20 PPC vs. 22 PPC?

[PSween]

I have a Howa mini with PPC bolt face that I'd like to build into a bench style varmint/target rifle. Planning a 27" barrel in one of the above PPC chamberings. The 20 obviously shoots flatter at the shorter ranges, but the 22 using heavier bullets can get what looks like significantly less wind drift and huge advantage in bullets available. Planning to shoot 39-50 gn in the 20, would probably focus on 60-75 gn in the 22. With good rangefinders and scope reticals now, is the flatter shooting really much advantage? I have 17 stuff for the under 300 yd. This new build would be for the 400-600ish range. What says the collective, 20 or 22?

Patrick

[L.Sherm]

I would go 9 twist 20 cal and Berger 55's.
if 400-600 is your goal.Buy enough for the barrel and your all set.
You wanna little more go 20PPCAI

[PSween]

Thanks, it was my understanding that a 9 twist wouldn't handle the 55s, but if a 9 or 8.5 will, that gets more interesting. I am planning to go with a pre- chambered Preferred barrel and they only offer 8.5 or 11 twist in the 20. More options in 22, plus many more bullet choices for the 22 as well. 55 Bergers in 20 look to have a BC around .350, while a 75 in 22 has .420. So even though it can't be pushed nearly as fast drift should be significantly less. Lots to consider!

[L.Sherm]

YTrust me and plenty of others a 9 twist is what you want.
Theres a few that shoot them in competition and the 9 is better.
Don't always believe numbers either just like the target wins every time.
If you want to believe numbers the 20 cal 55 actually is 3" better in drop to 600 vrs the 75 and is only about 3.5" difference at 600 in a 10mph wind. Thats a tough call at 600 without sighters or wind flags

[flyrod]

I think the howa would be a great combination with the 22PPC. A couple years back MDT was even going to make 2.5" 10-round magazines that would have been great in the "precision rifle" matches I enjoy going to. They never made the magazines and I ended up building a 223 WSSM on a M7.

The 20 might be more fun at short range but at longer range it will be harder to make hits. You can run the numbers yourself with the bullets you want to use but the higher BC of the 22 will do better in the wind vs the 20, and like you say gravity is predictable and range finders are pretty good now. I have no problems spotting hits at range with 90gr 22cal bullets in the WSSM and I have a lot of other bullet options in 22cal.

Either way, enjoy the project and let us know how it goes!

[410gauge]

My opinion. Sherm is on the money! The 20BR (I've buiit several over the years)...all with the 1:9 twist, is ideal. It will easily make 600 yd shots on Sage Rats and 7-800 yds on PD's. All of mine have been built for the Berger 55gr Match Boattail. They are extremely accurate (groups of 1 1/2" at 500 yds). That bullet in the 20/250 will make a 1000yds+, (bullet performance is a different story). It handles the wind really well in my experience. I've had a couple of 20 PPC's and one 22 PPC. Both are excellent. I've always shot the Sierra 39 gr and 40 gr V-Max in the 20 PPC. It's super accurate and takes both GS's or PD's out to 600 yds effectively. Never tried the 55 gr Berger in the 20PPC...but should have...Lol! I also built a .20 cal off the 223WSSM case. Worse idea I ever had for a wildcat!! To many problems to even talk about. Best of luck on your decision.

[FastPPC]

I'm with Sherm. I shoot a 22 PPC and a 20 PPC. While both are accurate, the 55 gr Berger 20 cal has a definite edge for long distance. My 20 PPC shoots 55's @ 3450 fps with a 9 twist barrel. Just built a 20 Nosler with a 9 twist barrel that shoots 55's lights out as well.

[flyrod]

I think a few guys have put 224 Valkyrie barrels on the howa mini with good results. This would be similar to 22 PPC but you can get factory ammo loaded with good long range bullets.

There are several options available now in this class. I think berger has an 85gr, there's an 85gr RDF, 88gr ELD, stuff from sierra, etc. These would all do better than 20cal for long range.

[Gabe221]

Originally Posted by flyrod

I think a few guys have put 224 Valkyrie barrels on the howa mini with good results. This would be similar to 22 PPC but you can get factory ammo loaded with good long range bullets.

There are several options available now in this class. I think berger has an 85gr, there's an 85gr RDF, 88gr ELD, stuff from sierra, etc. These would all do better than 20cal for long range.

Check the ballistics on the 20 cal 55gr vs a 85gr whatever…

[17VLD]

I really like my 20 Dasher with 55s but since you are using a ppc boltface I would really think a 20 Grendel, 20 Blitz, or 20 Grinch would be a ton of fun.
Less recoil than big 22 caliber bullets and if you use the 55 Berger perhaps one day it will get back into normal production.

Matt