I have a savage axis xp stainless in .223 which has a twist rate of 1 in 9 and have been trying reloades with varget from 25 grains to 27 grains the bullet used is a 55 grain Speer varmint. I have set the col at 10 thou back from the rifling. I am not getting the grouping I would like so am looking for some input from 223 loaders. Would going to the 62 grain be better for that twist rate or just a different bullet altogether. I have had very good luck with Speer bullets in 270. Any help would be good as I have heard that these rifles are very accurate .I have also checked scope mounts for tightness and barrel for free floating with paper and all seems well. Thanks in advance for any help.
223 problems
- Thread starter rboule
- Start date
Try a slightly faster powder, H335, BL-C2 or H4198 are all good powders for the 55gr bullet. The 1:9 twist should stabilize the 55gr bullet but is optimized for the 62-69gr bullets. That said, I've never seen a 1:9 not shoot well with 55gr bullets. You should be getting 0.5 to 0.8MOA groups with that bullet. Varget works really well with 69-80gr bullets in 1:8 or 1:7 twist barrels.
I found 69 SMK over 24.5 Varget, BR4 primers, Lapua case, touching the lands, 9 twist barrel gives me 1/4 MOA consistently. I use that load to shoot eggs at 300yds.
My Savage/Stevens 200 .223 has a longer throat than my two AR15 rifles which make me wonder what your OAL is and if you are actually .010 off the lands. With my .223 rifle and Hornady 55 grain FMJ bullets I loaded for my AR 15 rifles I average between 1 1/2 to 1 inch groups if I'm having a good day.
The Savage/Stevens 200 .223 I have has a .0566 throat length vs the SAAMI .0250 and the AR15 .0500 throat length.
HOLLIGER ON .223/5.56 CHAMBERS
http://www.radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm
As you can see the Savage chamber reamer is similar to the JGS and PTG reamers below.
My Savage/Stevens 200 has a factory 26 inch heavy barrel, 1 in 9 twist and likes Hornady 68 and 75 bullets with Varget. And remember Savage made the chamber big enough for any type .223/5.56 cartridge with plenty of room left over to fit the company Lawyer in also. Meaning the longer throat which means the ability of seating your bullets longer and warmer loads than listed in the reloading manuals with "shorter" throats.
This doesn't mean the lighter bullets will not shoot well in your rifle, but as stated above you may be better of with a faster powders. And if your rifles is new you need to put a few hundred round down the tube to break it in before your group size settles down.
Below some very good info from AccurateShooter.com and make sure you click on the free Sierra load data for the .223 and 5.56 at this link.
223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/
The Savage/Stevens 200 .223 I have has a .0566 throat length vs the SAAMI .0250 and the AR15 .0500 throat length.
HOLLIGER ON .223/5.56 CHAMBERS
http://www.radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm
As you can see the Savage chamber reamer is similar to the JGS and PTG reamers below.
My Savage/Stevens 200 has a factory 26 inch heavy barrel, 1 in 9 twist and likes Hornady 68 and 75 bullets with Varget. And remember Savage made the chamber big enough for any type .223/5.56 cartridge with plenty of room left over to fit the company Lawyer in also. Meaning the longer throat which means the ability of seating your bullets longer and warmer loads than listed in the reloading manuals with "shorter" throats.
This doesn't mean the lighter bullets will not shoot well in your rifle, but as stated above you may be better of with a faster powders. And if your rifles is new you need to put a few hundred round down the tube to break it in before your group size settles down.
Below some very good info from AccurateShooter.com and make sure you click on the free Sierra load data for the .223 and 5.56 at this link.
223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/
