I bought a savage 1 in 9 twist rifle to shoot heavy bullets, but have found the most accurate loads are with 52 sierra HPBT match using 26 grains of H335 and CCI BR primers. Five shot groups are averaging less than .5". I tried 55, 60 & 65 grain soft point bullets with various combinations of H335, Varget and RL15-no joy. Any pet loads using heavier hunting type bullets?

a 1-9 is pretty optimum for the 50-62 gr bullets.
if you want heavier you need to have a faster twist.
my older target rifle in 223 has a 1-12 twist and no joy whatsoever over 55 grs.
and 50-52 are better.
not a problem for me as it shoots 56 gr cast boolits at 2800 just fine.

I also had very good luck with H335 and the 52gr Sierra's.

The 60gr Nosler partitions just did not like the H335, but they shoot tiny groups with IMR4895.

69 gn SMK over 22.5 gns of H335 or 24.0gn of RL-15

Most 1:12 guns can shoot the 69 gn SMK; your 1:9 will work great as well.

I've had great luck with the 52gr Sierra bullet at 100 yards out of several rifles. Stretch the range out a bit and the 69 - 77gr bullets begin to look better and better.

The 52gr Sierra HPBT is one of the best bullets on the Planet accuracy wise.

However at distances starting at 300 yards a heavier bullet is a better choice.

Try the Hornady 68gr Match HP. It has always shot better at 300 than the 69gr Sierra for me. But at 600 yards the better ballistics of the 69gr Sierra makes it a better choice at that distance.

But for hunting...

What are you going to hunt?

If it is varmints then take a look at Nosler Ballistic Tips, and Hornady plastic tip bullets.

If you are going to stretch the 223 to deer, the Hornady 60gr HP is a tougher bullet than their SP, I have killed a deer with it, in a Steyr AUG no less the Nosler Partition, Trophy Bonded Bearclaws, and the Barnes X bullets would be my choice.

The Hornady plastic tipped bullets are a LOT MORE distructive on prairie dogs than any of the match bullets.

In the 12BV-SS-s,Savage 1 in 9 twist;
The bullet is the 75 gr. Hornady Match for all loads

26.5 grains BL-C-2, 3050 fps., 4 shot 1/4" group at 50yds. great at 300 yds.

24.5grains Ac.4064, sooty flat primer, 2825 fps. 4 shot .375" group at 50 yds.

25 grains Ac 2520, 3100 fps., 8 shot 3/4" group at 100 yds.

The 80 gr. bullets that were used seem to stabalize OK but the groups,although not bad, were nothing to brag about. It is felt ,however that an 80 grain bullet with less steamlined shape than the VLD would have done much better in the Savage. roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

My experience parallels bartsche's in several 1-9" Savages. Most will shoot the 75 A-Max too and have been used to clean the 600 yard target at club prone matches (F-Class).

You didn't mention at what range or at what you intend to shoot but I'm guessing it's beyond 300 yards, perhaps at varmints. Beyond 300 or so, intrinsic accuracy takes a back seat to your abilities driving the rifle. So unless your load turns out to be a stinker, you will probably do equally well with loads that group differently at 100. The A-Max comes apart on chucks too!

Mark

Thanks for the info. I've got access to a large pasture that is absolutely loaded with chucks. 600+ yards and some wind. 6mm and 257 weatherby are my obvious choices, but the owner doesn't like the noise. The 52 grain Sierra runs out of steam at 275 and wind drift leaves something to be desired. I'll try the 75 Hornady.

I just built myself a 223AI with a 1 in 14" twist. Can't wait to exercise it.

I have used Speer 70 gr. Semi-Spitzers with excellent results with several 1:12 twist barrels (222, 223 & 22-250). Animals taken include a deer with the 222 (one shot), a deer with the 22-250 which was a 360 yard bang flop, and various groundhogs and other varmints. Thus far, nothing I've hit with them has gotten away alive.