Prairie Dog Rifle

[waskawood]

Here is the latest addition to my arsenal. It is a 20 VarTarg. Short for 20 varmint-target. The cartridge is a Remington 221 Fire Ball necked down to 20 caliber with a 30 shoulder. It is not fast like the 204 Ruger. Just a slow accurate round. It is the most efficient 20 caliber cartridge. The rifle is a Savage precision target action, right bolt left port with an HS Precision stock and a PacNor medium palma barrell. I just got it all put together last night. Waiting for a nice day to go to the range so I can get her sighted in and fire form some rounds. The tallest cartridge is a .204 Ruger and the shorter one is a 20 Vartarg.

20 VT on the left 204 Ruger on the right

Left Port

Right Bolt

Leather Couch

Sorry about my image size. I need to figure out the "cropping" thing.

[troutned]

Well, I'm not a serious target shooter, so I have to wonder, what is the advantage to a left port and right-hand bolt?

[waskawood]

They are usually single shot actions that are shot off bags or a rest. Us "righties" like to run the bolt with the right hand and load and unload with the left.

[harvey lee]

Looks like a tack driver.

[sparkydm]

Mmmmm......YUMMMY!

[WalleyeGod]

Waska:

Nice! Can't wait to see the range results.

On those Savage left port target actions do they have the spring cut down so it doesn't fling the spent case out the port? IK my BR is set up so it doesn't fling spent cases over to the next bench. Another reason for not flinging brass is because some cases have a boat load of preparation/time invested in them ie. fireforming, case weighing and/or sorting plus are somewhat expensive to begin with and you don't want to lose them or have them damaged.

The idea for the left port is so you can see the loading and unloading of the cartridge at the bench. Other actions will also have the second port for ejection on the opposite side. You can in other words have one in a custom set up just about any way you wish.

What optics you have on her?

Very good looking rig you have there Waska!

WG

[waskawood]

WG,

My extractor spring is still intact.I do not see it being an issue now that I can use my left hand in a more natural position. Scope is an Sightron SII Big Sky 4.5-14X44 with side focus. Looking through my glass doors at junk left out on the ice I think it will work well for my intended use. My bore guide won't be shipped until the first week of April so I won't shoot it for a while yet. I will report more after a trip to the range.