What's the heaviest bullet a Savage can digest............

[R.W.Dale]

Simple question. What is the heaviest bullet that you've been able to get a FACTORY savage 1/9" .223 barrel to stabilize adequately without having the barrel puke the bullets at the target?

 

[kir_kenix]

ive had great luck w/ 69 gr sierras in all of my 1/9" savages. for me, 62-69 gr bullets work the best in these guns. hope this helps.

 

[mustanger98]

Hey krochus, if your twist rate's 1:9, my best info is it'll digest anything fine. I don't have a Savage in .223, but I do have a 1:9 Mini-14 that did real well with Hornady 68gr BTHP's... tore up a business card at 50yds offhand with 'em once.

 

[rangerruck]

Ihve had some 1/9's that could handle only 69's, then again, I fired a couple that could handle 72's and 75's, but the latter was more rare...

 

[Bear2000]

I almost only shoot 77 Sierra MatchKing HP in my Savage .223. 24.0 grains of Varget or VV N540, Lapua Brass, CCI BR primer, and an aol of 2.68", which puts it .015 off the lands and grooves.

When I do my part, the groups are under .5". Problem is, I'm a lousy shooter still. But the 1:9 will stabilize the 77 grain no problem, at least in my 12FV.

 

[dmftoy1]

I think you're going to have to try it to find out. I've got an AR with a 1x9 and it'll shoot 75's no problem, but my neighbor's AR with same twist rate doesn't like them. They both love 68's though. FWIW.

 

[Swampy]

krochus,

A 1-9" .223 will usually print anything up to 69 grainers well. Anything over that up to 77 gr. is into the "iffy" range...... Could be good, might be bad.

80 gr.... forget it.... you need a 1-8" for that.

Best,
Swampy

 

[MikeH]

Agreed with the others on 68~69gr being the most optimal. However, I've also tried 75~80gr and grouped 1~1.5MOA at 200 yards. Of course, at such distance there is no advantage with heavier bullets, but perhaps at 600 yards and beyond the latter will have the edge.

 

[YodaVader]

With my 12BVSS the heaviest I have reloaded is the 75 AMAX , bullets stabilized but the accuracy was nothing like the loads I fire using 69 grain MatchKings.