New to Precision Shooting!

[JR45]

I just purchased a NIB Savage Model 12 VSS with a 26" heavy fluted barrel.223 (1-9 twist)


What is the ideal bullet weight out to 500 yrds?

Thanks,
John

[Paprpuncr]

What Caliber is it ?

[JR45]

Sorry............. .223 1-9 twist

[Dennis]

9 twist, I had good luck with the 69 grain smk's using RL15.

I am sure you will get a lot of different opinions on this question.

Dennis

[HAMPS]

69 SMK with Varget gave a .235 group at 100.

[Jay24bal]

I also have had very good luck with all three rifles I own chambered in .223 using 69 gr SMKs with Varget. All three loads are between 25.2 and 25.9 grains.

[earl39]

69, 75, or 77gr should do the trick

[Texas10]

Ya gotta see this.. http://gunblast.com/Savage_12VSS.htm

[Texas Solo]

With the 1/9 twist, 69 grain bullets are a no brainer.
You might get up to 77's to fly, but why waste the materials during load development? At 600yds, you prolly won't see a difference.

[Texas10]

Go to Palmetto State Armory website and buy a dozen or so boxes of American Eagle AE223GTV tipped ammo ( $5.89 per 20 on sale now) and shoot the snot out of them, all they way out to 500 yds. Once you become real familiar with how your new gun shoots with that load, and you need something better, then it's time to start working up a better load.
These are like Chocolate Ice Cream for my BVSS in 223. I can create loads that shoot better in certain conditions however, I can't seem to better this load for all around accuracy and consistency under varying conditions.

Today I shot a load of 69 gr, Nosler Custom Competition at 300 yds and thought I was doing pretty good……until I finished off the day by shooting 5 of those dang American Eagles. Went home with my tail between my legs.