20 CALIBER BOBCAT
In the summer of 2000, I was amazed at the articles in the Small Caliber News on the 20 calibers. SO I thought I would try one, but which one?
I like to try new and different things, so I decided on the 222 Remington Case. I love this little cartridge. I have shot hundreds of coyotes with an old Remington 722 and have built many Benchrest Rifles chambered in the triple deuce.
I decided to go with a tight .223 neck and 40-degree Ackley Style Case. I called Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool and explained what I wanted and four weeks later the reamer was in my hand.
I have been very pleased with Pac-Nor Barrels, so I ordered a chrome moly, number 3 contour, 1-12 twist standard match barrel.
I had an Interarms Mini Mauser Action and an old Reinhart Fagen Semi-inletted Mini Mauser Stock collecting dust, so I decided to put them to good use.
The barrel was here in about six weeks and I started to put the rifle together. With all my other clients’ rifles and honey-do projects, it was October when the first 20 caliber bullet went down range.
I made the dies using Newlon Precision Die Blank and the finish reamer to produce an ultra precision neck-sizing die. For the seating die, I used a blank 20 caliber Wilson Die (also using the finish reamer) to make a Benchrest Style Seating Die.
Forming the brass is easy as “one, two, and three”.
One: neck size new brass with a bushing .238
Two: neck size with a bushing .221
Three: turn necks to .009 neck wall thickness
I made a 20 caliber Neck Turning Mandrel from a 22 caliber Sinclair Neck Turning Mandrel by turning it down to .204 on my lathe. Then I could turn the necks using my Sinclair Neck Turning Tool.
NOTE: I like to prepare all my cases like Boyd Mace explains in his Accurate Varmint Rifle Book or Glenn Newark’s Ultimate Rifle Accuracy Book. These are great books I believe every shooter should read and have near their reloading bench for quick reference.
Reloading the formed cases, just resize the necks with a .221 bushing, prime and load. That is all that is needed.
Hornady’s 33 grain VMAX performed super with fire form loads in the .600 inch range. Average of just over 3750 feet/second. The formed loads were unbelievable, right at 4100 feet/second and a five shot group measuring .488 at 100 yards. PRETTY GOOD FOR A SIX AND HALF POUND RIFLE!
CRITERIA number one was met: a nice little classic rifle that will produce half-inch precision and accuracy. Now let’s see if CRITERIA number two could be met: A fast, clean kill on a big Colorado Song Dog.
The opportunity presented itself early one October Morning when I was elk hunting. I glassed a big dog hunting mice in a large park. I could not resist the opportunity. I went back to the truck and got the little 20 Bobcat. I worked my way around to the edge of the park. And with one blow of the Tally-Ho Call, he came running. At 124 yards he stopped, facing me. That little 33 grain Hornady hit him square in the chest. He didn’t even move, just a pile of fur in the yellow mountain grass. If I didn’t know any better, I would have bet I was using my 22 Cheetah the way he went down. When I skinned out the coyote I was happy to see only one hole. No exit hole, the bullet disintegrated inside. I cut open the chest cavity to get a look at the damage and what a mess; there were no real distinguishable organs, just a pile of mush.
Since that day I have killed 17 coyotes with the 20 Bobcat (No Bobcats yet!) all but six were one shot kills. Five of the six were my fault (poor shot placement).
One of the most accurate 20 caliber rifles I have put together is a 20 Bobcat on an old Remington 722 action. I trued the action using GTR Tooling, with only one bushing on the front of the bolt. A number 7 contour, Pac-Nor Barrel finished at 24 inches, an old Remington 40X Wood Stock and a Weaver 36 Power Scope completes the rifle. This rifle is truly amazing at 100 yards using Benchrest Shooting Fundamentals. This rifle consistently shoots in the low .2s. I believe the light recoil of the 20 caliber is a major contributing factor to this rifles outstanding accuracy. I can view the bullet hitting its’ mark through the scope; something that does not happen with traditional varmint cartridges.
While I have built over twenty 20 calibers like the 20-221 Fireball, 20 Tactical and the 20 PPC, my favorite so far is the 20 Bobcat (I might be just a little biased). The minimum body taper of the case, 40 degree shoulder and long neck makes an attractive cartridge. The tight .223 neck sure helps with the accuracy of this little cartridge.
The 20 Tactical is a little faster and more popular and you cannot go wrong shooting the 20 Tactical; it will kill coyotes as clean and fast as a 22-250. But if you want to try a little oddball cartridge, give the 20 Bobcat a try; you will not be disappointed!. If you have a young shooter, the 20 calibers are ideal for varmints. Rifles can be built in the 6-7 pound range and the recoil is non-existant.
A good friend asked me “Why did you call it a Bobcat?”. I told him for two reasons: one, A Bobcat is a small, quiet, very efficient killer (fitting for this cartridge). Two, I named it after a good friend of mine, Colonel (retired) Robert (Bob) Tate; a great American Sportsman and WWII veteran.
With the great success of the 20 Bobcat, I have ordered a 17 Bobcat and a 22 Bobcat reamer. I look forward to trying them out on Colorado Coyotes next year!
LOADING DATA:
26.0 grains IMR 4895 3735 ft/sec.
24.0 grains VV N133 4108 ft/sec. (compressed/most accurate load)
26.0 grains H322 4158 ft/sec.
22.0 grains IMR4198 4041 ft/sec.
23.0 grains H4198 4088 ft/sec.
26.0 grains Benchmark 4005 ft/sec.
THE ABOVE LOADS ARE MAXIMUM LOADS, MUST REDUCE AT LEAST 20% WHEN TESTING IN YOUR RIFLE.
RIFLE: Custom with Interarms Action
BARREL: 25” Pac-Nor, 1-12 twist
CASE:
PRIMER: Remington 7.5
BULLET: Hornady 33 grain VMAX
CHRONOGRAPH: Pact, placed 12 feet from muzzle
Pacific Tool
Dave Kiff
541-826-5808
Pac-Nor Barreling
541-468-7330
Newlon Precision Die Blanks
209-966-8141
Wilson Die Blanks
509-782-1328
GTR Tooling
970-353-6176