223 Ackley Improved
- Thread starter Huckleberry75
- Start date
Varget getting hard to find (best load of which was 25.3 gr)and need a backup load for 223 Ackley
Ammo Guide was not of help.
Berger 80.5 gr Full Bore Target
Anyone have suggestion for Vita V. N 140 (right next to Varget on Burn Rate Chart) /and or CFE?
Thanks
Ammo Guide was not of help.
Berger 80.5 gr Full Bore Target
Anyone have suggestion for Vita V. N 140 (right next to Varget on Burn Rate Chart) /and or CFE?
Thanks
I run 25.0gns of imr 8208xbr behind a Berger 80.5. Runs 2888 from 21" 7tw rock creek. Silly accurate.
Maybe not the perfect place, but I just received a Redding type s 223 improved set
the sizer reads B/NK on it
Is this correct for a full length bushing sizer ?
the base or what I would assume is .200” of the brass measures .378”. Does that sound correct ?
the sizer reads B/NK on it
Is this correct for a full length bushing sizer ?
the base or what I would assume is .200” of the brass measures .378”. Does that sound correct ?
Nice things is, with the 223ai, the case growth is so slow that it will take a couple of firings before you really need to bump shoulders unless you are hot rodding it.
I contacted Redding and they will swap out the die for a full sizer.
I don’t only neck size, I prefer to size the whole case and bump back shoulders the appropriate amount. I want everything to be the same on each firing.
21" Bart 4 groove
75 ELD-M
27.6 gr Leverevolution
Formed Rem case
CCI 400
75 ELD-M
27.6 gr Leverevolution
Formed Rem case
CCI 400
You guys have any thoughts on CCI 400s vs 450s? I've read a few people say that the 450s are better suited for the ackley due to a thicker cup, but I see alot of people running 400s as well. Have 1000+ of the 400s so I plan on using those up for fireforming, the figure out where to go from there.
Can any of you experienced 223AI shooters give me a sanity check?
I'm considering 223AI to launch 80ELDs at 3000+ out of a 26". The plan is to throat it to take advantage of modified Accurate Mags and load close to 2.6".
I have launched 80SMKs (2.505") to 3000+ out of a throated 26". Clearly overpressure which is why I'm leaning towards/thinking AI.
I'm considering 223AI to launch 80ELDs at 3000+ out of a 26". The plan is to throat it to take advantage of modified Accurate Mags and load close to 2.6".
I have launched 80SMKs (2.505") to 3000+ out of a throated 26". Clearly overpressure which is why I'm leaning towards/thinking AI.
I am at 2888fps with 80.5gn fullbore bergers and 25.0gn of 8208xbr from a 21" 7tw. Lapua brass and CCI-450. With a 26" tube you should be able to reach that goal or very close to it.
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I’m getting 2,924 pushing a Nosler 80gr through a 20” barrel with 26.5gr of Varget with no pressure signs.
I think you will easily achieve your goals.
I have noticed 450's work better with stick powders in the .223AI in regards to ES/SD but don't give numbers as low as ball powders with 400's.
Yeah running 24.6 grs of 8208xbr @2870 cci 450s.
Have varget loaded for testing but haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet.
Have varget loaded for testing but haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet.
1-7 twist
Carbon 6 at 22”
Suppressed
75 amax
25.5 h4895
Sd 8 velocity 3103
Carbon 6 at 22”
Suppressed
75 amax
25.5 h4895
Sd 8 velocity 3103
My load was 24.6 grains of Varget at 2814 fps out of 28" 7 twist, but bullets weren't making to the target when the barrel got warm and with 40+ round post cleaning???
So I began load work with 75gr ELDM.
I did a ladder test earlier in the week with 3x fired Starline brass, 75gr ELDM, H4895, and CCI 450 primers, 2.585 OACL, this is it in the pic. Distance was 320Y and I did .1 gr increments from 24 grains up to 25.2 grains.
You can see shots 3, 4 and 5 did .3" vertical, I supposed this to be the low node.
And you can see shots 10, 11, 12 and 13, hit without much vertical, I supposed these to be the high node.
So this morning I tested #4 which was 24.3 gr with 5 shots at the 320Y, and #11 which was 25.1 gr. It was a little windy so only 3 of the 5 shots hit the paper of the 25.1 gr load but the SD was 3.8 and the velocity was 3003 fps average with 3/4" vertical.
The 24.3 gr load had a twice the SD??? and was 1" vertical for 4 shot's a 5th hitting 1" lower.
My friend and I tested 2 rifles each so the paper isn't very presentable to look at, I didn't take a photo of it.
I chose higher the node - the 25.1 grains load because I wanted the most velocity. There weren't any pressure signs and primers were not flat yet. I could have gone higher in charge weight but I'm not sure if I would have reached the next node up??? also the powder was close to the bottom of the bullet and a bit above the shoulder of the case.
Keep in mind I have a super long freebore set up for "single feeding" the 88gr ELDM. This makes these 75's bearing surface only .090 into the neck and still off the lands, just guessing, at around .030, OACL 2.585".
I might or might not mess with seating depth, so far I'm pretty happy!
My 223 AI barrel should be ready in the next couple weeks.
I'm planning on running 88 gr ELD-M's with 23.5ish grains of XBR 8208 to start. My understanding is there's no need to jam the bullet, that you can FF by shooting even factory 223 rem loads? I'm hoping my 23" button barreled 7 twist stabilizes these no problem at 5000' ASL since I bought 1K, lol.
I'm planning on running 88 gr ELD-M's with 23.5ish grains of XBR 8208 to start. My understanding is there's no need to jam the bullet, that you can FF by shooting even factory 223 rem loads? I'm hoping my 23" button barreled 7 twist stabilizes these no problem at 5000' ASL since I bought 1K, lol.
If the chamber is set up short enough you won’t need to jam. Most gunsmiths set them up .004” short of a standard 223. That is fine for most cases, but not all. Some cases will be stretched at that headspace setting. A long time ago, I settled on .007” short of the standard case and I’ve been very happy with it.
So the headspace is actually shorter on the Ackley?
If I understand correctly; you're saying the shoulder's headspace is a few thousandths shorter and there's no need to jam a bullet into the lands when fireforming.
I will be shooting re-sized Federal once fired brass shot in multiple AR-15 5.56 chambers if it makes a difference.
If I understand correctly; you're saying the shoulder's headspace is a few thousandths shorter and there's no need to jam a bullet into the lands when fireforming.
I will be shooting re-sized Federal once fired brass shot in multiple AR-15 5.56 chambers if it makes a difference.
The 25.1gr load shot great! Sub 3" vertical at 800Y for 7 hits. The 100Y sight in group was .6", but 4 went into .3". I just left the seating depth alone.
I have close to 100 rounds down the barrel without it being cleaned and haven't lost any bullets due to blow ups, and didn't notice any big flyers, so that's good news.
Was that with 88 gr ELD-M's? Can you give full load and gun info including COAL please? That's great BTW!
As I mentioned earlier in my posts, the 88's were blowing up in my rifle.
This is with "75gr ELDM", Starline 3-4 times fired brass, 25.1gr H4895, CCI450 primer. I also mentioned I have a longer freebore so OACL is 2.585".
Thanks for clarifying. That's odd, I've never heard of a heavier bullet blowing up in a fast twist, usually it's lighter ones pushed super fast.
Glad the 75 is working for you.
My fire-forming load:
LC15 brass
CCI 400 primer
27/27.5/28 gr Benchmark
40 gr Vmax @ 2.260"
All three shot pretty well, less than 0.5". Obligatory I know I pulled the fifth shot on 28 gr, should have been 1 hole. The 28 gr load was 3800 fps. Was able to pick up 500 of the 40 gr VMax for $7/100 a few weeks ago, so my cost per shot is only about 23 cpr. Plan is to load up 400 of these and take out to South Dakota prairie dog towns to get enough formed for the life of the barrel. Next up is 75 ELDM and 80 SMK.
LC15 brass
CCI 400 primer
27/27.5/28 gr Benchmark
40 gr Vmax @ 2.260"
All three shot pretty well, less than 0.5". Obligatory I know I pulled the fifth shot on 28 gr, should have been 1 hole. The 28 gr load was 3800 fps. Was able to pick up 500 of the 40 gr VMax for $7/100 a few weeks ago, so my cost per shot is only about 23 cpr. Plan is to load up 400 of these and take out to South Dakota prairie dog towns to get enough formed for the life of the barrel. Next up is 75 ELDM and 80 SMK.
Figured I would shake down some Jagmann brass. Their 556 brass actually weighs almost identical to Lapua and is quite consistent. Used my seating depth from formed brass and just stuffed 25gr of Varget under the 80 amax. Shoots amazing!! 1/3moa 10 shot groups. They form nicely with no signs of pressure
Also thought this was a cool picture. Bottom is one of the normal loads I tested, basically anything towards the upper end of max pressure turns out great.
Top is from an AR plinking load I used to boresight. Only 25.5 gr H335 and obviously not enough pressure for proper forming.
Top is from an AR plinking load I used to boresight. Only 25.5 gr H335 and obviously not enough pressure for proper forming.
I thought about spinning up an ar barrel .001” shy of my bolt guns to form brass in. I already run shorter headspace than most though so it wouldn’t work without running it all through a body die to push new brass back
Have you used 223AI in an AR before? I'd really like to change barrels out in one of mine, but worried mag feeding might have some issues.
I haven’t. I would be feeding regular 223 brass and kicking out 223ai. Strictly a forming barrel
My new 223 AI will only shoot 223rem factory ammo 50-75% of the time. It is not igniting the primers, even with a good strike.
Is this normal? Seems like it resolved a bit when I switched to a different trigger in my Bighorn Origin but not perfect. A no-go 223 rem gauge won't close, just for reference. Good news is the 88's seem to be shooting really well in the fireformed brass.
Is this normal? Seems like it resolved a bit when I switched to a different trigger in my Bighorn Origin but not perfect. A no-go 223 rem gauge won't close, just for reference. Good news is the 88's seem to be shooting really well in the fireformed brass.
Not closing on a go isn’t good enough. Most are set up .004” short of the parent case. There is a lot of factory cases and ammo that are shorter than that. A hard looking primer strike won’t always make the round go off if the case has enough room to run away from the impact of the firing pin
