Shooters of 17cal AND 20cal

[SS427]

Start with a .20 VarTarg. Good chance you won't want a .17 after you have it for a while. It sure cured my desire for a .17 Fireball.

The advice of not having a 17, 20 and a 22 caliber built on the same case is valid. To easy to get things confused while reloading and shooting.

[GLWenzl]

I like over lap and don't mind duplicates... But here's my 2cents. I have an AR in a 17 Rem and one in a 20 Practical (and also a 223). If I was to do it over I would probably go with a 17 & 20 practical. One Hornady die will work for all three calibers.

The 20 would be 10 or 11 twist for the 40 gr vmax.
The 17 would be for the 25 gr vmax. And the 223 is for the 75 gr vmax.

Yes there's some overlap but you have a nice flat shooting 17, a better BC 20 for some longer range and the 223 for those windy long range shots.

But for you a 20 practical could do both with the 32s and 40s if you don't mind rezero'n you scope all the time.

A 17 hornet capacity case would be pretty cool for the 20 gr pills.

http://www.saubier.com/forum/showthread.php?p=225595

You can down load a bigger case but...

[rflshtr]

I am very happy with a 17 Hornet and a 20 Vartarg for the prairie dog shooting I do out to 350+ yards.

[rickiesrevenge]

I think a 17AH and 20BR would be my choices.

Aaron

[georgeld]

First, welcome to the board.
Seems like every month or two another newbie comes along asking the
very same questions with almost the same use in mind. Just do a bit of searching and you'll get all the answers much quicker just by reading the past replies.

You sure don't have any need for a 6mm for coyotes or smaller under 300yds.
Most any .17 will handle those needs, if not, or desire gets in the way, a .20 will fix those easy.

Good luck and have fun.

[trotterlg]

I have a 17-204, a 20BR and a 20 Swift. The 17-204 and 20 Swift are my favorites, the 20 BR is OK, but feeding is a really big problem, or ejecting, my 20 BR Savage will feed but ejecting is little problem. I would say, unless you are going to be shooting PD's go with the fastest thing you can build, and a 17-204 or a 20 Swift is probably at the upper limit of both the 17's an 20's. Larry

[Bodei]

Lots of factory offerings in 17 hornet and .204R, why not start there? You're not shooting high volume varmints, but if you do these will still work. I have a CZ in 17 and Howa in .204 and can recommend both highly. I do shoot my .20 VT much more than the 204 now, lots of fps for 1/3 less powder.

[HoosierChuck]

.......Personal preference mostly. I'm simply looking for two center fire cartridges that compliment each other in the 17 and 20 cal family.

I'm basing the 17 and the 20 on speaking with hunters of small to medium sized game. I've received numerous comments about really needing two cartridges for the somewhat broad range of game that I'm hunting....crow/fox/squirrel to coyote. I've been warned numerous times by reputable hunters that a good crow/fox rifle isn't necessarily a good coyote rifle.

Will a 20 cal take care of all the above mentioned? I'm most certain it will, but I don't want to unnecessarily turn a fox, crow, squirrel or rabbit inside out with shorter shots.

Thank you

Originally Posted by Bodei

Lots of factory offerings in 17 hornet and .204R, why not start there? You're not shooting high volume varmints, but if you do these will still work. I have a CZ in 17 and Howa in .204 and can recommend both highly. I do shoot my .20 VT much more than the 204 now, lots of fps for 1/3 less powder.

[charlesasmith]

You may want to get info from members RE: bullet preference for saving hides and/or meat if that is what you are after. For example, the 17 cal 25 gr V-Max is more explosive compared to the Hornady 25 gr HP. I do not have any info RE: the 20 cal bullet selections.

Chuck

[stubblejumper]

It depends on your usage. If you intend to shoot ground squirrels and prairie dogs with sustained firing, the 17 Hornet would be my choice, with a 20 Tactical for Coyotes and such.
Then again, I have the 17Hornet,17Fireball, 20 vartarg, and the 20 Tactical.