Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 221 FB or 20 VT

Looking for experience on both. I know they are obviously very different, but I’d like to hear pros and cons of each. I was dead set on a 221 to round out my 22 cal varmint rifles, but I started reading on the VarTarg and I’m kinda leaning towards it. The rifle will be on a Howa mini, 24” heavy varmint barrel and Stockys stock for shooting varmints and p-dogs off a bench. Any input is welcomed and appreciated!

Well, I don’t have a 20VT…..YET!

But I too bought a how’s mini for the exact same reason. I’ve been shooting a FB for several years. LOVE IT. mines a 700 classic and though it doesn’t shoot the 40gr tipped bullets as well as I’d like it clumps 50BT’s and vmax into tight clusters. It’s one of my favorite rifles for walking through dog towns. I also have a much heavier 20 practical built by Jim Borden that has become my favorite gun for shooting pdogs off the bench. It’s stupid accurate with 39BK’s and shoots “through the wind” as well as a 22-250 but allows me to see the misses which doesnt happen often with that rifle. I love the idea of the VT and though I don’t have one yet I plan on building one also. I’ll let

Oops…

I’ll let the rifle tell me what it likes but will have a barrel twist fast enough to shoot the various 39&40 gr bullets. Mine will probably have a 22” medium weight varmint barrel just because I like lighter easier carrying rifles.

I’m not trying to steer you away from the 20VT…. I’m planning on building one too. But if you’re planning on a bench gun have you thought about the 20P? Way more 223 brass out there and it’s way cheaper than 221 brass. It shoots harder. I can still see my hits with mine through a 20x scope and all I had to do was buy a bushing for my 223 neck die. I use my Redding 223 comp seater as is.

Good luck on your build. Keep us posted please.

Also, midway had 221 brass in stock a few days ago.

I've had 4- 20VT whittled myself down to 3 theres nothing not to like about them. Buy a Type S FL sizing die use a. 226-.227 bushing with Nosler or neck turned reformed brass in a .232-233 ,nk chamber 11Tw barrel running 32-40 grain bullets AA2200 powder 7.5 primers and no problem with .5 moa accuracy most instances even better

Thanks for the info! I have a 204 that I put together with a 26” full contour criterion barrel. With scope and everything, it weighs just a bit over 16 lb. That thing is sweet for still seeing your hits or misses. It don’t move when you pull the trigger. I’m kind of leaning towards the VT since I didn’t plan on shooting anything but 40 gr out of the 221 anyway. If I do an 11t like sherm said, I can cover that bullet weight in 20cal too.

Do you run the nosler brass? Is it any good?

No I haven't I know people who do with no complaints, its probably like other Nosler brass a little soft so if you run it to hot PP will open up.
My brother runs RP 221 and I make my own from LC 223 brass. Czkid on accurateshooter sells 20VT brass from LC223 everybody that has used says its good

I have heard of feeding problems with the FB sized cases UNLESS it was originally a FB action. I was going to build a repeater on a 700 short action, but abandoned the project after researching it.

Always thought a 20 VT would be a sweet 300 yard gun…

221FB for me. Easier to find brass, 22cal bullet selection is plentiful, and about 19g of RL7 and a 40g bullet tends to shoot very well in a variety of rifles. However, The only bullet that has polluted the bore of my CZ is the 40g NBT, and it kills like lightning.

A great action for the Fireball is the Sako L461/AI. These work like they were made for the Fireball. I've done 3 of them now.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DJD34RelNpA

Easier to find brass? What brass is a 20VT?

Ummmmmm....221.


Then what do you have to do? Run it through a 20vt die. As opposed to just loading and shooting.

Its exactly what you do run it through a die and load and shoot. Isn't that what you do with every cartridge?

Between the two, I’d go .221, as .22 is just easier, and I’d also consider a .222 for its great accuracy and maybe its tradition. As a practical matter though, I find it difficult to depart from the .223 among the smaller .22s. It’s the easiest of all in just about every way, and does all I need, and could even replace my little Hornet (but won’t, ever!).

Have fun.

Ky221, that rifle is a beauty!

I have both but the .221 sees much more use. Hard to beat the Fireball!

I've had no feeding issues. A 527 action feed and extracts fine. Theres can be an extraction with a 700 not really an extraction issue but more of extraction timing.
Doesn't bother me with a 700 because I shoot mine single shot, if you want to run a repeater use the correct follower and get an sako extractor installed.
As to " easier" dont you run a case through the die, seat a primer, charge a case and seat a bullet in a 221 just like any other case? Maybe some struggle reloading i don't know.
As far as accuracy a 20VT will shoot with anything out there all being equal.
I guess some wanna make do about nothing.
A 20VT is nothing more than a necked down 221FB.

Model 700’s originally in 222/223 won’t feed or eject a 221 case if rechambered.
I have 221 in a 700 lvsf and I cannot think of a time where I have grabbed it over a 222 or 223. It’s neat but purposeless imo. A 20VT? Never tried one, likely never will. My 204 Rugers collect enough dust.

Yes they will, how do you know you don't have one ohhh wait internet talk.
I've got 2 to prove you wrong, one is a 20SCC which is a 20VTAI.
All the 20VT naysayers that dont even have one imagine that.

What amazes me is when somebody wants to build something people wanna shoot it down because of this that or the other. I guess some should just shoot a BB gun.