Savage 23D in .22 Hornet

[Star1pup]

Anyone know if we can shoot .224 bullets in my buddy's older Savage 23D?  I have the new CZ and would like to load for both of us.  Obviously, it will be cheaper is we can buy in bulk and split the cost.  I have seen posts that the poster shot .224 bullets in his older Savage.  We'll probably load Hornady 45 gr. over Lil' Gun or W296.

[dw06]

I shoot the 45gr hornady over 11grs ww296 in mine,tried the .223s in it but shot best with the .224 so thats what I use.

[BIG Dog454]

I shoot 45gr .224 bullets over 1680 in mine, very accurate.

[Star1pup]

Thanks guys.  I guess we can use the same everything as long as we find a recipe that both guns like.  If not, it might just be a change of powder amount.   I'll probably try the W296 first as I have a pound here.  That should last a long while at 11 gr. per loading.  I also hear that some guys like Lil' Gun a lot.

[dw06]

I never got around to trying Lil'gun in the 23D, it shot so well with ww296 I just nevr bothered.Used the Lil'gun in another hornet,and also a khornet and it is a good one.

[coyotejoe]

I've tried Lil Gun in .22 K Hornet, .30 M1 Carbine, .357 mag and .357 Max and in those four different rifles and cartridges all showed extreme shot to shot variation both in velocity and in pressure indications. It does produce top velocities in all four but also poor accuracy in all four and the pressure variations scare me. One round may leave a nicely rounded primer indent and the next may show a badly flattened and cratered primer, even a pierced primer, and I repeat, that has been true with four different rifles and cartridges. I think the last of that can will become lawn fertilizer. That old Savage is not a strong rifle, I'd avoid Lil Gun.

[BIG Dog454]

I also had problems with Lil'gun, as before mentioned.  variation in velocity and pressure spikes, this was when it was first introduced, never went back to it, too many other good powders.