Never loaded .223 before, lymans 49th sais best bullet weight selection depends on twist rate.:o.If some ol pros could lend some advice here I`d be much abliged...I`ve loaded lots of 30-30 and 30-06 but this is a new venture
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Never loaded .223 before, lymans 49th sais best bullet weight selection depends on twist rate.:o.If some ol pros could lend some advice here I`d be much abliged...I`ve loaded lots of 30-30 and 30-06 but this is a new venture
The Savage 223 youth mine got was a 1:9 twist. The best thing to do is to verify with a tight patch on a jag and put a mark on your cleaning rod and measure how many inches to complete one revolution of the rod.
If 1:9, you should fine with bullets up to 70-75 grains. Target or hunting? Range? For hunting loads, my 10 yr old uses 65 gr Sierra GameKings. For target and fun he shots 52 or 55s.
Luck, Tim
Thanx tiny, you are correct its a 1 in 9 twist, should eat just about anything 75 and under
Thanx tiny, you are correct its a 1 in 9 twist, should eat just about anything 75 and under
Don't count on that. Just sighted in a model 12 1:9 on Thurs. for a friend and we used 52,60 & 75 grain. At 100 yards the 52's grouped just over .3, the 60's were at .5 and the 75's went right around an inch maybe a tad bigger.
Not saying the 75's don't shoot just that for shooting group or score matches I would prefer to develope the 60 grainers myself, by playing with the seating depth and the load I think he can turn his into a .2 gun for 100 yd.and be competetive with a stock factory gun.
The 60 grn Nosler Partition is a good hunting bullet and shoots great in my 1 in 9 twist Savage. I've heard the Winchester 64 grn Power Point is also an excellent choice with a 1 in 9 twist.
Mine prefers the Berger 73 gr and 25 gr of varget with the bullets into the rifleing..At 100 yards it will do 5 shot groups in about 5/16 inch..But then again mine has a solid 1 inch straight bull barrel,26 inch..69 gr sierras are another good choice with the same load data..
But like with any other rifles you will have to do the trial and error thing like we all have had to do in the past..
I have the same rifle and it is 1:9. Mine loves hornady 55 grain V-Max over 26 grains of Winchester 748 with CCI primers. I like the 748 powder as it is easy on the barrel (also weighs very consistant being a ball powder).