Savage M11 .223 and developing a load for it.

[AJ]

I have a Savage M11 that I have had over 5 years. It has an Nikon 3-9X scope. Had what I thought were good loads for it. A couple of weeks ago got a good deal on 500 Sierra Match Kings 53 grain flat based bullets. Had been using Sierra Match King 52 grain boat tails. We tried H-335 with 23.3, 23.4 and 23.5 grains of powder. None of the groups were over 1MOA. The one below is the best. Think I might stay with it after a bit more testing. Old and retired, lots of time to play.

Dime sized group. The dime is a Barber dime and is dated 1910, my Grandfather carried it in his wallet as it was the year he was born.

 

[IAM Rand]

I would just about call it a day with that grouping. No heartburn there. I am working with A2520, Benchmark, and 3031 right now. Using 62 FMJ and 77gr HPBT. Not getting close to that but, using an AR platform.

 

[Sevens]

Gorgeous group and you'll probably have long life with that brass as those loads don't seem heavy to me.

I'm using a heavier dose H-335 for my prairie dog gun, albeit under the 50gr V-Max. I don't see my setup laying down a hole that small with a 10-shot group. Could it? Possibly, but I would not bet money on it.

However... I bag more of those critters every year and at longer distances, too. I'm launching them from a Howa 1500 with 24-inch heavy barrel and a big Vortex glass on top.

 

[LVSteve]

Did you have to sort the bullets for consistency or are they all very close in tolerance for weight and diameter.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Gorgeous group and you'll probably have long life with that brass as those loads don't seem heavy to me.

I'm using a heavier dose H-335 for my prairie dog gun, albeit under the 50gr V-Max. I don't see my setup laying down a hole that small with a 10-shot group. Could it? Possibly, but I would not bet money on it.

However... I bag more of those critters every year and at longer distances, too. I'm launching them from a Howa 1500 with 24-inch heavy barrel and a big Vortex glass on top.

This sound like my accuracy load for my Coope 21 in 223/ 1:10 twist, 1/8" 5 shot on centers @ 100, with a Leupold 6.5-20x40mm AO.

My Savage 11 in 223 is a 1:9 twist and has an 8-25x 50mm AO Leupold. At 200 yards, I hold the local gun gang record of 7 consecutive M&M's. It groups the same with 75 grain A-Max or Berger 77 VLD's Over Varget. @00 yard groups are like the OP's, smaller than a dime! At 1000 yards in a Boyd BR stock it gets 3" In the factory over molded stock it gets 5"

This summer I picked up a Rem 700 in a Laminated varmint thumb hole stock, that has been re-barreled by Kelby (THE BR guys!) I just haven't got a chance the see what it does yet, but I'm expecting spectacular results!

I found that H-322, H-335, Benchmark and Varget, are the powders for this size case! Win 748, IMR 3031, and IMR 8208 Do very good in some rifles too. [8208 is supposed to be the T-32 replacement for Bench Rest, but I found Win 748 to be better, at least the lots I had. I ended up using 8208 to make a batch of Ball 308, which the old T-32 was a pull down from non spec. 308 tracer rounds. It does much better in the 2" (51mm) length cases I load.]

If I was limited to only one powder for mid-size non-magnum rounds, It would be either Varget or IMR 3031 Vargt for lighter 3031 for heavier bullets.

Ivan

 

[AJ]

Did you have to sort the bullets for consistency or are they all very close in tolerance for weight and diameter.

Don't sort them at all. Just take them from the box and seat them in the case.

 

[Sevens]

Good grief, 3-inch groups at ONE THOUSAND YARDS….?!

Show me pictures of this!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Good grief, 3-inch groups at ONE THOUSAND YARDS….?!

Show me pictures of this!

I didn't take a picture, and I don't post pics. Sorry.

Ivan

 

[AJ]

That is near World's Record Performance. New 1,000 Yard World Record Set With Berger Bullets | Berger Bullets

 

[hardluk1]

AJ - I've had a savage/stevens 200 in 223 1-9 twist since about 2010 and added a rifle basic trigger adjusted to 1lb and a much older but very clear tasco 4-16x40 made in Japan scope with an early ranging recital and dial for different game . I think I may have bought this scope back in the mid to late '70's ? It is just one more great affordable savage rifle that shoots small ragged holes with a number of factory and home rolled ammo from 55gr to 68gr bthp match ammo .

I spent my first 42 years in collier county and loved to hunt deer and hogs down there Before the park service claimed most of everything mucked in all up . 26 or 27 years later its western NC mountains.

 

[HarpHack]

I loaded a box of .270 for a friend with a new Savage Axis and was astonished at the tight groups he brought back. Cheap rifle but they seem to pay attention to the parts that count.

 

[AJ]

I loaded a box of .270 for a friend with a new Savage Axis and was astonished at the tight groups he brought back. Cheap rifle but they seem to pay attention to the parts that count.

A friend picked up a bunch of 270 brass, bullets and dies in a estate deal. So he bought an Axis, to have something in which to shoot it all in. Seems to be a good rifle. His only complaint is the trigger guard whacks his finger under recoil, has large hands. Taking some off of the trigger with a file a bit at a time until he gets it right for him. He is working up loads for it now. As an aside he is the one who made the ammo that I am shooting in my M11.

 

[HarpHack]

The Axis I spoke of did suffer from light strikes at first and upon disassembling the bolt I found a part which was clearly backwards. No problems after that fix. I am pleased to see Savage still in the game and hope they keep it up for many decades to come. This thread is not the first place I have seen unexpected fine accuracy mentioned.

 

[Jebus35745]

Nice group AJ, those Savage rifles can shoot. Old and retired is a great thing but now you're entering "group therapy". Enjoy the warm weather and shooting from a bench. Larry

 

[AJ]

Nice group AJ, those Savage rifles can shoot. Old and retired is a great thing but now you're entering "group therapy". Enjoy the warm weather and shooting from a bench. Larry

Larry,

Thanks for the kind words. Shooting from the bench is easier and better on "old beat up bodies" (read mine). Many moons ago the prefered position was Off-Hand at 200 yards with a 12 inch bull. At 500 yards it was prone with a 20 inch bull. Now if I got down in the prone, would need the Grandsons to pick me up. In the Off-Hand, I wobble like a drunk.........Old is no fun.

AJ

 

[AlHunt]

None of the groups were over 1MOA. The one below is the best. Think I might stay with it after a bit more testing. Old and retired, lots of time to play.

The only thing left to do is drop back to 2 or 300 yards. Then start obsessing over matching bullets, case capacity, neck thickness ... there's quite a rabbit trail in long range shooting.

 

[max503]

I'm happy when my Tikka splats water filled pop cans at 300 yards with H-335 powder and bulk, 52 grain boolits. It wears a 6X18 Leupold.

 

[Miracle Man]

The only thing left to do is drop back to 2 or 300 yards. Then start obsessing over matching bullets, case capacity, neck thickness ... there's quite a rabbit trail in long range shooting.

For sure !!

I got very deep in one with a 22-250 many years ago. Weighing every case and bullet, neck turning. Stoney point cartridge depth gauge. Dozen different powders, dozen different bullets, on and on.

I had some good results with H4895 in 223 a few years ago, AR platform though.

 

[AJ]

The only thing left to do is drop back to 2 or 300 yards. Then start obsessing over matching bullets, case capacity, neck thickness ... there's quite a rabbit trail in long range shooting.

We only have a 2 firing points that are 200 yards. I am happy with the load for the most part at 100 yards. Will get around to shooting 200 yards at some point. I doubt I will ever get serious enough to doing at the accuracy fine points to get where some are.

 

[AlHunt]

For sure !!

I got very deep in one with a 22-250 many years ago. Weighing every case and bullet, neck turning. Stoney point cartridge depth gauge. Dozen different powders, dozen different bullets, on and on.

I had some good results with H4895 in 223 a few years ago, AR platform though.

"The Reloading Podcast" a few years back had a long range guy as co-host and did a long on again / off again series of episodes about 1000 yd shooting. It's interesting the extremes these guys go to, making sure each and every round is precisely the same. Measuring the water capacity of each case but making sure the meniscus is exactly the same case to case for example.

Not for me, but interesting. I recently has a '93 Mauser action barreled back to 6.5 Swede and I look forward to seeing what I can do ... within reason.