Expanding the case head is definitely doable, my brother is my smith and will work cheap enough that I'm not super concerned about extra work. That being said most of the cartridges that seem like good options are pretty much .221 based anyhow. The .20 vartarg seems like a fun set up, enough extra weight in the bullet to get some penetration with the right bullet, while not being a barrel burner like the .204 ruger, or pushing bullets at pelt shredding velocity. it shouldnt require as long of a barrel as the ruger either.
Several of the hotter .17s look like good choices .17 fireball .17 rem ect. but as of right now research seems to indicate the .17s are more fouling prone, and often times harder on throats while being ballistically pretty close to the vartarg
I get that the .223 is a great round, that's why I already own one. but if having a gun that's good enough was the point no one would ever buy more than a shotgun a pistol and maybe 2 rifles and the only rifle cartridges available would be .223 and 7 mag. I am not considering building a new gun because I need one, but because I like trying new stuff. If I was out looking for my first or only predator rifle I would seriously consider the .223 maybe opting for .220 swift and taking my chances with hides. I believe many of these other smaller bore cartridges are perfectly capable of producing ethical clean kills in the same manner as the
.223 while potentially proving more well suited in some situations. Especially given my comparitavely short range hunting style. If the only difference proves to be that I find myself able to b.s. about my .17 fireball, and I get to spend a few dozen hours working up new loads for a fun little gun, that's enough for me.
I am not a fan of bulky rifles, my hunting style takes me a long way in stupid places and through brush I have no buisiness being in. As such I am a fan of more compact rifles. Do any of you have experience with .20 vartarg or .17 fireballesque cartridges on 20 inch or less barrels? Were you still satisfied with velocities? Do you remember any of the numbers, bullet weight, barrel length, muzzle velocity ect?
