Have the itch for a new rifle ! At least new to me

[BrianM]

Build or Buy ????
Anyone selling any interesting 17 or 20 caliber rifles ? Seems like I am way too slow to catch any in the classifieds !
Or I could build something . Was thinking an older Sako action or maybe one of the newer custom actions . Any ideas or suggestions ?
A switch barrel maybe ???? Probably would prefer a repeater . Main use would be varmint/predator hunting in Ohio and Pa . Some paper target hunting too .

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated ! Would like to hear any and all opinions .

Thanks !!!!

[Bill K]

If you want to build. Work up a 20 VT or 20 VTT and be happy.
If you want to buy. Purchase a 204Ruger in something like a Tinka or CZ and be happy. Both would serve you well as a varmint rifle. The smaller 20's would not heat as fast, if you were to do a lot of ground squirrel/PD shooting. Just a thought or two for you. Bill K

[L461]

A Sako A1 or L461 in a 17 Mach1V

[rider]

Beg, borrow a 20VT and shoot it before building. The 32 Grain Sierra BK is tops in mine. I have had a 17 fireball and the 20VT has out performed it in my opinion.
Rider

[df06]

I’m with rider above.
I’ve had several built on the small sako action.
Hard to beat the 20 VT in my view.

[drover]

Watch gunsamerica for a Cooper, either Varminter or Classic depending on your tastes. They show up at fairly reasonable prices from time to time - a gently used one would likely be less than building one.

drover

[WyoBull]

I have a very nice older Remington 700 BDL in 17 Remington that I have been thinking about selling that is in excellent condition. If you are interested in it PM me.

[Herb in Pa]

Scratched that itch yesterday (in anticipation of my birthday today) with a Cooper 51 Jackson in 6x47 Remington. Dies and brass on the way, will install
scope this afternoon. Now searching for an appropriate bore guide.[IMG][IMG][/IMG][/IMG]

[barretcreek]

Hate it when I write a reply and don't c&p and the site drops me.

Got a M7 .223 and 700 Swift looking to be re-barreled. .20-222 for one and 22-6mm or 6-06 for the other. But I end up on the Hornady site and pull down their Ballistics calculator and run trajectories out to the county line for the cartridges I'm daydreaming about. The ones based on .416 Rigby brass just really don't overcome my shooting ability on a windy day when it's in the minus teens and Wiley is about to pop the clutch.

My thoughts. Have fun.

[Bayou City Boy]

Originally Posted by rickiesrevenge

I recommended not the 20VT for a couple reasons. He mentioned predator hunting. That to me means a repeater. Not that one cant have a repeater in 20VT but its short and is much more likely to have feeding issues than a longer case. I also see the 20VT in the 32-35gr class case. I want a little heavier bullet. Not that one cannot shoot and kill coyote sized critters with it and have it work, I just prefer more bullet.

Yeah, its easy to build one. All the stuff is on the shelf and there is a bunch of data out there. I'd pick a wildcat where its more of an adventure putting it together! I love my 20JI's and would do another in a heart beat.

Aaron

Same here, Aaron.

Most of my 20 caliber shooting is done with my own hand-swaged 38 grain HP bullet. For me, more bullet means more Omph to make it go fast.

-BCB