So I got the Savage 12

[jonk]

I kind of wanted one in .308 but saw a nice BVSS at an excellant price on auction, and snapped it up in .223 with a 1:9 twist.

Now I am fine with using jacketed in it for long range shooting (my max will be 300 yards). I am an experienced caster, know that .223 is a bit challenging due to small bullet size and high velocity, but would like to try it.

Any suggestions on a mold for 1:9 twist? I assume most any would do as this is a fairly standard twist rate, so long as over 50 grains.

Alloy? Will WQWW due? Oven treated? Lino? I can limit velocity to under 2100 fps and use a gas check but don't want to shoot .223s at 1400 either.

[buck1]

I wanted a .308 to shoot cast, But I didnt want to turn it in to a 3030 to do it. I found that monotype With a lithum/beeswax lube and rooster jacket on the nose would give me near jacketed vel and moa groups and no leading. I also held wts to 2/10s of a grain. It took a wile but I got it there. Of cource it not a .22 . My point is that harder than lino alloy was needed and lube took on a very inportant role......FWIW......Buck

[Doc Highwall]

Buck 1, what is the load that you are using. What mould and size etc.

[outdoorfan]

Oven HT'ed ww's will get you up into the 25-28 bhn range. I've been experiementing with 9/1 ww/lino with some tin added for good fillout, then HT'ing for about 27'ish bhn.

What does that throat in your Savage look like? How much freebore is there? Have you slugged it or made a chamber casting impression with soft lead?

That 1-9 twist can really challenge you. I've been working with it in my Savage .223, and I haven't yet found a way to keep the velocity in the 2400 fps range without throwing random flyers here and there.

I'm shooting a 66 grain LBT that weighs about 68-69 grains with GC. I had to throat out the throat a bit to get those LBT's to chamber without the GC being seated way into the neck of the case. So, if you have no throat, then you should probably be looking at one of the bore riders in the 55-70 grain range. However, if you use some dacron filler to protect the base, then you can still use the longer boolits that do extend too far down.

If velocities are kept down in the 1700-2100 fps range, then you shouldn't need that really hard boolit to hold the rifling. I had success using 20-21 bhn (OHT) in the 1800-1900 fps range with sub MOA in mine. I wouldn't use any powder faster than 4895 or thereabouts unless you're content under 2000 fps. I find sub-2000 loads boring, but that's just me.

I got best accuracy before I throated the gun out when using 15-17 grains H4895 and .5 gr. dacron filler.

[jonk]

Don't know on the throat. I haven't got it yet. It's on its way though... :)

Will probably work up a few jacketed loads first, then de-copper and start on cast. Owner says he's put 184 rounds out of it in 2 years but never de-coppered it. I'm thinking of some foaming solvent to get the worst out, but not a total job, just good enough to start my own playing with jacketed rounds. To start.

[DLCTEX]

I like the Bator mould (55gr. Loverin type) for the 223 and 222. WDWW will do 2100 fps with a good lube like Carnuba Red.

[sundog]

jonk, Wipeout is a very good product.

[HORNET]

I'm not sure about the 9" twist but the Lyman 225646 does well in a 12" twist around 2200 fps. The Lyman 225462 and RCBS 22-055-FN (almost identical to the 55 gr. version of Lyman 225415) also do well around 2000-2200 fps. Haven't tried the RCBS 22-055-SP but I've seen good reports on it and the NOE clone. I usually run 50/50 Lino/WW, air cooled.