SmallCaliberCentral

Allen,
The snow and cold were tough but we're through the worst of it, I hope.

Rifle is a Savage Model 12 Varmint Low Profile with laminated wooden stock and fully floated stainless steel fluted bull barrel Is the tang on the rear of the action free floated? If it's not it can have a serious effect on accuracy with Savages. http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff386/Tommacebb/...

I had exactly the same problem with Nosler brass in my 204 also using RL 10X but with 39 gr SBKs. Loads levels that worked fine for years with Win and Hornady brass resulted in sooty cases, blown out primers and deep ejector marks on the cases - all signs of excessive pressure. You can either back d...

ClaimJumper wrote:Savage rifles+ McGowen barrels are very accurate. It's my 6th McGowen rifle.

Very accurate indeed. Since getting my loads tuned I can get 100 yards 5 shot groups in the .1s on a regular basis. I'm already planning a 6.5 x 47 lapua build with a Savage and McGowen combination.

Itz, you might also want to give the Hornady 45 grain SP bullets a try if they come factory loaded. They are actually shorter than the Hornady 40 grain Vmax so they should stabilize in a 1-12 twist.

Shady99, I have the same Hornady manual.

Thanks Glen

Itz, a lot of 204s that have trouble stabilizing 40 grain bullets shoot the 39 grain Sierra BKs great. You might want to give those a try. Also making sure your barrel is free floating might help.

I'm having trouble finding load data for the 45 grain bullets. What is everybody using? For powder I have CFE223, R10X, AA2230 and H322. I also have Varget and Benchmark but I like to save that for the 6BR.

I'm having trouble finding load data for the 45 grain bullets. What is everybody using? For powder I have CFE223, R10X, AA2230 and H322. I also have Varget and Benchmark but I like to save that for the 6BR.

Bill K wrote:You might check load date for A 2230, as they say they are the same powder. Check the load date and see what you think. Bill K

Just checked out load data on Ramshot's website. They listed both X-terminator and A2230 and the load data was identical.

I'm in the process of working up loads for the 55s also. I emailed Berger asking for some load data and here is what they sent me. I'm getting my most accurate rounds with a COAL of 2.480".

I tried them in my 9 twist Shilen barrel. The pic shows a very common result.

I have a 9 twist Shilen barrel on my Rem 700 and the 39 grain Sierras with 27.9 gr of CFE223 group the best. 25.8 gr of AA2230 also works well. I got a lot of keyholing when I tried 32 grain bullets.

My major complaint with Hornady brass is that it seems to work harden very quickly and is prone to split necks. Once I started annealing the brass on a regular basis I haven't had those problems. Out of curiosity, how many firings are you talking about? I haven't had any split on me yet, but I'm on...