factory ammo for Savage 12BVSS in 223

[tommyo]

I just started shooting centerfire. I would like to do some shooting without reloading. I currently have no reloading equipment. I used to reload 30 years ago and will do it again if I really enjoy shooting this rifle. Anyone have any suggestions for factory or factory reloaded ammo for this Savage 12BVSS in .223? I'm hoping some of you have had some good luck with reloaded Blackhills or Ultramax ammo, since it is priced more reasonably. If I really get into shooting this gun I may buy reloading gear and switch it to a 6MM and maybe try some competition. Thanks in advance for your time.

Tom

 

[fdshuster]

Very high quality factory ammo, at a reasonable price, this day and age) is the "Blackhills", either blue, remanufactured) or red, new) boxes of 50 rounds each. The 69 gr. Sierra HPBT is an especially good choice for your Savage. Before he started loading his own, my son used the Blackhills 69 gr. loads, out to 600 yd., in his Savage 10FP: a proven performer if your not "making your own".

 

[fdshuster]

tommyo: An additional comment. I also have a Savage mdl 12BVSS, originally chambered in .243,'til I set-back the barrel and re-chambered to 6BR. Performance was not what I expected, and it was discovered that the factory version of "bedding" is non-existant! Just a hole in the laminated stock into which the receiver happened to fit. The flat-topped pillars did not even touch the round bottom of the receiver. The tang would lift up and pull down when tightening the rear guard screw, etc. Plan on properly bedding your Savage if you want to realize the full accuracy potential. Once they are "tuned-up", they will shoot!

 

[tommyo]

So, are you saying the pillars should be redone also when/if I bed it? How is that Miles Gilbert bedding kit?

 

[fdshuster]

tommyo: Rifle was dropped-off at the 'smiths last Monday, he said it would be ready "in a week", so I should pick-up Tuesday/Wednesday. I'll find out then what he did to properly bed the receiver, and post my findings.

 

[keithcatfish]

Tommyo,

I had the exact same experience as fdshuster with my VLP stock. Simply use a Dremel tool and a socket covered in sandpaper to relieve the wood,alot of wood...) for the action to sit on the pillars and the the bedding compound to be about 1/8" thick.

Bedding a stock is not too hard, just pay close attention to detail and it will come out great. There are excellent instructions on this site on stock bedding by a 'smith from Virginia named Richard. Check it out. I used the Miles Gilbert kit and it turned out great. Oh yeah, don't bed the tang on a Savage.

 

[tommyo]

If you remove alot of the stock for the action to touch the pillars won't the action sit lower in the stock?

 

[30xs]

Why don't you bed the tang on the Savages? I am about to restock my Stevens 20,same as 110 SA) and don't want to mess something up. Working up loads Saturday it shot 4 shots under a quarter inch, I pulled the last shot to open it up to about .442. I don't want to loose accuracy.

 

[fdshuster]

tommyo: 1 week estimate turned into 2 weeks actual. Receiver was bedded with "Brownells Steel Bed". Factory pillars were left in place, but bedding added gave flat top pillars full contact with round bottom of receiver. Checked for movement while tightening/loosening guard screws, using a dial indicator: there is no movement in any direction. Tang no longer rises up as rear guard screw is loosened.