Savage 12BVSS 223 range report

[teddy12b]

Took it to the range today because I needed to break in the barrel.  I didn't have any of my good handloads with me and only had 25 rounds of Black Hills 68gr match ammo, and 20 rounds of the cheapo wolf ammo.  I scrubbed the barrel after every shot for the first five, and so on and so on. 

The last group of the day was shot using the black hills 68gr match ammo.  I could have covered it with a dime or penny.  Either way I was very happy pleased with the rifle.  Next trip out I'll take my handloads and try it at 200 & 300 yards.

[brudford]

I have the same rifle I guess  ? bought mine when the Accu-trigger first came out. Heavy stainless flutted barrel,with the heavy laminated stock in .223.
I bought it as a benchrester and unscrewed both sling studs and glued in a very thin laminate into the holes so it would rest flat on the bags. I reload exclusively
with the V-Max bullets 55 grs. and a good quality piece of brass. You will love your rifle nothing I mean nothing shoots as good out of the box as a Savage,period.
yeah with some better ammo your groups will even tightened-up more. One final note, I know Savage sells this as a varmit rig and I did take it groundhog
hunting once and only once here in Western PA on a Dairy farm. It is heavy very heavy drive back as far as the farmer will let you. I'am now in the process of buying a Contender G2 in .223 very light to carry. You made a good purchase.

[CZ223]

I am brand new to this forum but not to Savage Rifles.  I (currently) have 7 of them including one old model 12BVSS with a 1 in 14 twist barrel.  Yes, it came from the factory like that and no, it was not a catalogued item.  I am not sure why it came like that as it was supposed to have come with the standard one in 9 twist but, it shot so well with anything 55 grains and under that I just gave up caring about the heavier bullets.  As much as I have abused this rifle, and I have, it still shoots sub half inch groups all day long, many under 3/8",  with several different powder/bullet combos.  BLC-2, H335 and, most recently, Ramshot Tac  have proved  to be superior performers in combination with the 52, 53 grain HPBT Sierra bullets as well as their 50 and 55 gr. BK's.  I recently traded for a second BVSS in 223 and this is the newer model with the ACCU-Trigger but I have not had the chance to check it out yet.  I also have two model 12VLP's in 204 Ruger and they are scary accurate.  My first trip to the range with the first one and 20 rounds of Hornady ammo turned in 3 5 shot groups under one half inch.  My second trip to the range with  handloads turned in several groups under 3/8" and a few under 1/4". I also have an old model 12BVSS that is currently wearing a 223AI barrel but that is ganna get a 22-250 barrel put on it soon.  It was a 308 but I just sold the barrel.  I also have an old model 112BVSS in 220 Swift and one in 25-06.  I have not had a chance to fire th 'o6 yet but the Swift is a proven sub 1/2" gun.   

[fornra]

 Mine shoots good too!

[teddy12b]

I had it out again over the weekend.  What a great shooter.  I could cover the group at 100 yards with a nickle and then I started playing around at 200 & 300 yards.  I really like that rifle.

[teddy12b]

Recently I went to a new range with steel targets.  I went to dial in my scope at different distances and I did just that.  I was shooting 69gr matchkings over 24.5 of varget and I was very happy with the results.  I didn't have time to measure my groups or the ability to since it was dented steel so no fancy little fraction to give everyone.

Instead I'll say this, the rifle hit exactly where I aimed out to 600 yards.  Before today I never shot at a distance greater than 300 yards.  I spent a lot of time making elevation adjustments with the scope, but when I got there, the rifle was on.  I feel like I could hit a watermelon/groundhog sized target at 600 yards.  I shot at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards today and I have never had so much fun.  The steel had hit marks right next to each other all the way out to 600 yards.  I would have shot farther, but I ran out of ammo and daylight.  I wish I could say it was me, but it's the gun.  There was no wind either so that may have played a part in it too.

My rifle is completely factory with a nikon 6-18 on it.  I recommend one to every guy for an inexpensive plinker.

[rks1949]

teddy12b,ya otta try the Hornady 68gr. Match bullets. We have been shooting them,and they shoot much flatter at long yardage than the 69 Sierra's do. They have a higher BC .355,compared to .317. Ron

[teddy12b]

I will keep that in mind.  For now though I'm still working on a box of 500 69gr matchkings that I just opened.  I still have a box of barnes 36gr varmint grenades to try out and some 60gr v-max's to shoot up.  Hopefully I'll get out to the range this weekend.

[Tom W.]

I went to the local gun shop this morning to look for one. I have a wild hare you know where and was going to trade my .480 for one. I told the owner what I was looking for and all he said was "good luck."

[rks1949]

I will keep that in mind.  For now though I'm still working on a box of 500 69gr matchkings that I just opened.  I still have a box of barnes 36gr varmint grenades to try out and some 60gr v-max's to shoot up.  Hopefully I'll get out to the range this weekend.

Yeah,there's nothing wrong with the 69gr. Sierras! They shoot lights out accurate too. I wish Hornady would sell the 68gr. bullets in a 500 pack too,that's the way to buy bullets that you use allot. Ron.

[LaOtto222]

I made up a poor mans model 12 in a 223. It was based on a Stevens 200 with some SS parts (bolt handle, recoil lug, trigger guard) a Boyd's laminated stock, a Rifle Basix trigger and a SS fluted A&B 1 - 14" twist barrel. While I swapped out the barrel, I re-tapped the mounting holes to 8 X 32. I stuck a $100 Simmons WTC scope in it. It shoots 50 grain V Max bullets fairly well. I have about $700 in it counting the cost of the rifle, add-ons and scope. I like the slower twist rate so it shoots the lighter bullets better at higher velocity, but that is just a personal choice.



I shot this target late last spring, 5 shot groups at 100 yards one after the other. I was shooting two different primers. Some were with CCI BR4 and the others with Rem 7 1/2. The .21" group was shot last with the Rem 7 1 1/2 primers. I think it shows some consistency even with different primers. I have not done a whole lot of load development with it, I was still doing load development while I shot these groups. The lower left group was shot with a Remington 700 221 FB. I think it shows how well a Savage rifle can do even with a $100 barrel.

[rbergum95]

laotto,

great looking rig and some nice shooting!! cant wait to see how it does with a load it really likes.

ron

[700 223]

Picked one up in late 2006 , my first Savage ever , also a .223.


Fred Moreo of Sharp Shooter Supply installed one of his triggers which I like much more than the Accu-Trigger. Although the Accu-Trigger is very good for out of the box.

Mine has shot into the .2s but this particular 12BVSS has a tendency to foul quickly which hinders firing a series of consistent groups like those shot by LaOtto222 . Mine does prefer the above mentioned 69 MatchKings as well as 55 Berger Match.

I may eventually install something like a Lothar Walther Supermatch barrel.

[rks1949]

Have you tried lapping the bore? It can really bring a bore that fouls fast,into a bore that dosen't . Ron

[LaOtto222]

The 223 that I mentioned above would foul up very quickly. I was determined to get it to shoot well beyond five shots. It only cost $100 and came with a barrel wrench for free, so I though if I ruined it, I was not out much. I would shoot 20 rounds, thoroughly clean, then give it 100 to 150 strokes with metal polishing compound. I did this at least 6 times maybe more. I just kept it up until it did not copper foul. Now it does not copper foul much at all. I can shoot 50-60 rounds before there is much deterioration in accuracy. I worked 2nd shift at the time and have a backyard range. I would get up in the AM do some shootin' bring it back in and go to work on it. I did this for many days.

[700 223]

then give it 100 to 150 strokes with metal polishing compound.

What type of metal polish did you use?

[LaOtto222]

I used Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish mostly. It says it is for all metals. I bought it at a local discount store. I think I used JB Bore Bright a couple of the sessions. I could buy the Mothers at a local store, the JB Bore Bright I had to order it through a gun supply distributor. I now have some Flitz too, but have not used it as much as the other two. I still use the Mothers metal polish for the most part in my bores. The main thing is to use a fine grit metal polish. Do not use a lapping compound, most of them are too course (aggressive). BTW I do at least one session to all my bores when new or if the gun fouls quickly I do more. If I have a hand lapped barrel, I do not polish those, it has already been done for me. I think it speeds up the break in time.

[700 223]

Funny you would mention the Mothers Mag Polish since that is what I use mostly to polish my stainless revolvers but I have used it to clean the bore of the Savage a few times but not to the degree that you have stated. I have used the old JB Bore Paste. In fact after the JB cleaning the 12BVSS actually shot two good groups in a row but by the 4th group everything was downhill.

I will give it more passes down the bore next time.