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I have a Savage Model 11 chambered in .223 and am wondering what twist rate is used in this caliber and rifle? What bullet weights will it handle accurately? Would it be safe to shoot .556 rounds in it due to the added strength of the bolt action if reloaded to acceptable pressures and OAL of cartridge?
So, for firing a 5.56 bullet out of a 223 Rem all you are doing is putting a bullet with about 4,ooo more lbs of pressure in it into your mix. I'd recommend always always always always shooting the Cartridge that is stamped on your barrel. What you will find is 52gr, light hearted rounds will shoot well in all .223 REM rifles. 55gr. are good too and can usually be found in most shops. 62 and 69 gr are for us accuracy freaks that want alot of range on our .22 cals.
Plus If you are reloading your brass within correct SAAMI overall length with taylored powder and primers, you are essentially creating a 223 Reminton.
Just a little Tidbit. The two ammunition types for the AMERICAN INDUSTRY STANDARD are 52gr. Federal American Eagle, and Black Hills 55gr. These two loads have always shot well in my rifles, weather Semi Auto, or the Savage 12bvss.
Everyone has their own loads. Just don't try and create 5.56 for a 223 Rem. Make your ammunition match the 223 REm Dimensions and Pressures for better accuracy.
My savage 12's are all 1-9 twist rates, but I sadly cannot say what your twist rate is. In my own rifle the above loads shot great at 800 yds, The 52gr. Sierra Match King with 25gr. Varget, CCI BR primers, FC brass shoot Excellent groups at all ranges.
Take care and Good Luck with your reloading
The Savage chamber isn't a SAAMI .223 chamber. Savage cuts a hybrid chamber of their own design somewhere between the .223 and 5.56.
I haven't seen a Savage in .223 yet that wasn't either a 1:9 (the overwhelming majority of them) or a 1:7 (some of the target rifles). Your Model 11 is going to be 1:9. It should shoot most any good bullet up to 69gn well. You can try the Hornady 75 HPBT. Except in extreme circumstances, like sub-zero temps at sea level, the 1:9 should stabilize them just fine and I've gotten excellent accuracy from them.
I too have a Savage 11 in the .223 which I purchased in the late 1990's and its a 1:12 , I don,t what year it was that savage went to the 1:9 twist ?
Okie, it depends. Newer ones seem to be either 1:9 or 1:12. Older ones seem to be 1:12.
Before everyone starts arguing about .223 vs 5.56......out of the 5 .223 rifles I have messed with, 3 would shoot both with no issue but 2 would pop primers, one of which was a Savage and one was a T.C.
Be careful. Good .223 ammo is cheap enough.
Thanks guys this helps me out a lot. All my brass is trimmed to .223 specs according to my Speer manual and I only use the load data supplied in my manuals. So far my most accurate loads are for the 55 gr. bullet and are well below maximum according to the manuals.
I think you are on the right track,the only suggestion I have is trying benchmark powder in your .223 loads as it is very good powder to work with and great accuracy.The other powder I like is h322 or h335/blc-2 is a standard. Accurate came out with aa2230 which is also an excellent powder to get good accuracy. The 68 grain hornady worked real well in my 1 in 9 twist barrel.I hope this helps you.Any further questions just pm me.
You can always call Savage, give them the serial number and the can tell you the twist rate. Recent rifles are 1-9 twist, before that they were a 1-12 twist, but I don't know what year Savage changed it.
Joe
Or you could just run a tight patch down the barrel and measure how much cleaning rod you feed in before the rod makes a complete revolution. That's the most certain way.