Heavy bullets for Savage .223

O

omega50

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Just for fun I have been doing some long distance shooting with my Savage Model 12 BVSS in .223. I typically use a factory 40 grain v max for groundhog hunting and have shot some 3 shot groups under 3" at 600 yards off of a bipod and sandbag under the butt of the stock. I attempted to shoot at 750 last night but I am getting groups that are expanding vertically and was going to try some heavier bullets strictly for target and was wondering what everyone was using. Unfortunately I'm stuck with factory ammo for now and was wondering which would have a higher chance of stabilizing in my factory set-up, 69, 75, or 80 grainers? Remember this is only for fun, I just love seeing a target at 750 yards and attempting to shoot a decent group.
 
The 69gr Sierra MK's should do well w/Varget. You should also have some success w/75gr AMaxes, probably Varget as well, but YMMV. You will probably need an 8" twist for the 80gr. The factory Savage has a 1-9" twist.

Rick
 
I would think the one in eight twist would work better with the real heavy weight bullets up to 80 grain.

I have one of my set-ups with a one in seven twist I all ways use with the 80 grain bullets that works vary well.
 
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called Hornady tech about a new 223, & 22-250 barrels that I was going to order.

will the Hornady 75 gr. A-Max stablize in the 1:9 twist.

they told me , YES, in BOTH the 223 & 22-250.

would need a 1:8 for the 80 gr. A-Maxes

bought a Shilen 223, & a McGowan for my Savage VLP.

at 100 & 200 yds. they shoot great, no problem.

Hornady tech's are correct.
 
I assume you are using a factory barrel. If so you need to know whether it is a 1:12 or 1:9 twist. I can tell you from experience that the 1:12 is unlikely to stabilize anything heavier (longer) than a 60 grain bullet. The 1:9 twist will do well up to around 75 grains. If you want to shoot heavier than that you would need to rebarrel to a faster twist like 1:8 or krieger 1:7.7 . Iknow this because I bought a Savage LRPV 22-250 that was marked as a 1:9 twist. It would shot tiny groups with 55 grain bullets. when I tried 70 grain bullets it was like shooting a shotgun. I finally measure the twist rate with a cleaning rod. It turns out the barrel was actually a 1:12 twist even though it was marked 1:9. I returned it to Savage for a 1:9 twist which now shoots small groups with 70-75 grain bullets.
 
My barrel is not a factory Savage, but I did retain the 1/9 twist when
I installed this new one. It shoots 64 grain Bergers into 1/4 MOA groups with pretty fair consistency out to 300 yards. I got fair groups out to 500 meters using the heavier MKs someone mentioned earlier. I have not tried a heavier Berger at 500 meters, as I can't get to that shooting range easily and I'm stuck with shooting at the nearer, shorter rangers.
 
be careful with the loads on heavier bullets; had some pierced primers with Amax 75 grain in a 12FV with what was "below max" load in one manual.....not enough care on my part to start even farther below....
 
You may be expecting too much out of a 223

Yes, with the right bullets it will shoot a 1000 yards but after 600 yars it gets beat up badly by the wind. If you want to shoot a 22 caliber long range get one that has more horsepower and will push the 80-90 grain bullets above 3400fps. My suggestions would be a 22-250, 22BR, 22BRX, 22Dasher,
22-6mmRemington, 22/243Win. You will find after 600 yards the 6mms are even better.
Nat Lambeth
 
Try some 69gr SMK or Nosler Custom Competition. Hornady 68gr BTHP is close to same.

75gr A-Max is quite a bit longer than 75gr Hornady BTHP. The BTHP is pretty close to the 69gr SMK or 77gr SMK.

If you want, also try Lapua Scenar or Berger VLD 70gr, but they are $$$.

Haven't heard or read of anyone using 80gr with 1:9, but with 1:8 or 1:7. and for the huge 90gr 1:6.5.
 
You wont know what will work until you try it.

Convention is that a 1 in 9" won't stabilise anything heavier than a 77gr bullet but my LRPV happily shoots 80gr Sierra's and 80gr Noslers out to 800 metres.

Performance is actually better than the 69gr Sierra's at all distances.

I will be giving the Amax's a go shortly to see how well they work :)
 
dbridges said:
You wont know what will work until you try it.

Convention is that a 1 in 9" won't stabilise anything heavier than a 77gr bullet but my LRPV happily shoots 80gr Sierra's and 80gr Noslers out to 800 metres.

Performance is actually better than the 69gr Sierra's at all distances.

I will be giving the Amax's a go shortly to see how well they work :)
Click to expand...

I'm still stubbornly trying to make the 75gr Hornady BTHP work in 1:9. Using AA2230 this weekend, but I use Varget and R15 as well. Venturing out with OAL as well.

Some of the IMR powders may work here as well. Benchrest Primer article I read has 69gr SMK with IMR 4350 with excellent accuracy @100 yards, but fps too low to be thought competitive. IMR 4895 and 4064 had better combination of fps and accuracy.
 
Berger's site has twist rate recommendations for their bullets. I picked up some 73gr to try in 1:9.
 
dbridges said:
You wont know what will work until you try it.

Convention is that a 1 in 9" won't stabilise anything heavier than a 77gr bullet but my LRPV happily shoots 80gr Sierra's and 80gr Noslers out to 800 metres.

Performance is actually better than the 69gr Sierra's at all distances.

I will be giving the Amax's a go shortly to see how well they work :)
Click to expand...

Well I tried the 80gr Amax's and the 75gr Amax's and to say that they shot woefully is an understatement. It turned out that they were jamming in the leade before the rifling so they could be a little over size (more than I can measure).

I tried seating them deeper and managed to get the 75gr Amax's to shoot under 1/2 MOA at 100m with a mid load of AR2208 (varget).

I found out two things. I have a chamber with a tight leade and I found an 80gr bullet that my 1 in 9 savage wont shoot.
 
Better than I can do. I did .6 with the 75gr Hornady BTHP.

Taking it down a notch: 69gr Sierra SMK, 69gr Nosler Custom Competition, 68gr Hornady BTHP, 64gr Berger Varmint Match, 62gr Remington Match(not sure these are avail. as components).

Below that you are 52/53 gr Match bullets.
 
ForneyRider said:
Better than I can do. I did .6 with the 75gr Hornady BTHP.

Taking it down a notch: 69gr Sierra SMK, 69gr Nosler Custom Competition, 68gr Hornady BTHP, 64gr Berger Varmint Match, 62gr Remington Match(not sure these are avail. as components).

Below that you are 52/53 gr Match bullets.
Click to expand...

It does come down to the range you're intending to use them at.

I can put 10 shots in 0.8 MOA @ 300m with Nosler CC 77gr and 10 shots into approx 1 MOA @ 300 with Nosler CC 80gr.

At 500m the higher BC of the Nosler CC 80's mean they perform better than the 77gr at just over 1MOA.

I'm hoping the higher BC of the 75 AMAX will give me that little bit extra all the way out to 800m.

That and my new lapua brass :)
 
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