Range Report: Savage Axis II XP 223 Remington

I braved the blizzard today and drove to the range. I was rewarded by getting the place to myself. I shoot at a 100 yard indoor range.

I've been testing loads for Coyote hunting in my Savage Axis II XP 223 Remington. I've narrowed down my search to Sierra 60 grain Varminter HP with 25 grains of Hodgdon H4895 rifle powder.

My setup uses a Caldwell Lead Sled Solo. I switched the factory Weaver Kaspa for a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 BDC scope. I also swapped in a Boyd's lightweight Thumbhole stock.

I shot 45 rounds in 15 3-round groups. All the results are included here. The first two pages didn't blow me away, but then something weird happened on the last page. The groups tightened a bit. I wonder if the heating of the barrel has an effect on muzzle velocity. I feel like I can close the average group size to 1/2 MOA with a little more tweaking.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/3...876b31_z_d.jpg

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/320/30...65cd47_z_d.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/3...fcb83b_z_d.jpg

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/624/31...fcfcd1_z_d.jpg

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/598/30...24085d_z_d.jpg

Great job Kent! I think you have a typo....should be 25gr of H4895 right?

Oh god, yes. 25 grains. I don't think the cartridge will even take 35 gr.

Thanks for this post.

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This reminds me that i need to get my .223 hardwood out to the range for its first shots. Did you do anything, besides the stock, to make it more accurate? Any action bedding? Pillars?

My guess is that you clean the rifle after every use?

I do like clean rifles.

I haven't done anything hardcore. Unless you count sorting brass by weight.

I just torqued down the new stock. But, that is a pretty standard practice.

When I first shot my Axis, it had me scratching my head a while. The groups were not good. After about 100 rounds, the group sizes shrank dramatically. It was almost instantaneous when it happened.

Nice shooting.....and good looking rifle. I'm pretty sure you're load is good to go! Lol
Scooter

Very nice looking rifle. If it weren't for my propensity to shoot from either shoulder i'd get a thumb-hole stock.

Awesome work! Im in the process of my own axis 223 predator gun. Can't wait to get some stuff to post about.

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Good shooting. Groups probably got better because of fouling. Don't clean the barrel again until the accuracy goes away. Then Clean it and shoot about 20 rounds of shelf ammo to refoul it.