Savage Model 340V .225 Winchester

[AJ]

A friend has a Savage Model 340V in .225 Winchester. He has been reloading for it and trying to find a decent load for it. So far the best he has been able to do is a 2 inch group at 100 yards benched. Not the shooter as he spent a lot of time in the Corps and qualified Expert every time. You can find some factory ammo out there, but it is extremely pricey. Any body have a known good loading in this caliber? TIA.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I've had at least six 340 over the last 45 years. Mostly 22 Hornets and one 30-30. I've tried to buy three 225's over the years, but they are always priced like high grade Winchester Model 70's!

In talking to my buddies that own and load for them, 1) keep the FPS below 3000 with 50/55 grain bullets, 2) Flat based bullets respond best, 3) Brass prep: Primer Pocket, Flash Hole, Uniform Trim Length & Neck Wall Thickness are all critical.

My experience with that series of rifle is, they prefer Ball style powders, such as WW748 and H335.

The 223 and 22-250 get much better velocity, so stick to slower accuracy loading.

The Split Action causes problems with scope mounting. Most models were drilled and tapped for the two-piece Weaver side mount cantilever bases (with Weaver rings). The scope axis will be 3/4" to left of bore axis and the mount will handle objective Lense bells of 44mm or a little more. On my Hornets I zero at 150 yards Knowing 300 is the practical limit. (Many rifles are missing the rear sight because it interferes with scope mounting; I found mounting the rear sight backwards works fine out to 150-175 yards, with a 100 yard zero.)

Ivan

 

[Hairtrigger]

When I was a kid, my neighbor had a Winchester 70 in 225

Being easily impressed when I had a couple of dollars I ended up buying one with a heavy barrel, somehow I ended up buying a second.

I have never purchased any 225 Winchester ammo I have reloaded everything I have ever shot in it. I will have to dig up my notes And find the data that I used. I do not shoot them much but probably 15 years ago I loaded up four or 500 rounds

 

[sandog]

When I was a youngster in central Texas I had a Winchester Model 670 in .225
I can't remember loads used, I don't recall every buying factory loaded ammo for it, always handloads.
I ran it at near full velocity and got slightly under MOA.
Can't imagine having to keep your loads at 3000 fps, might as well shoot a .222.
I always thought of the .225 as a semi rimmed .22-250, very close ballistically but the .22-250 has the edge.

 

[cmansguns]

check barrel to recoil lug and band nuts??

I cannot help with reload info but I can share something I found with my 340 (22 Hornet).

The metal to wood fit is critical with these barrel nut style rifles. I'm sure your friend has already checked this but maybe not, so check the tightness of barrel nut to recoil lug, and the tightness of barrel band to barrel band nut.

Those two fits could affect group size no matter the load or the competence of the shooter.

I for one really like the Savage platform of days gone by, but they were a cheap, working man's rifle...and I don't think they were meant for tack-driving duty...but they could do it!

 

[2152hq]

Lack of tiny grouping accuracy could be things like the scope mount,,the scope itself, bbl and/or action bedding being tight/loose/shifting.
Poor muzzle crown or a slightly out of square muzzle itself. Worn throat,
Rifling damaged right at the muzzle..
Or just a one-of mediocre quality bbl,,it can happen in any production bbl run.

Lots of factors to look at before trying to track down an accurate load for a specific rifle.

 

[AJ]

Have checked all that stuff 10 times over. Looking for load data that has worked for someone. If it is a 2 MOA rifle then so be it. But if someone can do better then let us know and will try to duplicate the load. But thanks for the reply.

 

[DWalt]

A load that groups well in someone else’s rifle doesn’t necessarily translate into one which groups well in your revolver. I have never been too excited by a quest for tiny groups. Unless you are a bench rest shooter or a very long range varminteer, 2” groups at 100 yards are perfectly acceptable and nothing to lose sleep over.

I once had a 340 in .222 Rem. Too long ago (>50 years) to remember details, but I did put a side mount scope on it and did some trigger smoothing work, as the factory trigger was sort of gritty. Not a tack driver but it was better than good enough for my purposes. It was a little ugly.

 

[mauser9]

Recall that round. Suppose to replace the 220 Swift if I remember correctly but slower and never really caught on. Had a Model 70 with sporter barrel in the early 70s. Had stamped checkering with 22 inch barrel.

 

[mtgianni]

I have owned to 30-30 Savage 340's and currently have a 222 in that gun. Leroy's ramblings are good when trying to diagnose issues.

Stevens 325 / Savage 340 Bolt Ac

Gunsmithing the Savage Model 34

I found a scope mount on Amazon a decade ago that centers the scope above the barrel. It helped me when shooting at distances over 100 yards.

None of mine have ever shot regularly under 1" but all have had loads between 1"-2" easily. Is your friend a reloader? I don't know if the 340 had the same twist rate as the original Winchester lever but you might need to change bullet weights to get upmost accuracy.

 

[AJ]

Is your friend a reloader?

Yes, he is a reloader and tries to wring the last ounce of accuracy out of his loadings.