20BR - Barrel Burner?

R

RAG2

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I'm at the final stages of putting together a 20BR (to complement my 20 TAC), but before I do, I want to make sure it isn't "too" much of a barrel burner. And I know it's all relative, and for competition, any loss in accuracy usually relagates a barrel to scrap. However, I'm looking at the 20BR strickly for varmint eradicating...so a loss of .1 or maybe even .2 over time would be tolerable.

One would think a 20BR would be comparable to the likes of a 22-250 which is notorious for being trash after 1500 rounds (which was my experience too), but there have been reports on other boards of guys getting 3000 or more rounds with no noticable loss in varmint accuracy. If I could get 3000 out of the 20BR with it opening up only .1 or .15", I'd be happy.
 
Quick side note...in addition to the obvious "don't heat up your barrel too much" and "be sure to clean properly", it seems there is more to barrel life than just looking at the powder-to-bore ratio. It seems overall powder burned plays a big part. Shoot, my BAT-actioned Mach IV is 3000 rounds down the road and shooting as good as the day I got 'er, but looking at the powder-to-bore ratio alone, you'd think the Mach IV would burn barrels out at 22-250 pace, but concensus says it has double or even triple the barrel life (I'm leaning toward triple based upon first-hand experience). Anyways, there's probably already been discussion on this topic before, but clearly the volume of powder burned seems to be a more significant barrel-life factor that simply the powder-to-bore ratio. IF the 6BR is known for going 5,000 rounds, then I'm hoping the 20BR can make it 3,000 or 4,000 without loosing "much" in accuracy. Actually, I feel lucky, as I currently have a 6BR at 6700 rounds and still punching 1's and 2s (with the occational screamer and 3s).
 
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It likely depends on the bullets you're using too. Long and heavy bullets may well be harder on barrels than short and light bullets, especially if you're trying to push the heavy bullets as fast as possible. In the latest issue of PS Kindler has an article on a .20-6.5 Grendel which he says has a capacity about 1.5 gr less than the .20 BR. He plans to use some 55 gr boattails in it for long range varmint shooting. It'll need a 1 in 8" twist he says, and I can't imagine barrels lasting very long in it. Maybe I'm wrong, but it sure seems to me that shoving a long, heavy for caliber bullet as hard as possible (higher pressures for a longer time) isn't going to be kind to barrels.
 
Larry Elliott said:
Maybe I'm wrong, but it sure seems to me that shoving a long, heavy for caliber bullet as hard as possible (higher pressures for a longer time) isn't going to be kind to barrels.
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I'm with you on this one. Along with powder burn rates.

I'm presently reaching the point where I need to make the decision on which way to go. .22-250 or 20BR. As my much used everyday .22-250 is fast nearing that critical 1500 rounds bench mark. The most I've ever managed to get out of a 22-250 barrel was 1680 rounds down the tube.
 
Yeah, the more I think about it, I was probably being too optimistic/hoeful regarding the potential barrel life. I'm now leading toward a 20PPC, as I'm not to fond of barrel burners. In fact, after my last 22-250, I swore I'd never go there again...I just do too much darn shooting. Literally, I find the field performance of my 6BR and 22-250 identical (shooting 58 and 50 grain pills respectively), yet my 22-250 lasted less than 1,500 and my current 6BR is still shooting dots after 6700 rounds. However, the superior ballistics of the 20BR (4200+ fps with 40 grain, .275 B.C pill was certainly getting my attention)...but I've seen/heard guys with the 20Beggs getting nearly 4200fps with the 40 grainers, so I'll lean toward that case volume since I'm not going to be pusing the 50 grainers.

Hambone said:
I'm with you on this one. Along with powder burn rates.

I'm presently reaching the point where I need to make the decision on which way to go. .22-250 or 20BR. As my much used everyday .22-250 is fast nearing that critical 1500 rounds bench mark. The most I've ever managed to get out of a 22-250 barrel was 1680 rounds down the tube.
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Per your quandry, I can't imagine the 20BR wouldn't be considered superior in every way imaginable. I've seen a few guys "claiming" 3000 barrel life from the 20BR, but even if only 2,000 or 2,500, that's still better than a 22-250. AND, there is no comparing the ballistics...20BR is probably 300fps faster pushing bullets with equal BCs.

Hambone said:
I'm with you on this one. Along with powder burn rates.

I'm presently reaching the point where I need to make the decision on which way to go. .22-250 or 20BR. As my much used everyday .22-250 is fast nearing that critical 1500 rounds bench mark. The most I've ever managed to get out of a 22-250 barrel was 1680 rounds down the tube.
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I know the BR case well after having had it in 3 calibers: 6mm, .22, & .30. Why 20? Seems to me that bullet quality, availability and variations would steer you to .22BR. Not admonishing, simply don't know.
 
TomD said:
I know the BR case well after having had it in 3 calibers: 6mm, .22, & .30. Why 20? Seems to me that bullet quality, availability and variations would steer you to .22BR. Not admonishing, simply don't know.
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I love the 22BR. Keeps up with the 22-250, especially with the lighter bullets, and 3x the barrel life. Gosh, I don't know when I became such a 22-250 "hater", but I just don't see where it fits in any more. Anways, Tom...I don't know if you were asking me, Larry, or just posing the quandry in general, but the 20BR was/is appealing to me because it is clearly the ultimate mid-range hot rod...4200+ FPS is apparently commonplace with a 40 grain pill, and when you plug in .276 BC of the v-max (or Nosler, or Sierra BlitzKing), that's pretty flat 500 yards and it (I shoot squirrels, so I rarely go beyond 400yrds). With that said, I do a lot of shooting, and I can't tolerate a cartridge that won't give me at least 3000 rounds...so I'm probably going to with the 20PPC or 20Beggs for now (also much flatter 22-250 or 220 Swift).

Other advantage of the 20s are reduced recoil. In fact, I see the 20s as taking over the 22s over next 20 years or so...simply superior, ballistically-speaking. Virtually everyone I know who has gone to the 20s likes them better than the 22s (for varminting). Even the 20 Practical short- and mid-range ballistics are superior to the 6BR, 22BR or 22-250.
 
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Maybe it's just me, but Todd is hardly a genius ahead of his time IMHO. More like a look at how great I am guy.

A friend who got a whole bunch of 5.56 blank brass that had never been loaded has come up with a bunch of wildcats on them. The latest is a .20 caliber on the full length case, with the shoulder blown forward and sharpened to likely 45°. I can't remember what velocities he's getting, but well over 4000 fps with a 40 gr V-Max. He doesn't compete, except in a prairie dog town where he cleans up.

If I knew my eyes, and the rest of my body, would hold up I'd consider a .20, but can't see spending the cash then finding that I can't see what I'm trying to shoot at.
 
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