Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting 20 Practical

[BIGNASTY]

Any of you shooting guys had experience with the 20 practical. Made from just sizing a 223 case to 20 and reload. The reason I ask is that I was waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for my BOBCAT neighbor to show his head and I was going to remove the same head with a 223 52 gr slug. The BOB must know something is up and it never showed. I'm getting to be a little MORE THAN OBSSEIVE about KILLING him. Any way after waiting for the past day and a half. I got up to go home on the way I ran across Mr Coyote PO as I was I blew his A** away. I'm looking for something a little less destructive on pelts and was wondering about the 20 Cal's. I like the idea of the Practical because of the ease of reloading but have no experience with 20s any help ???



Warren's 4200 FPS "20 Practical"

 

[Nschroeder]

Have you tried the barnes varmit grenade bullets? I have had very good luck with them here in Iowa on coyotes. seldom an exit wound unless its way too close.

Nick

 

[LFarmer]

I love my ruger . 204. Excellent on coyotes. Very little recoil, but very loud at 4000 fps at the muzzle. Very accurate to 300+ yards.

 

[BIGNASTY]

On the yoats I have always used the Hornady SP/SX 55 gr never had to much of a problem when used with a 223 small going in but never an exit. Autopsy after skinning looked like someone ran a blender inside the yoat. But lately the bullet has exit and it's MASSIVE nothing has changed except the local? Ill have to try slowing it down but its not that fast now!!!! I never shoot anything closer than 100 yards and dont even like it that close. Have to get new gun for the BOB"s and Fox looking at the 20 practical







http://www.hornady.com/store/22-Cal-.224-55-gr-SP-SX/

 

[HHhuntitall]

I've had good luck with the 55gr Hornady V-max. Very seldom an exit..... but, for a good fur-getter, I've got a 17HMR that's pretty lethal. I haven't skinned much I've shot with it, but I've shot many, many coons, coyotes, and birds with it, and it works very well with the 17gr Hornady V-max..... They also make a 20gr FMJ that will shoot straight through most small game, only leaving a small hole on both sides... . Great way to impale two prairie dogs at once!!!



The 204 Ruger's I've had are a bit overkill on smaller game... . the exit's are pretty large, but I'm shooting larger 50gr Berger bullets, too... .



Back to your . 20 Practical, I have no idea what the case demensions are... . I've seen the . 20 Tactical, which is only a touch shorter than the . 204 Ruger; both are way larger than bore capacity really needs to be effecient. The cases hold more powder than can be burned in a standard barrel. The . 20BR is much more effecient, and with good powders readily available, would work just as well, with only a small loss of velocity, IMHO, looking at the cartridge designs, and working on my experience of designing wildcat cartridges for various bore sizes. Overall length wouldn't be an issue as it sometimes is in the AR style magazines, which is a bonus with the . 20BR..... I'm currently playing with a . 223WSSM on an AR platform, and liking the results, ineffecient as it is.....



Hmmm, just found this article on the . 20 Practical... . nice read, but looking at the case design, I'm gonna say it's still overkill on powder capacity, IMO. I would think you could have less pelt damage with a FMJ or AP round. But you wouldn't need a new rifle for that, would you?!? :-laf

http://www.6mmbr.com/20Caliber.html

 

[BIGNASTY]

Quote

But you wouldn't need a new rifle for that, would you?!? :-laf



SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH dont say anything like TAHT HH !!!!!! what's wrong with you ???:-laf

 

[ktb]

i really like the 20 cals had a little exp. with the 20 practical in a ar15 first chamber didn't have enough taper so cases wouldn't extract reliably. got a fatter reamer an redid the chamber fixed the problem. with a regular bolt action gun that isn't a problem.

i personally like the 20 ppc can get the 40 grain over 4000fps without much pressure at all and the 32 grain over 4300fps. i did a coyote in with the 32 grain at around 150 yrds opened him up pretty good, tough dog though he still made it about 100 yrs before he piled up.

so to answer your question the 20's are great in my opinion and the 20 practical would be a "practical" choice, but as to saving pelts i think that has more to do with selecting the right bullet.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Its been a long time sense a bullet change for my 223 so I have to get some different kinds and try them. I try to save the pelts some people that FIL knows takes them and makes all kinds of stuff.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Well, the FMJ XM193 military ammo is pretty cheap, not necessarily that accurate..... same for the M855AP ammo... you can easily find 1,000rnds for @$300..... either one would work well for fur, expecially using a head shot, provided your rifle is accurate enough with that ammo. I've got an Olympic AR that would work well out to @ 300yds... .

 

[BIGNASTY]

My gun is a Remington M700 VS Have one in 223 and one in 22-250 the latter needs rebarrel and the 223 is good to go. Had a thing for ground squirrel shooting 22-250 was a RED MIST GUN.