Savage Axis 22-250

[CTom]

Happy 4th everyone!

I recently did some trading and got into a new Savage Axis II chambered in 22-250. I owned a nice Remington 700 years ago in this caliber but somehow sold it and have wanted another 250 since. The quality of this gun/vs/ the cost really amazes me. One thing I did was swap out the Weaver 3X9 that came with the gun for a Leupold American 4X12X40 in Lupie rings. I orginally shot it in with the Weaver, but really wanted the Leupold so I needed to do a few shots to get it close to where I want it, zero-wise and got that done on Tuesday. I shot a mix of factory and hand loads and those hand loads couldn't have made me any happier. I loaded a few more 40 grain VMax loads and took the gun to the field this morning looking for gophers and possible a woodchuck. I saw on chuck but he got in deep foliage before I could get crosshairs on him, but 5 gophers met their waterloo. At close to 4100 fps that little V Max pretty much vaporized the gophers.

I've made custom fishing tackle for the last 60 years and reloading centerfires had fallen by the wayside many of those years ago, mostly since I quit hunting western state. With this Savage in the round-up now, reloading has become a need rather than a supplement. I love shooting and on another site I've been chatting with another member that has had some extraordinary groundhog hunting so this gun and the resultant reloading sort of fit for me. Now when I hit the range I fire a couple rounds at paper, then let the Savage rest and cool while I let loose with either the smokeless muzzie or the inline 50 cal pistol a couple rounds. Like I said, I enjoy shooting and staying in touch with those muzzies I hunt with is good medicine.

I'll try to keep my shenanigans up to date here .

 

[Eskimo]

Nice pickup on that Savage Axis II! How's it grouping for you with those V-Max loads, tight enough for varmints past 200 yards?

 

[cozhi_38]

It's awesome to hear that you've gotten back into reloading! There's just something really rewarding about putting together a load that hits all the right marks, especially when it's paired with a rifle that surprises you with its performance. The Axis II might be easy on the wallet, but it's definitely proven it can shoot way better than you'd expect for the price.

I also think it's cool that you're throwing in some sessions with the smokeless muzzleloader and the .50 cal pistol in between rifle groups

 

[CTom]

Nice pickup on that Savage Axis II! How's it grouping for you with those V-Max loads, tight enough for varmints past 200 yards?

Everything factory or reloaded has shot very well. On a calm day I can get about 2-1/4", 5 shot groups at 200.

For handloads my current pet load uses either a 40 grain Seirra Hollow Point or a V-Max 40 grain ahead of 42.5 grains of CFE223 powder. Muzzle velocities in the 4340FPS range. Under an inch at 100 yards and just under 2" at 200. No key holing, no fliers. On a groundhog, using the nose as an aiming point, that 40 grain hollow point erases everything down to about where its navel would be, at 100 yards. At 100, a crow turns into a gray halo for about a second.

I just picked up a pound of H380 and 50 new cases that'll be getting charges of powder at 38, 39, 40 and 41 grains behind a 50 grain TNT hollow point, hoping for a very accurate coyote pill. Supposedly this powder and a 50 grain bullets are supposed to be about the epitome of accurate using a 38 grain charge, but I like to tinker so will be trying the four charges mentioned to start and do any finesse loading from there.

 

[_jibbscalibre]

Loved how you're mixing in the smokeless muzzleloader and that .50 cal pistol during your cooldowns. It's such a great way to keep your skills sharp and pay homage to the good old days. It's like you're blending the past with the present

 

[CTom]

Loved how you're mixing in the smokeless muzzleloader and that .50 cal pistol during your cooldowns. It's such a great way to keep your skills sharp and pay homage to the good old days. It's like you're blending the past with the present

The only real hunting I do Is deer hunting and I do that entirely with muzzleloaders. The 22-250 is one I have wanted for eons after selling the one I had. I like punching paper, always hoping that today's session is better than yesterdays, but also hope to chase coyotes this winter. I've enjoyed some outings with it taking on gophers and woodchucks and crows just to stay in touch with the gun and the loads.

The in-line pistol is a CVA, V2 Optima in .50 cal. I'm pushing a 225 grain, 44 cal, Barnes XPB bullet just at 1600fps with BH209 powder. I've shot more bucks with it in the last ten years than my .50 cal Accura V2 or the smokeless. The deer drop on the spot. So yes, I shoot the pistol at every range session. Again, just to stay in touch with the gun and the load. One can never over-shoot a hunting gun or charge.

 

[arnaldo45]

Are you using something like H380 or Varget to hit those velocities? And btw, how are your groups looking at 100yds?

 

[CTom]

Are you using something like H380 or Varget to hit those velocities? And btw, how are your groups looking at 100yds?

The H380 has been loaded at the charge sizes mentioned earlier and will be shot as soon as a trigger spring kit arrives and I get a trigger job done. While the factory trigger isn't all that bad, its still not what I would like at about 6 - 6.5 pounds and the break are less than uniform in weight. I'm planning on a 2.5 pound trigger spring but will have the option of a 3.5 and 1.5 pound spring as well with this kit so I'm holding off on shooting until the trigger weight gets resolved.

CFE223 is getting the hyper velocity with the 40 grain bullets, but I'm not on the bench shooting 50 in a session.... I've shot 8 -10 critters since working up the hollow point load and will be sending only an occasional round down the barrel from here on out. I'm intending to focus more on moderate velocity 50 -52 grain loads that are tight groupers. These will be my coyote loads when I hit the fields later on and are going to be the bread and butter loads for paper punching.

Group-wise, factory ammo at 50 and 55 grains at 100 yards has seen about 1-1/8". Reloads with Varget and CFE using 40 grain Sierra hollow points and 40 grain Vmaxes show very similar group sizes. 50 grain Vmaxes using those two powders shrink up the group size a hair. Two different 52 grain boat-tailed match bullets with the Varget and CFE223 are averaging around 7/8" if I can find a morning without a breeze over 10 mph. Wind has been an issue all summer here. The trigger weight I feel has been a part of the equation too and I think things will begin to come around a little more after getting the spring weight decided on. The groups really are not all that bad, but I think I can shrink them more. I may opt for a Timney replacement trigger later on. For now, its just play the game.