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Just got a savage 12 1:9 twist questions

jonk
Hooray for gunbroker... got a nice Savage slightly used at a good price. My first time in .223 reloading. It has a 1:9 twist barrel. Am I correct in thinking this will nominally do best with a bit heavier bullet, say 55 gr and up?

Also: can anyone recommend a good bore guide for cleaning this? I have not been impressed with bore guides in the past but this is different than my average ratty old milsurp and I don't want to spill solvent in the action.
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  • dandak1
    My savage 116FSS in .223 shoots Nosler 40 and 50 gn ballistic tips with superb accuracy. With the fast twist it also does good with the Speer 70 grain round nose. As for bore guides i use the good old MTM black plastic guide, kind of need to get a better fitting one myself. You bought yourself a superb rifle, enjoy.
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  • shoff14
    You will probably find that it will max out at 62 grain bullets or so. It might work ok with 65 and 69 grain, something you will have to try. Just note that Hornady makes a 68 grain bullet that is probably too long for the rifle to stabilize. In comparison Sierra's 69 grain bullet is about .110" shorter.
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  • sandwarrior
    jonk,

    I've shot great groups with mine clear down to 45 gr. bullets. What really surprised me was that I could get 75 gr. Hornady HPBT's and 77 gr. Nosler CC's and Sierra SMk's to stabilize.

    For that rifle I use 25-25.2 gr. of RE-15. I found that what my AR likes, chambered in 5.56 NATO, is a little hot for my Savage 12 and it's standard throat.

    The load it likes best is either 24 gr. of AA2015 behind a 60 V-Max or 25 gr. of 2495 behind that same bullet. That pushes them out at 3100 fps.

    Good luck with this. It's a great rifle.
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  • jonk
    I have BLC2, 335, 4198, 3031, and 4895 on the shelf of things I could try. All of those should do acceptably. Who knows, maybe 1 will rock, it doesn't have to be a real whiz bang top end speed wise if accurate to punch paper. But am thinking of a more dedicated powder for the gun. I like the idea of RE-15 or 2495 though. They would also do well as reduced load powders for cast rifle applications I think.
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  • sandwarrior
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    I have BLC2, 335, 4198, 3031, and 4895 on the shelf of things I could try. All of those should do acceptably. Who knows, maybe 1 will rock, it doesn't have to be a real whiz bang top end speed wise if accurate to punch paper. But am thinking of a more dedicated powder for the gun. I like the idea of RE-15 or 2495 though. They would also do well as reduced load powders for cast rifle applications I think.


    If you want top end speed for midrange weight bullets 4895 of the ones you mentioned will do it. That or 335. BL-C2 is better suited to heavier bullets, 4198 to lighter.
    About THE best powder for that weight is TAC. Very clean, right speed right pressure. Varget is another outstanding powder, especially in that long barrel.
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