20 practical barrel length

[leveraction35]

I'm considering having a bolt action built as a dedicated coyote rifle. I'd really like to be in the 18 m" neighborhood so the gun will still be pretty handy with a suppressor on it. Would an 18" 20 practical stunt the cartridge too much?

 

[WanderingGoatie]

I've got a .204 with an 18.5 barrel and it's fast, but could be faster if it wasn't neutered by the length. I have a barrel at a gun smith now to build a 16.5 223 instead of the .20. My decision however is rooted in practicality and not necessarily on the calibers ability with a shorter barrel. I just got sick of going through brass shortages and ammo shortages with anything other than .223 and .308 cartridges and components available. I also feel like it's a small game cartridge that does something a basic .223 can't accomplish. Pdogs, coyotes, targets are taking the same damage with the same shot placement whether it's a lighter .20 vs heavier .223. Screen shot of my last pdog dope chart for some reference.

 

[akdad]

short answer is you will give up some BUT if what you are after is a more compact rifle and that's what you want go for it. Make it for you the way you want

 

[Dean2]

Why do people keep asking this question? The relationship of barrel length to velocity for each cartridge is well known and published in many places. Pretty darn easy to decide if the velocity you can get with X barrel length works for you.

 

[WanderingGoatie]

Why do people keep asking this question? The relationship of barrel length to velocity for each cartridge is well known and published in many places. Pretty darn easy to decide if the velocity you can get with X barrel length works for you.

Yeah but we're gun people. We overthink minute advantages in calibers to distract us from the price tag on a pound of varget.

 

[Ckgworks]

I have a Mauser mini action that I've been beating dead horses about which cartridge to barrel it in......204, 20 practical, 223 etc. It really comes down to what akdad said, what's the gun for? For this it's a light, compact carry gun, when I add in ammo availability and a short barrel 223 is probably the best answer. But, then I start thinking.......

 

[K9TXS]

I'm not too worried about velocity since I only shoot out to 400 yards on PD's. This is all I hunt anymore with the exception of a coyote that may wander in. With a 15" barrel and 40 grain VMax, I'm getting 2950 FPS out of my 20P.

 

[akdad]

I have a Mauser mini action that I've been beating dead horses about which cartridge to barrel it in......204, 20 practical, 223 etc. It really comes down to what akdad said, what's the gun for? For this it's a light, compact carry gun, when I add in ammo availability and a short barrel 223 is probably the best answer. But, then I start thinking.......

i really want a 20 practical but i made the made the mistake of adding up the whole cost, and then realized the bullets cost would actually go up from cheap .22. I thought about that or just go shoot PDs with the 223s I already owned. Sad to say logic won. On the bright side I had gotten out quite a few times this spring so far.