20 vartarg

[triggerfingers]

Thanks Rick..... I will email P/N. Will use it more as a single shot. Again, thanks for the help.

[triggerfingers]

Run into my first issue of this kind...I loaded a dummy round to Sierra max coal of 1.855 and took it down another .005 to be sure and tried to chamber it. The bolt would not go down not even a little bit. Tried it both with Nosler and Lapua brass and same results. Then I tried just a resized case and same thing. My cases are .003 short of max. Any thoughts or some I’m missing?

[Rick in Oregon]

If P/N sent a fired case with the barreled action, take that case and measure the headspace datum. Then take a case you want to use in the rifle and measure the headspace datum on that case. If there is a difference, it is the amount of correction you need on your dies to get a new case to chamber. It is most likely just a die adjustment needed.

But you need a fired case from that chamber in order to set up your equipment properly. I've found the best method to measure headspace datum is with the Hornady Headspace Tool. It comes with four inserts that will fit most CF cartridges we use. I could give you my headspace datum measurements, but it would be meaningless in your chamber, as my chamber and yours were cut with two different reamers. Also keep in mind that overall length is not the issue here, it's the shoulder datum, so trimming or seating short of max is meaningless.

I know you want to get your rifle out in the field as soon as possible, but without the headspace datum, you're pretty much in the dark. The Hornady tool is worth it's weight in gold.

[triggerfingers]

I doubled checked the box and the packing material, but did not find a fired case. I will call Pac-Nor in the morning and see what they say about the case. Thanks

[skipper]

When I had my custom 204 built the gunsmith used the cut off portion of the barrel and my custom chamber reamer to make a duplicate chamber to use as a reloading gauge.

[Rick in Oregon]

When I had my custom 204 built the gunsmith used the cut off portion of the barrel and my custom chamber reamer to make a duplicate chamber to use as a reloading gauge.

If you ask, P/N will supply that chambered barrel stub when they send back the finished work. All my P/N barreled rifles came with one. Sure makes it easy to figure out seating depth and "chase" the rifling as the throat wears over time.

The OP tells me he got the dimensions from P/N for his shoulder datum, and all is well now. His rifle is now "rat ready".

[triggerfingers]

Loaded up some test loads and went out to the range yesterday. Everyone who said I would love this caliber was not wrong. WOW....I could not believe just how little recoil there was. Beyond easy to see your hits or misses. Just messing around with a barrel break-in load it shot this 4 shot group. Again, thank you to everyone’s help in this project.

[skipper]

Looks like you might be a force to be reckoned with during the 2019 Five-N-Dime Challenge

[Bill K]

Thought the same.. And now you see none of us were leading you on re: the sweet and kind 20 VT. It is one very fine and fun cartridge, in so many ways. Bill K

[triggerfingers]

Looks like I will have to get out the Cooper then.

[triggerfingers]

Best 5 shot group so far using RL-7......measures right at .2 moa at 100 yards.
Love it!

[terrace]

Got to love it when a plan comes together

[skipper]

That's some nice shooting there TF.

[Rick in Oregon]

Nice! Another 20VT convert. See what we've been telling you all for so long?

Wonder how long it's going to take before a factory decides to make the 20VT a standard offering besides Cooper?

[Bill K]

I wonder the same Rick. Why Rem, Savage or CZ has not brought one out really makes me wonder if they are seeing/reading all the reports regarding the 20 Vartarg. Surely if they have, they would see that it would be a fantastic sales item, in my opinion. Maybe someday. Bill K