Looking For Advice - Sighting System etc. for Model 12 223

Salty

Salty

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
19   0   0
Location
East Fraser Valley BC
Let me start by saying although fairly knowledgeable about rifles I'm pretty much a Fudd. I do like seeing what I can grind out of my hunting rifles accuracy wise for sure but I've never put together a real target or precision rifle. That's about to change, good lord willing and if the crick don't rise I've got a Savage model 12 vlp dbm on the way. :ninja:

My purpose for this thing is to lay some heavy hurt on the 700 yard gong and otherwise do a lot of longer range shooting and have been jonesing for a precision rifle for a while. I own two other Savages a 16fcss and a LWH both in 260 btw and I actually like the accutrigger so this seemed like a good fit to scratch the itch and put together a for purpose bench type gun. I'm looking for advice from you experienced precision rifle guys on a couple things I guess...

Sighting - pretty much narrowed down to a Vortex HS or Sightron 11B in the 4-16 range but not sure what best to do with bases and rings. I don't think I'd need a 20moa base with these optics but is it still a good plan to get a one piece base/rail? Seems to be the norm in this class of rifle? How about rings... I'm pretty much a Talley lightweight guy for hunting rigs but weight is somewhat less of a concern here. :D Bottom line obviously I want a dead solid lock up and looking for ideas.

Reloading/ammo - I'm thinking lapua brass? I like Redding dies, good plan or are there others you'd recommend. How about factory ammo I'll try some for kicks... how about some of the bulk stuff kind of tempting to shoot for lazy and cheap. I'll be leaning on the reloading but looking for recommendations on both decent factory plinkers and maybe a box or two of match.

In the planning stages here waiting on payment for another pending sale to fund the optics and stuff, any advice on this is appreciated. :)
 
Last edited:
"Fudd" a derogatory term.
You planning on using a .260 out to 700 yards? If so, you may want to re-think it. A 140 grain Remington factory Accu-tip with a 200 yard zero drops 41.7 inches at 500. A 140 Express drops 47.2". Not exactly a long range cartridge.
Think .308 Win with 175 grain match bullets(Hornady 178's or Sierra 175's) and IMR4064 with the Model 12. Sierra makes heavier Matchkings, but those are mostly for the .300 Win Magnum, et al. Way heavier rifles than the Savage.
What sights you put on doesn't matter much. However, if you're planning on shooting competitively(yes you do. Great fun and great people) read the rules for whichever course of fire you're looking at first. Not all of 'em allow scopes.
There is a BCRA too. Same games. Same rules.
http://www.bcrifle.org/
Lapua brass is fine if you want to overpay for brass. You don't need premium brass for anything.
 
Fudd is not a derogatory term at all in my circles. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously, seriously. And, I'm well aware of the trajectory of the 260 not that that has anything to do with my questions here.

Any advice on outfitting this model 12 223 rifle still appreciated. Thanks.
 
I like your choices of the Lapua brass it last longer and is tougher then most, I run a sightron and love it. You could go with Nightforce rings they have been good for me and yes to the rail get a good one.
What barrel are you going to put on it or are you using factory Savage barrel. Once you start reloading and get a load dialed in, youll have a blast making the gong ring !!!!
If your looking to try match grade ammo, buy some lapua in the weights you want to try and youll still have the brass to reload after.
 
Yeah I recently started working with lapua brass well worth the money imo in the long run its cheaper as the brass lasts big time. Factory lapua ammo... gone one didn't even think of that its pricey but then there's the quality brass left... nice.

What kind of Sightron do you have Barnard? And I have no experience with nightforce rings other than they are pretty spendy iirc... worth it you figure eh?
 
My Fudd comment was kind of directed at myself, because that how a lot of these young whipper-snappers think of us Target Rifle shooters. Shooting our rifles with iron sights and actually shooting these rifles prone off our elbows without a front rest and sandbags all the way out to 1000 yards. Madness I tell you...
 
.223 is a lightweight cartridge for 700 yards. If you have your heart set on LR shooting with a .223 I'd reccomend rebarrel with a faster twist rate to stabilize heavier bullets with better B.C.'s to milk all you can from her. I can hit my 13" turbine disc at 500 yards, no problem with my .223 but I'm not looking for more than that with that cartridge (it's my gopher gun...)

So stretching it out, get a 20-30moa scope rail and optics with a fairly wide adjustment range. 30mm tubes on a scope tend to yield more travel than a 1" tube.
 
Thanks for that 1Shot great stuff on that thread particularly glad to find the link to Jerry's article tons of info there albeit much of it beyond my purposes but great to know. I should have said, my rifle is a 9 twist factory barrel no plans to change it for now so the heaviest of the .224 bullets won't be in the cards for me.
 
75 gr bullets will work. You might also get lucky and 80 gr bullets could work, but you need to use 2 scoops of powder to get them going fast enough.
 
I was hoping for 75gr bullets to work thanks maynard. So sounds like Varget is the powder of choice, how about TAC I thought that was a good 223 powder? I happen to have a couple pounds. ..
 
sunray said:
"Fudd" a derogatory term.
You planning on using a .260 out to 700 yards? If so, you may want to re-think it. A 140 grain Remington factory Accu-tip with a 200 yard zero drops 41.7 inches at 500. A 140 Express drops 47.2". Not exactly a long range cartridge.
Think .308 Win with 175 grain match bullets(Hornady 178's or Sierra 175's) and IMR4064 with the Model 12. Sierra makes heavier Matchkings, but those are mostly for the .300 Win Magnum, et al. Way heavier rifles than the Savage.
What sights you put on doesn't matter much. However, if you're planning on shooting competitively(yes you do. Great fun and great people) read the rules for whichever course of fire you're looking at first. Not all of 'em allow scopes.
There is a BCRA too. Same games. Same rules.
http://www.bcrifle.org/
Lapua brass is fine if you want to overpay for brass. You don't need premium brass for anything.
Click to expand...
A 260 loaded with 140 gr Berger VLD actually outperformes the 308 with 175 gr Sie M all the way out to 1000y and have less wind drifts than 300 win mag loaded with 190 gr Sie M at 1000y.

For sure go with 20 moa 1 pc base, It's nice to have the extra moa if you decide to shoot beyond 700y. I like the Burris Signature rings, it comes with the plastic inserts that are easy on the scope finish.
 
To OP, Hrn 75gr BTHP over Varget, CCI 450, Win brass will cover all that you want to do. Nosler, Sierra, Berger all make suitable bullets and 500yds is a no brainer. We have shot similar bullets well beyond 1000yds :-0

If you are considering Sightron, SII Big Sky 6.5-20X50 LRMOA. Nothing even close in a 1" scope for LR shooting. If you have a few more dollars to spend, the SIII series.

Base and rings - several great options that will not break the bank.

Bed the action properly. Enjoy...

Jerry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom