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I apologize I had a typo…. 2838fps and yes it’s a 7t2900+ with that bullet is a success story. 7 tw?
I did manage ro get over 2900fps but with 26 and 26.5. Groups arguably not as goodI apologize I had a typo…. 2838fps and yes it’s a 7t
I’m shooting the 85.5 Hybrid. I have found that anything over about 25.9 loosen the primer pockets with that bullet. 26.5-26.7 was around 2960 if I remember correctly. It shot just as good at those velocities but when I primed the brass you could tell it wasn’t happy. I’m using an Impact Action and I never hit what I would call pressure signs but it’s definitely there. In your case 26.0 would probably be my max charge weight with a 80. This is my second barrel and it seems these cartridges will just shoot at whatever charge you decide to throw. Play with seating depth and I bet yours tightens up.I did manage ro get over 2900fps but with 26 and 26.5. Groups arguably not as good
26.0gn 2208 below
View attachment 8188353
26.5gn 2208 below
View attachment 8188354
I tend to agree. I was keen to get the speed up and make use of the capacity offered by the Ackley chambering. That said there seems to be a sweet spot between 25.5 - 26.0. That would get speeds at or just short of 2900I’m shooting the 85.5 Hybrid. I have found that anything over about 25.9 loosen the primer pockets with that bullet. 26.5-26.7 was around 2960 if I remember correctly. It shot just as good at those velocities but when I primed the brass you could tell it wasn’t happy. I’m using an Impact Action and I never hit what I would call pressure signs but it’s definitely there. In your case 26.0 would probably be my max charge weight with a 80. This is my second barrel and it seems these cartridges will just shoot at whatever charge you decide to throw. Play with seating depth and I bet yours tightens up.
75s are fine. The elds have a better BC that will cut the wind down a little bit more but either way spotting impacts yourself past 7-800 is tough, though both bullets are capaple past that if conditions allow. I like keeping a stash of the 75 bthps for cheaper plinking ammo. They shoot well in my Bartlien but in everything else they are worse than the Sierra 77s.I just finished 'building' a 223ai and have started fire forming some old LC 05 brass I've had around for years. The purpose of this gun is to be a 'fun gun' that is (relatively) cheap to shot, compared to my 6.5 CM.
I have read through this entire thread and see no mention of anyone shooting Hornady 75 BTHP. Is there a reason for this? I'm asking because, I found a good deal (awhile back) on a case of 4000 and plan to shoot them out to 900 if possible. That is the farthest I can shoot at my range.
Just curious if I made a mistake going with the 75 BTHP instead of 75 ELD-M?
Any insight is appreciated.
Cheers
I also ran into minor pressure at 25.8gr of Varget with the 85.5s in a regular 223. My load of 26.3 is right arou d 2900 with a 26" barrel. I have tried some Reloader 15.5 TS and you can get close speed with less pressure also.I’m shooting the 85.5 Hybrid. I have found that anything over about 25.9 loosen the primer pockets with that bullet. 26.5-26.7 was around 2960 if I remember correctly. It shot just as good at those velocities but when I primed the brass you could tell it wasn’t happy. I’m using an Impact Action and I never hit what I would call pressure signs but it’s definitely there. In your case 26.0 would probably be my max charge weight with a 80. This is my second barrel and it seems these cartridges will just shoot at whatever charge you decide to throw. Play with seating depth and I bet yours tightens up.
Thanks for the insight. I don't compete other than against myself. I just shoot for fun and relaxation. PVA osprey barrel with 100 freebore. During fire forming I shot 1 of the my best groups to date. So that has me hopeful that this barrel will like this bullet / powder combo.75s are fine. The elds have a better BC that will cut the wind down a little bit more but either way spotting impacts yourself past 7-800 is tough, though both bullets are capaple past that if conditions allow. I like keeping a stash of the 75 bthps for cheaper plinking ammo. They shoot well in my Bartlien but in everything else they are worse than the Sierra 77s.
If I was shooting tac class prs I would use the elds. If your inside 6-700 I wouldnt worry too much about it. See how fast you can get them going in your AI, I have seen 3000 with the 75 elds in a 26" straight 223. About as hot as I would go.
Do you know your freebore?
I’m about to test the hornady 75gn BTHPs myself in my 223AI (26”, 1:7tw Tikka action). I’ll report ack what results I get.I just finished 'building' a 223ai and have started fire forming some old LC 05 brass I've had around for years. The purpose of this gun is to be a 'fun gun' that is (relatively) cheap to shot, compared to my 6.5 CM.
I have read through this entire thread and see no mention of anyone shooting Hornady 75 BTHP. Is there a reason for this? I'm asking because, I found a good deal (awhile back) on a case of 4000 and plan to shoot them out to 900 if possible. That is the farthest I can shoot at my range.
Just curious if I made a mistake going with the 75 BTHP instead of 75 ELD-M?
Any insight is appreciated.
Cheers
I look forward to hearing how these preform for you. I agree, if they shoot 'pretty good' they will be worth it to me... cheap trigger timeI’m about to test the hornady 75gn BTHPs myself in my 223AI (26”, 1:7tw Tikka action). I’ll report ack what results I get.
They seem very to good from a price perspective and availability is good. Pending performance I might make them my load for 500m and save the Berger 80gn VLDs for longer ranges with 223AI
Ramshot TAC. It's available, cheaper than others, fast and accurate, but can be a little dirty and temp sensitive.Both my 223AIs shoot the best with H4895, but I'm down to my last 4# and it's been impossible to get more for about 3 years so I'm searching for alternative powders to try with 72-80gr bullets. Suggestions?
I've tried varget; it worked well but velocity and accuracy weren't as good as H4895. I do have a bunch of it though, so it can be a fall back.
Tried AR comp as well as I have a bunch of it. AR comp kicks major ass for me in terms of velocity and accuracy with 40-53gr stuff in the 223s and 223ai but the accuracy just wasn't there with the 72-80gr stuff.
Considering giving staball match a try, as well as N540. Any other powders I should be looking at?
4166 probably another can't get. Maybe BLC-2.
Ramshot TAC. It's available, cheaper than others, fast and accurate, but can be a little dirty and temp sensitive.
Hodgdon doesn’t produce enduron powders. It’s made by someone else. They just sell it.
How are you sizing your brass? I typically full length size but Im getting confused, or over thinking, the whole shoulder bump part on the AI. Been fire forming some lapua and ready to start load development. Have a couple different powders Im gonna try but running the same bullet.
How are you sizing your brass? I typically full length size but Im getting confused, or over thinking, the whole shoulder bump part on the AI. Been fire forming some lapua and ready to start load development. Have a couple different powders Im gonna try but running the same bullet.
It a savage action with a criterion 22", Suppressed, match grade 1:7 barrel.
How much did your smith trim off?Question for you guys... do you find feeding is more difficult with the Ackley case? I find myself double stroking the bold because the case body sometimes gets hung up in the chamber.. I can push feed the round 75% into battery and need to back off the bolt pressure, then send it home.
I assumed this was due to the minimal body taper on the Ackley case, but don't see alot of guys complaining about it... now I'm thinking my Redding FL die is on the larger side of the specs and the chamber is on the lower end.
Now that I think of it, I already had to send the FL sizing die to my Smith to trim the base (could not bump the shoulder as received from Redding).
LP Fuzion.. chamber is clean. It's more of the middle to base of the case binding on the chamber's rear chamfer as it goes into battery.I don't have any issues currently with feeding in a Rem 700 and an impact SA, using DBM's and MDT plastic mags.
What action, and what is the condition of your extractor? Also is your chamber relatively clean?
I have noticed that if shoot suppressed a bunch that fired cases get filthy dirty, and the chamber too, compared to shooting with just a muzzle brake. Also I had an issue early on with the base of the case just ahead of the web not getting sized down enough (had to modify the case holder as I recall, resulting in more effort to remove the cases.
I reworked my loads as well, and think that I tossed that batch of brass as I purchased 1 fired LC, and it may have been fired in a MG(oversized chamber)
That is one of the problems with the ackley improved 223, a lot of different reamers out there and the Redding die doesn’t work right with all of them.
I tried Redding back when I first got into to shooting.223ai, after a few barrels I ran into one that I was tearing the rims off of cases during extraction. I was going to get a custom sizing die from Whidden but cheaped out and bought the Lee set and couldn’t be happier. I’m still using them now four years later.Good to know, thanks.
What's everyone's preferred sizing die?
The Redding die worked well for me.That is one of the problems with the ackley improved 223, a lot of different reamers out there and the Redding die doesn’t work right with all of them.
How was the accuracy?I’ve been testing loads with the 75 ELD-M in 223AI to see if I can adopt them as a cheap projectile for 300-500m comps. Using mag length OALs and ADI2206H (H4895) and ADI fire formed brass went with the following loads over shot groups
24.5 /mean 2906fps / sd-12
25.0/ mean 2987fps / sd - 10
25.5/ mean 3055fps/ sd- 12
26.0/ mean 3106 / sd- 6 *chrony only counted 3 shots
Go to your local academy and buy a 200 range pack of Winchester lake city (if they still have some)Is anyone using norma brass in their 223 AI? I picked up some a while back from @RavenRocksPrecision but have not loaded any of them yet. I am guessing that the primer pockets may not hold up if mid to upper range loads are used? Thanks.
To the poster that never understood the Ackley Improved version, well they look way cool, increase the powder capacity, cut down on trimming, and look way cool.
Ha, my ex was screwing around with a Asian guy with the last name of Wong. I told her she had the wong guy, LOL.How was the accuracy?
100fps? Really?2950>2850
That’s s why lol