Savage 223 - 26" 1-7 twist - 53gr to 75gr - Varget/H4895 **UPDATED**

[IA_shooter]

If only it weren't 5 below zero this morning with more than a foot of snow on the ground! I HATE Winter!

Another quick question about the Lapua brass. The new brass I have chambers just fine right out of the box and I checked several pcs and they all seem to be right on as far as neck size (.248") and trim length (1.750"). Should I just do a light chamfer and deburr, prime, load and shoot or are you guys actually running these through a FL sizing die first right out of the box? I don't see the need to according to the brass I've measured but am looking for some opinions. Thanks.

 

[IA_shooter]

Thanks gstaylorg, I checked 10 random pcs and they were are dead nuts on .248" for the OD of the neck and 1.7495" in length. I have a .248" TiN bushing for my Redding S die but wondered why I would need to run them through since they all seem to be there already, which actually surprised me.

Maybe I'll check a bunch more.

Update......I did check a bunch more and quit after checking another 30 pcs, all right @ .248".

 

[redrockranger]

L.C. 09 and 11 have been excellent brass in my 223 Savage, has shot just as well as Lapua and better on the wallet. Try the 53gr. V-Max it's a good bullet.

 

[IA_shooter]

L.C. 09 and 11 have been excellent brass in my 223 Savage, has shot just as well as Lapua and better on the wallet. Try the 53gr. V-Max it's a good bullet.

Good to hear since I have another 400 pcs of mixed,once fired, processed LC brass still in the bags unopened that I bought last year I could pick through if needed.

 

[MDM]

FWIW - standard 223 w/80vld

26" 7.7 bartlien - 25 varget @2920
17" 7 green mountain - 25 varget @2810
26" 8 kreiger - 25 varget @2940

all the same reamer with .085 fb - every chamber I've cut with it shoots the same load very well, even to 1000.

 

[dickn52]

.223 Savage Varmint Mod 12 LRPV 1:9 twist today at 100 yards. 5 rounds of 69 gn with 21.5 Varget and CCI 400 primers at 15/16th outside or .2448 CtC. Rated at 3000 fps, but NOT chronographed. This is a straight out of the box, shot for the first time today. I am happy so far, and this load works pretty good too.

 

[IA_shooter]

.223 Savage Varmint Mod 12 LRPV 1:9 twist today at 100 yards. 5 rounds of 69 gn with 21.5 Varget and CCI 400 primers at 15/16th outside or .2448 CtC. Rated at 3000 fps, but NOT chronographed. This is a straight out of the box, shot for the first time today. I am happy so far, and this load works pretty good too.

I'm guessing you meant 25.1 gr of Varget, not 21.5, correct?

 

[dickn52]

Yep, sorry.

 

[fm1947]

dickn52 nice 5 shot group,I like when guys post 5 shot groups because 3 shot to me isn't telling the whole story.

 

[IA_shooter]

dickn52 nice 5 shot group,I like when guys post 5 shot groups because 3 shot to me isn't telling the whole story.

I agree. I like to use/see 5 shot groups myself.

 

[CharlieNC]

With the stock Savage 9 twist barrel, it loved Varget with 69SMK and 75Horn BTHP. This was my first 223 and I liked it so well I decided to make an upgrade to a 8 twist Brux. The groups were no better and the chrono variability was not good for a number of bullets. Had to switch powders, the new barrel just would not perform with Varget. Now running a low node of 24.1gr RL15 with the 75 BTHP, and for long range 27.0gr CFE223 behind 70VLD out to 1100 yards.

 

[dickn52]

I like to shoot 5 shot groups for all of the above stated reasons....and....I don't have to walk 200 yards as often

 

[1holeaddict]

I own two of the same Savage stock 223 rifles as the OP but with 1-9 twist. Both shoot the same load 25.5 Varget, 55 ballistic tip. One of them shoots 70 Bergers and the other shoots 75 amax just as good as the 55 ballistic tips. I also own a 223 built on a Remington action by Hart. The Savages shoot so well that i often wonder why i had a custom built :-\

 

[Randy3269]

I would be real surprised if you can't get 69 grain Sierras and 25 grains of Varget to shoot well. I use 205Ms and touch the lands.

 

[IA_shooter]

I would be real surprised if you can't get 69 grain Sierras and 25 grains of Varget to shoot well. I use 205Ms and touch the lands.

I'll be starting load development with 24.5gr of Varget/CCI BR4 primers and work up from there for both the 69gr Sierra and the 68gr Hornady as soon as we get rid of this arctic air.

 

[1holeaddict]

I would be real surprised if you can't get 69 grain Sierras and 25 grains of Varget to shoot well. I use 205Ms and touch the lands.

This load also shoots well in my guns but just not as good as those Nosler 55 Gr ballistic tips.

 

[A_Gamehog]

A great combo for me is Varget or 8208 with CCI 450 (Mag) primers. Any Brass with a 53-75 grain Bullet.