I just bought a Savage FVSS in .223. Leopold mounts, rings, & 6x20x40. Have shot less than 75 rounds and accuracy is between 1" and 1 3/4" on bags. I have had two keyholes on paper at 100 yards with 53 gr. Siera match bullets using two loads that shoot under 3/4" in other guns with whip barrels. Did not like Winchester 45 gr. factory varmint ammo that shoots excellent in my other .223's. Do I need shoot the rifle more (break in barrel), try heavier bullets because of 1 in 9 twist, different loads, or go to the gunshow. I am very disappointed in the rifle so far. The accu-trigger is awsome, but accuracy is below par. HELP

[ 09-07-2003, 19:53: Message edited by: jbok ]

I have a 1 in 9 twist 223 myself and have never had any bullet keyhole and that includes up to the 75 gr. AMax. But I have never shot the 53 gr. Sierra MatchKing. The only thing I can think of is the jacket of this bullet is fragile, and the torque imparted my the 1 in 9 twist is more than it can take. I would bet that bullet was designed with shoot the best in a 14 twist barrel Having said that I have had excellent results with the 50 gr. Sierra BlitzKing. sub .5 MOA accuracy repeatedly. And my rifle will not shoot the 45 gr. Varmint load by Winchester. Around 2" is the best it will shoot it.

You mentioned that the 53 gr. load and 45 gr. Winchester factory ammo shot acceptable in other 223's. What twist are they? I really don't think even a terrible crown on the muzzle could make a bullet keyhole. If you have any 55 or 60 grain bullets on hand try them to see what happens.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight......RiverRat

By all means, get thyself to the gunshow!

But to try and solve your problem, that twist is better for heavier bullets, 60's, 70's and 80's. Since you're shooting Sierra's, contact my friend over there and explain what's going on:

Rich Machholz <rich@sierrabullets.com>

-Rod-

I happen to have that same rifle rechambered to .223 AI. Have never had that problem before. I would also check your crown for any small dings or signs of uneven powder residue on the crown. I shoot mostly varmint-type bullets from 40-55 gr through that 1-9" and I'd imagine they all have pretty thin jackets. Just my $.02

Dog-Duster

I shoot BV Savage 223s, have good results with this load:
Nosler 55 BT
26/H4895
Rem BR primer
Win or Fed case
OAL 2.42" (s/shot) 2.36" repeater
Your OAL may mean the difference. I tested the 2.36" length in the s/shot, very poor group. Make your own OAL gauge, take a FL sized case, put 2 slits lengthwise in neck, one to the shoulder, the other only partial neck. Place bullet in neck mouth, gently load dummy rd, measure length, once or twice. Load to this length.

pic test....is this what you want your 223 to do?? web page

Another photo 223 target, stock s/shot Savage BVSS, except SSS trigger. web page

photo test 6BR Pac Nor muzzle [img] www.hunt101.com/img/060073.jpg [/img]

6BR Pac Nor muzzle pic test....final web page

jbok, keyholes may be from a larger than normal bore dia. or undersize bullets.243winxb

How to tell the twist of a rifle.
What twist is your rifle?
Put a snug fitting patch on the jag and insert the rod in bore. Make a mark
@ 12 o’clock on the rod at the muzzle. Pull rod out slowly until the mark is
@ 12 o’clock and measure the distance
from the mark to the muzzle. The resulting measurement is the twist of your
rifling, ie.
1 turn in ____”.
There could be some slippage between
patch and rifling, but this is close enough for government work.

Your 1 in 9 twist will overstabilize a 53 gr .223, but should not give any keyholes. Something else is amiss.

My Savage shoots everything from 45 gr Winchester white box ammo to heavy bullets into small groups. It likes 50 Gr TNTs and 45-55 gr Ballistic Tips and V-Maxs. It also has the 1 in 9 twist.

Have you checked your scope mounts?

Both my Savage 1-9" barrels shoot the light bullets into snarly little bugholes. I suspect you have a burr somewhere or perhaps your cleaning procedure hasn't allowed the barrel to break in. New barrels load up with all kinds of crap initially and it's sometimes a job to stay ahead of it until the barrel smooths out a bit.

Try some JB! Then check your crown.

HTH

Redial

Hey Armed in Utah, you are trying to make me feel bad' right? It keyholed when I first started shooting it but after 200 round it has not did it again. I have got a 100 yard 5 shot group down to .480" with the same Sierra 53 gr. Match bullets. Must have been a rough bore, but things are looking up. Thanks for the responses.