Load for Savage 223 PC rifle?

terez

terez

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I am looking for a good all around load for my Savage Precision Carbine 223 20in 1:9 rifle.
NOT looking to stretch the envelope of performance or accuracy....this is a 20in field gun I will be using for plinking from 100 ~300yds but would like to use a bullet suitable for coyotes when that opportunity arises which will be plenty.
Want to avoid the very light or heavy extremes too.
I'm thinkin a 55~60gr bullet ??

Something that is easy on the gun and brass, uses commonly sourced powder/bullet combo and is known to shoot well in this gun??

Thanks in advance.

PS I've got 300 good quality once fired cases already processed on the ole Rockchucker production line so am ready to prime/powder/seat/crimp and go.
 
I have the same rifle and, for the most part, it seems to like the lighter loads and recommended OAL (to feed reliable from the mag). With the bullet weights your looking at, I've had good results with the Nosler Varmegeddon 55gr HP's (haven't tried the poly tipped ones yet). During my load development with CFE223 and CCI BR4 primers at 2.230" OAL, the 5 shot groups tested from 26.9gr up to 27.8gr were all less than 1 inch at 100 yards. 27.2gr gave me 2950 fps and seemed to group the best. When I verified with 5 more groups of 5, the average was 0.721" and ranged from 0.393" to 0.985". Results were similar when I tried with the regular CCI-400 primers too.
 
I've had excellent results with the varmegeddon hp and ballistic tip test groups 25 gr varget and recommended col. Sub moa in savage axis. Both in the 55 gr shot at 100 yds. I've regularly been shooting the 53 vmax 25.4 gr varget recommended col and they have worked almost as well (sub moa at 100 yds). The 53 gr vmax is a boat tail unlike the varmegeddon.
 
So I have the same rifle and it seems to hate lighter bullets. Anything less than 60 gr isn't very accurate, but as soon as you move up to 60 gr it shoots the nuts off of flies at 200 yards.
 
It all depends on what you consider acceptable accuracy. My FCP-k also has 1in9 twist, and loves 60 gr vmax, hovering around .5 moa plus or minus a bit depending on me. If that bullet works good in your gun, you should be set. I was using 22gr 3031 behind it. I have a batch of 55gr vmax rolled, but I haven't shot any yet, so not sure what that will be like.
 
Best group I ever got was with the OP's exact rifle.

100 yard distance | .191” 5 shot group (.415-.224=.191) | -2 degrees | From bench with Bipod and rear bag

LOAD DATA:

60gr Hornady Vmax | 24gr IMR 4895 | .020 off lands | 1.962 to Ogive | Neck Sized | Federal Brass | CCI Primer
 
I just tried the 40gr varmegeddons in my cz 527(also a 1:9 twist) varmint. and with 27.5 grs of win 748 was grouping .301" @ 100yrds. thinking i will stick with it for a while
 
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