Most Accurate bullet for .223 12 FV factory spec gun

I picked Nosler 60 gr ballistic tips (I have 500 of them) and Varget to start with. 25.5 shows some promise, 26.5 is a little vertical. No pressure signs. Wolf ar-15 primers. Primers flat but not "spread" all over the case. I will try 27 and see if the 26.5 tightens back up. Ran from 24.5 to 26.5 in .5 gr increments. All 5 shot groups all under MOA at 100 yds. 25.5 was under 3/4".
Question: What is the most accurate bullet you shoot out of your Savage 12 FV. I want to see what the rifle will do.
Thanks rc

Every rifle will shoot differently with different bullets. Pick the company with the ads that appeal to you most and try it out ;D

IMO you can't go wrong with anything from Berger or Sierra

As stated every barrel has it own personality what works for some may not work for all.

If your looking for most accurate bullet for a 22, All I can say is competition shooters shoot 52 gr bullets that are custom hand made, by company's like Bart's, BIB, Starke, Zia, ETC. Try them behind Vitavori N133 powder, and a different primer like a Remington 7 1/2, CCI BR, or federal match. That combination has worked well in about every 223 I have tried.

Ok, I wasn't clear. I have and will try smk 52 and 53 gr, I have some burger 30's that I shoot in my hornet. I have a variety of 55's, I have 70 and 80 gr amax's that I use with my 1-8 ar 24" full bull barrel.

My post was asking about what people had settled on for their own 12 fv's. This is my first savage and I am fascinated by everything about it. I have been shooting for 50 years and this rifle is truely inovative and unique. I always talked about owning a truely switch barrel rifle and now it is within my grasp. I have read of someone shooting the 75 gr hornady with RL 15 and may try that.

WHAT bullet have any 12 fv shooters settled on as their own personnel most accurate bullet and what do they use it for (if you feel like adding that.

Call it an old man's curiosity. thanks rc

60 gr. NBT or VMax's with 25.5 of Varget or TAC. With the 1-9" twist, I get better accuracy with the 60 gr. than with the 52-53 gr. match bullets.

If your 12 FV is new, give it some time (rounds) most get better with a few hundred down the tube.

53gr Sierra Matchkings in front of 24.8gr of IMR8208XBR gives me 100yd. five shot groups in the 1's and 2's. My rifle is an LRPV with a 1:9 twist.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by max

53gr Sierra Matchkings in front of 24.8gr of IMR8208XBR gives me 100yd. five shot groups in the 1's and 2's. My rifle is an LRPV with a 1:9 twist.

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How far are you seating into the lands?

RC I have both a 10fp and a 12vlp and have shot 60gr & 64gr(old stock) hornady and 63gr sierras all soft points and with 23.8gr and 24gr of imr 4895 find almost no difference in accuracy. Now today I loaded 60gr sierra varminter hp but I will not be able to try them until Sunday.
These are pretty close to max loads so if you try work up slowly.

..I've shot holes with 40's,50's,55's & 69's...Just a matter of dialing them in...The most used bullet is the Nos. 50's with Benchmark & CCI 400's...40's-55's are for varmints...69's are paper...

12 VLP DBM LH .223 rem

I like the 69gr sierra HPBT with 25.3 gr BL-c(2) Meters real nice. ES 32 and 38 fps with 25.1 and 25.4 gr powder.


I tested loads from 23.9gr to 26.0gr in .3 gr increments and the sweet spot for Extreme spread, standard deviation and group size was the 25.1gr and 25.4 gr loads. 0.018" off lands at 2.340" COAL.

I'm interested in shooting 600-1000 yards so have ruled out the 60 gr and below. G7 BC for the 69 sierra MK and 68gr hornady BTHP .169 . The 75 gr a-maxes are .212 G7.

I find the Hornady 68gr BTHP almost Identical to the sierras for load velocity and accuracy. The price on them is almost $8 per 100 cheaper. I have loaded up the 68grs with the same as the sierra load 25.3 gr and can't wait to try them out. If they work the same they will be my under 700 yard load. At some point this load development gets in the way of shooting.

Also for those summer days having a great time with 75gr a-maxes so far out to 822 yards. I suspect I won't be able to stabilize them then the temp goes down out of the 1-9 twist. Miller Stability factor was 1.01. Shooting at 15"x12" steel with a centre flapper 2.75" wide x 5.75: tall. I only had 5 rounds left this day. Missed first ??. Second seen 2.75 moa low. Dialed correction and the next 3 through the centre flapper at 822 yards. I have 50 more of those loaded up now. Powder and load in book at home(on the road now) but they would fit and feed at 2.440" COAL putting them .038 from lands. I need to do a workup and settle on a good load of those.

Have fun shooting.

Here's a Video of mine of some 69gr sierra with varget at 686 yards. Also an accurate load.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynATgT0S-90

That is a great video. Pull away shot at the end says it all.

Thanks to all who are posting your findings on this thread. Been kind of an eye opener this year for me with the RL-17 and heavy bullets in .308 and now this savage gun at 1-9 and people talking 75 gr stabilizing for the 600+ shooters. Heck, just the fact that this rifle is what it is amazes me. I will pick a stock and buy my barrel nut wrench and I guess some sort of action wrench then start with my caliber/barrel selection.

I will set up some 52 and 53 smks for this weekend. Also some 75 gr amax and post whatever seems best.

Again, thanks to all. rc

I'm seating the bullet to an OAL of 2.315" (or a comp OAL of 2.895).This is too long for a magazine but fine for shooting singles. I believe that mags restrict the length to 2.260".

24.2 gr Varget 75gr A-MAX 5 shot .45" at 100.
Tried from 23.6 through 25 gr. 24.2 was the node for my gun. I will shoot these at 600 next weekend (weather and wife permitting). My 1-9 shoots the Savage A-MAX (at least for 100)
Still want to try the 52 and 53 SMK's (flat base vs boat tail).
thanks to all. rc

75gr A-maxes COAL 2.440" (as long as my mag and 0.038" off lands). Loaded these up with 25.4 gr BL-C(2). Got load from loaddata.com and just below max. Showed no pressure signs Velocity 2861fps average over 6 shots. Good ES and SD but don't have info on the road with me. OK Group picture below.

100 yards
[img width=600 height=356]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx232/hifly78/Savage/75grHdyA-max2828fps254grBL-c2.jpg[/img]

Shot these out at 822 yards. New Steel target I made is 18"x30" (6X6" trapdoor). Dead Calm day on monday, high humidity 75F 29.22" Hg absolute.

Most through the trapdoor. I suspect that my scope clicks is off from calculated (.285moa per click my calc) I needed 88 up vs 82 to be through the door. I played with the numbers and either my bullet G7 .212 of the hornady is off to .195 or my scopes clicks are in error (.268 vs .285) I had only tested the scope one turn up and measured to calculate clicks at 100 yards last year. I suspect I need to go 2 to 3 full turns up and remeasure as well as confirm the range at my 100 yard range to get better control of this scope. This could be throwing out my calculations.

I then took out this load to 901M (985 yards) This was as far as I could get back and see the target due to vegetation. Clicks up corrected based on 822 yards findings then 5 shots with no spotter. Couldn't make out any hits. Seeing poor due to drizzle and humidity. I had a video camera with a 20 power optical lens directly behind me. After video review on a big screen tv at home I actually hit 4 out of 5 shots (maybe the 5th too but couldn't tell) I plan on putting up the video on the youtube next week when home again.

A-maxes still show above the speed of sound at 1000 yards. Loving these in the summer. Way less drift then the 68,69gr at long ranges. 50-60s well below the speed of sound at these ranges and too much drift.

Have fun, let us know how the 75 gr a-maxes work four you.

Also the 75 gr BTHP from hornady shooting well. This is also with 25.4gr BL-C(2). Picture below.

They are a G7 about .189 so not as good but due to shorter length should be able to use them through the winter. They Chrono came out at 2826fps. Seated about 0.020" off lands. I can't remember COAL but since shorter and no problem fitting in magazine.

[img width=600 height=356]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx232/hifly78/Savage/28-2010Aug12774fpsVarget235gr75grHdyBTHP.jpg[/img]