." buys his ammo.
If I did not have a source for my .204's .......... I'd be all over the .20 Practical ...... one pass and a .223 is converted.
I do like the .223 for the simple fact that you can find ammo or components about anywhere and anytime........... and it's most certainly easy to shoot as well.
I also like the heavier .22's ...... and .243/6mm's ...... and the .25-06 ........ but as you step up in power ......... you are inviting more recoil. It's pretty benign with the .22-250 but gets right with it in the "6's" and most definitely with the .25-06.
Enjoy what ever you pick!
Three 44s
I'd pick a "20" then if you want a laser without kick.
I have a bunch of cartridges I hunt with.
.22 Hornet, .204 Ruger, .223 bunches of them , 22-250, 243 Win. 25-06 .... three of them
I also have Savage barrels in .220 Swift and .22-243 AI 40 that I have yet to mount up .........
............ so I run the gamout ..........
In my case, I get plenty of .204 Hornady once fired from a friend that is paid to hunt predators and has no time to handload ....... he has the stuff and the experience but not the hours to get it done. The "dept." buys his ammo.
If I did not have a source for my .204's .......... I'd be all over the .20 Practical ...... one pass and a .223 is converted.
I do like the .223 for the simple fact that you can find ammo or components about anywhere and anytime........... and it's most certainly easy to shoot as well.
I also like the heavier .22's ...... and .243/6mm's ...... and the .25-06 ........ but as you step up in power ......... you are inviting more recoil. It's pretty benign with the .22-250 but gets right with it in the "6's" and most definitely with the .25-06.
Enjoy what ever you pick!
Three 44s
The 20's are one of our biggest sellers to the squirrel/prairie poodle crowd and for good reason, they flat out rock! You can see your hit, recoil is not there and in my experiance they don't tend to be finicky with the load. Best part is they make a huge mess out of any furball. The Calhoon double hollow point is a fantastic bullet in the 204 as well, very explosive! 
Chris
Benchmark Barrels
Chris
Benchmark Barrels
The 20's are one of our biggest sellers to the squirrel/prairie poodle crowd and for good reason, they flat out rock! You can see your hit, recoil is not there and in my experiance they don't tend to be finicky with the load. Best part is they make a huge mess out of any furball. The Calhoon double hollow point is a fantastic bullet in the 204 as well, very explosive!
Chris
Benchmark Barrels
I wonder if that confirms the 20's are barrel burners? I went to a local sporting goods stores to look at the .204 and the first comment the guys behind the gun counter made were that they were barrel burners and guys were shooting them out fast. Noticed on .204 forums that accuracy starts dropping off after 1500 rounds. I don't see much difference in powder capacity between the .223 and .204 and thought throat erosion was mostly caused by the hot gasses more than the velocity part even though they are pretty close in that category as well.
I think Benchmark sells a lot of 20s because they are popular, not because they burn out. I have aver 4,000 rounds down my 20 practical barrel and accuracy is still awesome!
BT
p.s. max loads with 323 grain at 4200fps too!
BT
p.s. max loads with 323 grain at 4200fps too!
I shoot and watch others shoot thousands of rounds a year at varmints. Count me in the .20 crowd. The primary reasons are: trajectory, recoil, reload cost and barrel heat. After 300 rounds, I was beginning to worry about the barrel on my Cooper M21 in .204. The range proved it wasn't a problem--about 3/4 inch (three shot) groups at 200 yards. The Practical should be slightly better. There's a reason so many people are putting .20 cal barrels on their rifles but I don't think it's because they are burning them out. lightbulb But, that said, you won't go far wrong with either a .204 or the .223. The will both work awesome.
I love my 22-250, it's crazy accurate and the 55gr Game Kings I shoot aren't to bad in the wind. It's a Savage FVSS in a Stockade Elk Stalker stock. The only thing I'd change would be a 1-8 or 9 twist instead of the 1-12 it has. I'd like to load some 60-65gr pills just to see if it will shoot them.
Rogue Hunter
Well-Known Member
I've been shooting a .20 BR this year and loving it. 55 Gr Berger Match Varmint bullet cheats the wind nearly as good as the heavier 6 mm bullets. -Have killed several rock chucks over 700 with it. -Not a common cartridge, and components are a little pricey, but well worth it too me
-Mike
-Mike
Tabascoman79
Member
Why not go custom? I have a 22/6mm that I run 75 gr amax at 3860 with. My 100 yard zero is 3" low at 400 and 5" low at 500. It's a bit mor price as far as components but it sure is fun. I took it out today and started working a slower load just so I don't kill the barrel in 1000 rounds
