Savage110 fp 223

[Hnusz]

Hello I have purchased a savage 110fp in 223. This rifle was previously owned by a LEO that was supposed to be a very good shot. He passed several years ago I bought it from the person that bought it from his wife. It has a F prefix and is a later model. As far as I know it's not been worked on . It has a warne 20moa steel rail on it . I'm not sure of the twist rate there is nothing on the rifle. It still has the factory stock on it not really a fan of it but if it shoots as good as my friend says I can probably get used to it. What would be a good bullet to start working up loads with. I have 55gr fmjbt 40gr fbhp 50gr wsp and 88gr eld match for powders I have varget IMR4895 IMR4064 CFE223 . Thanks

[isacpotatoes]

If it is the FP/FP-SR in 223, then it should have a 1-9 twist. 55gr is probably the minimum bullet weight you should ideally Reloder with it. The 1-9 twist is supposed to shine with 62-70gr bullet weights, and probably a little heavier doesn’t hurt; say 75 Hornady BTHP or a 77 SMK.

Depending on age of the rifle, it may be in an Accustock; either way HS-Precision does offer aftermarket stocks for the 10/12 series with top bolt release. Available on Optics Planet.

Good luck!

Isaac


God, Gold, & Glory... Just not in that order

[Dave Hoback]

It’s a 1:9 twist. Little slow for best results with the 88’s, but will still shoot them ok. Everything else will work fine. No way to say for certain, but I’d wager you’ll likely find best results in the 75/77 grain territory. All the powders will work. CFE223 is a top choice. I like it almost as much as BLC-2. They are almost identical in burn rate..only the slower side. While 4895 & 4064 are a little faster. (Better for the lighter pills). They are close burn rate to the AA2495 I just picked up.

Experiment with them all. Certainly enough to keep you busy for awhile. I’m a huge fan of 223/556...although not bolt guns. The AR15 is my favorite firearm. Never owned anything except my own “assembled” ARs, and actually been building them with 80% Receivers for several years now. Sorry for the tangent...

Anyway, I am quite fond of 223, like I said. Looking forward to seeing your results.

EDIT: LOL! Isaac posted right before me. But you see our posts are quite similar. Good stuff!:thumb:

[KMW1954]

I have been playing with a Model 10 in 223 with a 22" barrel with 1:9 twist. The little bit I played with 55gr bullets was a bit disappointing but maybe I just didn't get them going fast enough. I have been using 62gr Hornady FMJBT and RMR 69gr HPBT. Have gone thru a lb of Varget and didn't find a nice load until I was near max with either of the bullets. Have used BL-C2 and need to try more loads. Basically my loads have all been revolving around Ramshot TAC and Benchmark with the edge starting to lean towards Benchmark.

I did try some 75gr ELD and couldn't get them to stabilize.

[Chood436]

I have had my best results with 53 gr SMK's over h322. I would concentrate on the CFE223. Also the 69 gr. MK

[Dave Hoback]

This is what I love about 223. The vast differences in loading habit. Few calibers show this versatility with powders. KMW likes Benchmark... Chood likes H322. And I’m a fan of BLC-2/CFE223. Look at those powders on the burn rate chart. The difference is eye opening.

[charlie b]

Varget or IMR4166. 69 or 77gn SMK (TMK's are supposed to be a little better). Just a little below max in the Sierra book. 23.5gn Varget for the 77SMK is my load (Rem or CCI BR primers), 2850fps, 22" barrel, solid 1/2MOA even with me shooting :)

The .223 is very forgiving if all you need is MOA. Even the budget Hornady 55gn FMJBT (used to be $11/100) will do 1MOA. If you want better it takes some searching and tweaking loads. Powders the same. I settled on the heavier SMK's because I like to shoot at longer ranges, 500 and 600yd. Varget and 4166 because of temperature stability.

Nosler 69/77gn match and Hornady 75ELD match were pretty good as well, very close to the SMK's. The Hornady 68 HPBT match bullets were as bad as the cheap 55gn bullets.

PS if you try the 88gn bullets let us know how they do. According to Sierra the 77gn is at the upper end for stability with 1-9 twist.

[KMW1954]

charlie b I wasn't able to get the 75gr ELD to group at all in my Model 10 so maybe you need to let me in on the secret!

[hamiltonkiler]

charlie b I wasn't able to get the 75gr ELD to group at all in my Model 10 so maybe you need to let me in on the secret!

It’s because it’s not a 77gn Sierra match king

It needs to be moving 2750fps plus.


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[hamiltonkiler]

I like peanut butter and jelly’s.

But weird bread and almond butter isn’t cutting it.

US special folks people use the match king for a reason.


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[charlie b]

I used the same load for the 77SMK with the 75ELD-M. Did not have a chronograph back then so not sure of velocity. Since the 77gn comes out at 2850 then I suspect the Hornady would be close or slightly more than that.

[Hnusz]

The link on this site has the date of manufacture between 11/95 and 11/01 don't know if it has the accustock. Will try the 55gr first have a load for my ar. Shooting golf balls at 100 yards is relaxing. Will need to get a scope and bipod . Took the scope off the ar it sits to high got about a quarter inch of clearance between it and the bolt handle. Will try an find some 62 to 70gr to try .

[Dave Hoback]

Yeah, truth is there are Sierra Match Kings.....and then everything else! Sierra kinda broke the mold.

[KMW1954]

Yeah, truth is there are Sierra Match Kings.....and then everything else! Sierra kinda broke the mold.

Seems the guys shooting 300yd Bench all lean towards a Yellow Box with a B. and hardly touch the Green Box. Though for me I'm shooting a lot of 69gr RMR HPBT.

[charlie b]

https://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

I have yet to try the RMR. Seems like they will be a good alternative to the SMK's.

Yes, Berger and Lapua are good. I have a hard enough time shelling out the money for SMK's. :)

[KMW1954]

Right ATM I have 69gr RMR HPBT, 69gr Barnes Match Burners, 69gr Sierra Matchkings, 60gr Hornady VMAX, 62gr Hornady FMJBT on the bench with 68gr Hornady Match, 62gr Hornady HPBT and another 100 Sierra Matchkings that should be here Monday. Then there will be some serious testing going on!

[charlie b]

FWIW, CFJunkie has a good thread on his .223 work. He might have tested some of those already for you to compare notes. I don't shoot nearly as well as he does.

[CFJunkie]

FWIW & Charlie,

I just tested some 69 RMR bullets for a buddy who bought 2,000 of them.
I was impressed by how well they shoot.
These were tested in my 12 FV .223 that also has several threads on this forum and on the Ammunition and Reloading forum.
This might help with choosing loads. Remember the 12 FV has a 26 inch barrel, so these loads are tuned for the longer exit time.
For a 24 inch barrel, the exit time for a Savage barrel (non-Stainless) is 1.256 msec. instead of 1.361.
For a 22 inch barrel, the exit time for a Savage barrel (non-Stainless) is 1.151 msec.




5-Round groups
69 gr RMR bullets
























Load #1

N140 21.1 gr 2.300 1.747 2649 fps 36236 psi 1.361 exit time 80/82 deg




0.302

.323 group was with the cold barrel - also not having shot this rifle in a while



0.287












0.206












0.323











Average
0.280











Median
0.295











Std Deviation
0.051

























Load #2

N140 21.1 gr 2.303 1.745 2649 fps 36238 psi 1.361 exit time 82/84 deg




0.263

Barrel heating probably messed up the last group - over 128 degs.




0.285












0.295












0.368











Average
0.303











Median
0.290











Std Deviation
0.046

























Load #3

N140 21.1 gr 2.303 1.744 2649 fps 36266 psi 1.361 exit time 84/88 deg




0.245

Let the barrel cool after the third group.







0.213












0.312












0.251











Average
0.255











Median
0.248











Std Deviation
0.041

























All 3 loads










Average
0.279











Median
0.286











Std Deviation
0.046












The standard deviation indicates that the groups were consistent.
I shot three different loads but the major difference was trim length and temperature.
I adjusted the seating depth to get the exit time to the barrel’s exit time.

As far as I can tell, the results were consistent.

My results with the 69 gr SMKs for all 32 groups with N140 at a variety of seating depths and exit times was 0.289.

A more comparative result with N140 using the SMK #1380 bullets at 1.361 exit time for 23 groups:
The average was 0.255. The best load was 0.248
The median was 0.244. The best load was 0.235
The Standard Deviation was 0.039. The SD for the best load was 0.031.

[charlie b]

That is encouraging. I may have to try those at longer ranges too and see how they do.

[Hnusz]

Finally got to the range .Another question is the bolt handle supposed to move? How do I post pictures?