Savage 110 in .223

**Ironwolf** · February 10th, 2009, 08:24 PM

I just got a Savage 110 chambered for .223. Does anyone know what the standard rifling twist is on this gun? I want to try some of the .223 TAP/home defense ammo, but I don't know if the heavier bullets will give any accuracy. I also have .223 black tip AP & orange tip tracer - will this mil spec stuff hurt the rifle??

Thanks, Andy in Ohio

**woody** · February 10th, 2009, 08:41 PM

Its most likely you have a 1:9 twist. 68 and 75gr will shoot well with this
rate of twist.

**Kaos** · February 10th, 2009, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ironwolf

I just got a Savage 110 chambered for .223. Does anyone know what the standard rifling twist is on this gun? I want to try some of the .223 TAP/home defense ammo, but I don't know if the heavier bullets will give any accuracy. I also have .223 black tip AP & orange tip tracer - will this mil spec stuff hurt the rifle??

Thanks, Andy in Ohio

I wouldn't shoot the tracers out of the bolt gun. If you're going for precision the IT rounds really put undue strain through the barrel. Black tip is armor piercing if Im not mistaken...I wouldn't waste that for plinking.

**tl_3237** · February 10th, 2009, 09:04 PM

are your black and orange tip .223 OR 5.56 ? I assume that they are military 5.56 and, if so, are not recommended ..

The 5.56mm military cartridge fired in a 223 Rem. chamber is considered by SAAMI (Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute) to be an unsafe ammunition combination and is listed in the “Unsafe Arms and Ammunition Combinations” Section of the SAAMI Technical Correspondent’s Handbook. It clearly states; “In firearms chambered for 223 Rem – do not use 5.56 Military cartridges.”

http://le.atk.com/pdf/223VS556.pdf

Also see thread:
http://forum.pafoa.org/ammunition-re...mo-223-ar.html

**Xringshooter** · February 10th, 2009, 09:25 PM

According to Savage the twist rate is 1 in 9.

**Ironwolf** · February 11th, 2009, 11:24 PM

Thanks for all the info....you guys are correct - the tracer & AP is 5.56 military (M240 starter belt). I wasn't thinking....Glad to hear the 1x9 twist will handle the heavy TAP slugs. I just ordered some .223 TAP 55gr from Ammo to Go. About half of the stuff I have is 5.56 milspec so I'll probably just unload it at the next gunshow. I had a low serial SP-1 AR15 & like an idiot, I sold it to pay property taxes! It would have handled the Mil stuff. I've been told, however, that a bolt gun is considerably stronger than say, an AR type..the M16A1 I had is SEA seemed alot "lighter" chamberwise than the Savage...[actually, I left the M16 in the locker & carried an AK

]. Again, appreciate all the info. I bow to the experts.

Andy