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new user 1st post i just ordered a savage 110 with a 26 inch barrel, i have owned .223 bold actions before and sold them, i no longer reload so my question is factory ammo the barrel has a 1-9 twist what is the most accurate ammo to purchase so i dont pull my hair out sighting it in thanks in advance
I have found the Gold Medal Match that uses a 73 gn Berger is about the best for my .223s. Whatta Hobby!
Individual rifles can prefer different types of ammunition. I suggest testing several if the top loads using the 69gr-77gr pills. Don’t mess with FMJ or soft points for Target work. Look at Hollow tip/Ballistic tip match for most accurate.
And welcome to the Forum!
Federal Gold Medal, Black Hills, Lapua match ammo. Hornady has their 73gn ELD match ammo as well. I liked that bullet in my handloads but my preference was for the 77gn Sierra Match Kings. I never tried the Bergers or Lapuas in mine.
Your barrel may like different weights of bullets but will probably do best with the 69-77gn loads.
My M12 223rem 26''HB 1&9 shot the Nosler 69gn Custom Cop bullets the best with my hand loads, I think I used 22.3 or 22.7gns of H322, gave me an ave velocity of 2900fps, I could keep all my shots inside of a milk jug lid 1.5'' @200m from a factory gun,:cool:
Good call! I had forgotten that Nosler makes ammo as well. They had 77 and 69gn HPBT that were almost identical to the Sierras, and bit less expensive. Don't know what their ammo costs.
I noticed the ammo stock on the shelves in the stores is getting scarce again. Almost all the budget ammo is gone. Good news is the more expensive stuff is still there :)
Id say get back into reloading. Just pick up a Lee Challenger kit and a couple odd bits & you’ll still turn out better ammunition than anything off the shelf!
This may data help - data based on 1060 5-round groups at 100 yards with my 12 FV .223 with an Oryx chassis and a 26-inch barrel that is marked as a 9 twist.
I listed powders, weight, and bullets for 69 through 77 grain bullets.
I find that this rifle shoots 73 and 77 grain bullets really well, even thought Sierra and Hornady print on their boxes that they should only be shot in barrels with twists of 8 or faster.
Perhaps my barrel is closer to an 8.5 twist than a 9 twist.
Your barrel will probably have different bullet and powder preferences, but this may give you some ideas.
Sierra 12 FV .223 Oryx Chassis 9 twist & 26-inch barrel
# Rnds Powder Bullet Wgt Avg Best Vel
2 IMR4166 Nosler CC #17101 69 0.403 0.403 2953
13 IMR4166 Nosler CC #53065 69 0.310 0.358 2584
7 N540 Nosler CC #53065 69 0.283 0.314 2682
18 Varget Nosler CC #53065 69 0.258 0.227 2633
15 N140 RMR HPBT 69 0.296 0.303 2649
8 N540 RMR HPBT 69 0.322 0.290 2649
8 Varget RMR HPBT 69 0.286 0.258 2634
93 IMR4166 Sierra SMK # 1380 69 0.292 0.287 2590
32 N140 Sierra SMK # 1380 69 0.289 0.295 2654
34 N540 Sierra SMK # 1380 69 0.246 0.215 2680
24 Varget Sierra SMK # 1380 69 0.233 0.205 2672
6 H4895 Sierra TMK #7169 69 0.312 0.333 3042
96 IMR4166 Sierra TMK #7169 69 0.287 0.288 2586
39 N140 Sierra TMK #7169 69 0.288 0.299 2643
8 Varget Sierra TMK #7169 69 0.251 0.261 2617
11 H4895 Berger VLD #22418 70 0.286 0.254 3034
3 IMR4166 Berger VLD #22418 70 0.291 0.291 2581
6 H4895 Nosler RDF #53066 (2nds) 70 0.298 0.388 3036
8 N140 Nosler RDF #53066 (2nds) 70 0.280 0.267 2634
4 Varget Berger VTB # 22420 73 0.251 0.251 2606
8 H4895 Hornady ELD-M # 22774 73 0.264 0.251 2606
7 N140 Hornady ELD-M # 22774 73 0.273 0.262 2619
16 N540 Hornady ELD-M # 22774 73 0.238 0.230 2648
8 Varget Hornady ELD-M # 22774 73 0.216 0.214 2605
3 Varget Berger VLD # 22421 75 0.341 0.341 2605
4 N140 Hornady ELD-M # 22791 75 0.375 0.353 2604
17 N140 Berger OTM #22101 77 0.282 0.279 2598
4 N540 Berger OTM #22101 77 0.275 0.275 2620
8 Varget Berger OTM #22101 77 0.271 0.295 2584
12 H4895 Nosler CC #53064 77 0.280 0.274 2999
9 IMR4166 Nosler CC #53064 77 0.227 0.216 2760
4 N540 Nosler CC #53064 77 0.274 0.274 2629
12 H4895 Sierra SMK # 9377 77 0.237 0.195 2993
93 IMR4166 Sierra SMK # 9377 77 0.293 0.344 2546
83 N140 Sierra SMK # 9377 77 0.289 0.223 2599
22 N540 Sierra SMK # 9377 77 0.240 0.226 2613
16 Varget Sierra SMK # 9377 77 0.270 0.262 2578
205 IMR4166 Sierra TMK #7177 77 0.279 0.207 2539
61 N140 Sierra TMK #7177 77 0.282 0.229 2592
4 N540 Sierra TMK #7177 77 0.283 0.283 2613
CF, it looks like you have done your homework! this is just my opinion, I know some of you are not going to share the same opinion, first off let me say I'm a fan of the 223/5.56 in the right plat form, I know people use this cartridge to shoot long range on varmints, it's cheaper to shoot and reload than a lot of other cartridges out there, but for me I don't prefer this cartridge in a bolt gun, I have several AR's that I've built in the 223 Wylde chamber, and that's where this cartridge shines IMO, my M12 223rem in its factory forum is a good and accurate shooter, but I'm not happy with the 223rem in this rifle, that's just me, I put about 1400 shots thru this barrel and decided it's time for an upgrade in performance, I have not even shot this rifle in about 10yrs or longer, just sits in my safe, so changes are on the way! JMO for me so please understand my thinking, if you gonna shoot long range use a suitable Cartiedge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark611
I agree with Mark. For nearly two decades 223 has been one of my must have rounds, and I will forever have at least one firearm chambered for it. That said, in all those years I have never owned a 223 Bolt Gun. It’s always been an AR15 that I built, never bought. My top AR also has a 223 Wylde chamber, 1:8 twist. However, I certainly don’t blame shooters for using it in a 110. And yes, they will see the performance from it my AR’s may get close to, but never surpass. And that’s fine. Because that’s why I have my model 10 chambered in 260AI.
26", 9 twist, and don't reload ?? Go to sgammo . com And get an ammo can of IMI Mod1 77gr Razor Core.
These are loaded with Sierra Match Kings. Some time back, I tested these against the premium Black Hills,
and they shot the same for 40% less money.....Get the IMI mil spec brown box and not the green and white
box. Brown box, the brass is numbered in sequential order and the other is mixed. For what it's worth, there
is also the 69 grain, but did not shoot as well.