New shooter:Bullet selection for 223, 100-600yds

[Dreamweaver]

I'm a new shooter, on a budget(ya right). Wanting to join my local range, very casual, that primarily does 100-200yds VFS and a "ground hog" at 300-400yds. Another range, closer to me does a 600yd prone competition.

I'm looking at purchasing a Savage 12 Low Profile(price point again) in 223, that has a 1-9 twist. My primary goal would be to attend the VFS and ground hog shoots but would like to be able to attend the 600yd if the spirit moves me. The reason for the 223 is primarily reloading costs (limited budget), I'd like to keep reload costs around 0.50 for brass, primers, powder and bullets. I have ~800 rounds of Norma USA 55gr TAC 223 that I can use for brass.

What was my question...I may be rambling. I've read forums till my eyes bleed for help.

For the 600yd match, given that the rifle is a 1-9 turn, could I use the Hornaday 80gr Amax? Its price point is in my range.

 

[MarkS]

The 9 tw will not shoot the 80gr Amax the 75gr Amax would be on the edge, the last 2 9tw i had, would not shoot the 75gr. If you are wanting to shoot 600yds, go with the 7 tw Savage. The 9 would shoot up to a 70gr bullet, and would work for 600yds. The 7 tw would take you out to 1000yds with the 80gr bullets.

Mark

 

[Ned Ludd]

Not even close with the 9-twist. The 69 gr SMK may well be the optimal bullet for that twist rate. If you're lucky, it might also stabilize something a tad heavier like the Hornady 75 gr BTHP match bullet or even a 77 gr Sierra. But the only way to know for sure is to test them. As MarkS already pointed out, if there's any way to go with the 7-twist, you're going to want to do that. It will open up your options to use pretty much any .224 bullet on the market.

 

[joshb]

^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^If you haven't bought the gun yet, It's a "no brainer". 7 is the way to go! I bought a couple 9s and 12 twist guns before I knew better. Just paid $550 to rebarrel one in a 7 twist.

 

[Stubb]

I have successfully shot the 77gr Sierras out of a 9 twist Mossberg MVP to 850 yards. I also got hits at 1,000 yards but it wasn't pretty. The 75gr Amaxes are too long but the 75gr Hornady HPBT is shorter and will work. The accuracy just wasn't as good with them as the 77gr Sierras. I was pushing the 77's pretty hard to get the rpm's up to stabilize.

 

[Hosted]

Will cost a little more but I have tried almost every bullet from 68-75gr in my one Savage 223 and I like the Berger 70vld the best.

A little warning if you don't already have the rifle though. I just bought another Savage 12 223 this summer and it has a pretty short freebore. I didn't like how short the 70's had to be loaded so I found a good load for it with the 53gr vmax and ran with it which also shoots real well at too yards.

 

[JAlfred]

60 Sierra TMK is where I would start , if limited to 1/9". Get 1/7" if possible. Even with a 1/8" you could get Nosler 80's for $0.14/each from Shootersproshop.com

 

[snowpro440]

The Savage LRPV comes in 7 twist also . I would choose that and 80 gr. Bergers with some varget and a CCI450 .

 

[Dreamweaver]

Thanks for the insight gentlemen, I'm still debating...

 

[jpx2rk]

If budget is a big concern, suggest looking at the Cablela's Savage 12FV, it's about $450, 26" heavy barrell is a 9t, has the accutrigger but a squirmy stock. I have one, and pretty sure the owners manual says they do accuracy testing with the 69 smk.

Mine likes the light weights so far but have not done much testing with the heavies yet. If I go to the range tomorrow I will test the 69's and 75's if possible and post the results.

You can check out savageshootersdotcome to see if anyone has shot the heavies with any success in the 9t barrells.

 

[JLT]

If you can't push the 75 gr. A-Max fast enough, try the 68 gr. Hornady BTHP. If the wind isn't howling, it does well out to 600 out of a 9 twist.

 

[Shynloco]

I'm a new shooter, on a budget(ya right). Wanting to join my local range, very casual, that primarily does 100-200yds VFS and a "ground hog" at 300-400yds. Another range, closer to me does a 600yd prone competition.

I'm looking at purchasing a Savage 12 Low Profile(price point again) in 223, that has a 1-9 twist. My primary goal would be to attend the VFS and ground hog shoots but would like to be able to attend the 600yd if the spirit moves me. The reason for the 223 is primarily reloading costs (limited budget), I'd like to keep reload costs around 0.50 for brass, primers, powder and bullets. I have ~800 rounds of Norma USA 55gr TAC 223 that I can use for brass.

What was my question...I may be rambling. I've read forums till my eyes bleed for help.

For the 600yd match, given that the rifle is a 1-9 turn, could I use the Hornaday 80gr Amax? Its price point is in my range.

If I may suggest, before you start tearing up and changing an otherwise beautiful rifle, do some testing for yourself and find out what she's capable of and what bullet she likes best or hates. I agree that the 1:9 will limit you to some extent with certain weight bullets. But hell, load and shoot the damn thing and let her tell you what she likes and doesn't like at a given distance. Advice is always nice, but unless you try some yourself, you'll never know what YOUR new rig can do. Besides, being new to the reloading game will help you learn, on your own, what all goes into coming up with a successful load for YOUR rifle.

Just my .02 worth based upon years of experience and shooting the Savage 12 Low Profile rifle that I now load for my son.

Alex

 

[Dgd6mm]

Not even close with the 9-twist. The 69 gr SMK may well be the optimal bullet for that twist rate. If you're lucky, it might also stabilize something a tad heavier like the Hornady 75 gr BTHP match bullet or even a 77 gr Sierra. But the only way to know for sure is to test them. As MarkS already pointed out, if there's any way to go with the 7-twist, you're going to want to do that. It will open up your options to use pretty much any .224 bullet on the market.

This is the norm for the 1-9 twist Savage factory varmint barrel.

 

[Jammer Six]

I just got back from the range, 100-200 yards, and I started with Hornady 52 grain AMAX in a 1:9.

I am already thinking I want something heavier.

 

[Eric Leonard]

I shoot lots of 69 SMKs in my 9 twist 223 and it does real well,,but if getting serious at longer range I have best luck with the 70 VLD,,it shoots real well to 800 yards,,