223 1x9 24" bbl 52 grain loads

[GaCop]

I've been trying them in a 1 in 9 twist 223 Heavy barrel Savage I built in April. To date, I've been getting groups similar to yours at 200 yards and I've even tried jamming them into the lands with no improvement. I used Varget, and 748 to date with unimpressive results. I've gone back to 69 grain SMKs and 70 grain Bergers with far better results.

[Bill C]

I've been trying them in a 1 in 9 twist 223 Heavy barrel Savage I built in April. To date, I've been getting groups similar to yours at 200 yards and I've even tried jamming them into the lands with no improvement. I used Varget, and 748 to date with unimpressive results. I've gone back to 69 grain SMKs and 70 grain Bergers with far better results.

Well at 200 yards, the 69 and especially the 70 VLD will take a lot more wind than the 52. Still, I wonder what it is about a savage barrel that just doesn't like these bullets....I also brought velocities down to 3000 fps and also cranked them up without any signs of improvement.

I have been seriously considering the 69 SMK and 70 VLD as well. They're good bullets. However, Hornady's 75 groups well for me, are less expensive, and are supposedly ballistically superior to both.

I'm thinking a 50-60 grain flat base for a good short range bullet? Logic holds that for reduced distances, shoot reduced bullets.

Bill