reloading 223 ackley improved

arthurrh · June 21, 2005, 02:57 PM

I just reamed my savage to a 223 Ackley Improved. Anyone load this round? Got any interesting recipes?

My rifle tends to like heavy bullets, from 64 to 75 grains. Before the reaming I was normally running 25 grains of W748 behind a Sierra 69gr MatchKing as my accuracy load.

TGC · June 23, 2005, 08:12 PM

Two loads to try one is XXXX of IMR 3031 is has worked well for me in both 223 Rem. and 223 AI when fired from a 14 in. contender. Another powder well worth trying especially for your heavier bullets is H335 start around XX grs. and work up from there. Hope this helps. Enjoy Your Shooting Time, Tom ( TGC)

Moderator Edit: Suggested loads well above published maximums removed.
Johnny Guest
TFL Staff

arthurrh · June 24, 2005, 10:49 AM

Thanks, I hope to try some things out this weekend and I'll report back with what I find out.

swifter... · June 29, 2005, 07:48 PM

I hope you didn't find you had a headspace problem...

You didn't mention setting the barrel back 0.004" to get the correct AI headspace. May I ask how you headspaced it?

Thanks,

Tom

arthurrh · June 30, 2005, 05:00 PM

Swifter, I dropped the reamer and rifle off with a competent gunsmith.

It seems to shoot just as accurate as before. I worked up a new load for it for my 1-9" twist barrel. I don't have velocity numbers yet, I need to take my chrono out to the range.

Before and after loads are using Remington brass, Remington 7 1/2 primers, and win 748 powder with a berger 64grain MEF bullet.

my "pre-improved" load was 25.0 grains
my improved load is 27.5 grains.

I ran tests up to 28.0, no signs of ill pressure, but accuracy dropped off. At 27.0 and 27.5 I got five-shot groups of .4" at 100 yards.

arthurrh · July 11, 2005, 02:17 PM

Latest test, I now have a load for the Hornady 60 grain V-max. I'm using 27.0 grains of Win748 powder and got a .25" group 5 shots at 100 yards.

June 21, 2005, 02:57 PM	#1
arthurrh Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Posts: 189	reloading 223 ackley improved I just reamed my savage to a 223 Ackley Improved. Anyone load this round? Got any interesting recipes? My rifle tends to like heavy bullets, from 64 to 75 grains. Before the reaming I was normally running 25 grains of W748 behind a Sierra 69gr MatchKing as my accuracy load.

June 29, 2005, 07:48 PM	#4
swifter... Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 1999 Location: So. CA Mountains Posts: 540	I hope you didn't find you had a headspace problem... You didn't mention setting the barrel back 0.004" to get the correct AI headspace. May I ask how you headspaced it? Thanks, Tom __________________ There are damn few situations so screwed up that adding government to them will not make 'em worse... The best homeland security is an armed & informed citizenery! Molon Labe!

June 23, 2005, 08:12 PM	#2
TGC Member Join Date: June 23, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 16	Two loads to try one is XXXX of IMR 3031 is has worked well for me in both 223 Rem. and 223 AI when fired from a 14 in. contender. Another powder well worth trying especially for your heavier bullets is H335 start around XX grs. and work up from there. Hope this helps. Enjoy Your Shooting Time, Tom ( TGC) Moderator Edit: Suggested loads well above published maximums removed. Johnny Guest TFL Staff

June 24, 2005, 10:49 AM	#3
arthurrh Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Posts: 189	Thanks, I hope to try some things out this weekend and I'll report back with what I find out.

June 30, 2005, 05:00 PM	#5
arthurrh Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Posts: 189	Swifter, I dropped the reamer and rifle off with a competent gunsmith. It seems to shoot just as accurate as before. I worked up a new load for it for my 1-9" twist barrel. I don't have velocity numbers yet, I need to take my chrono out to the range. Before and after loads are using Remington brass, Remington 7 1/2 primers, and win 748 powder with a berger 64grain MEF bullet. my "pre-improved" load was 25.0 grains my improved load is 27.5 grains. I ran tests up to 28.0, no signs of ill pressure, but accuracy dropped off. At 27.0 and 27.5 I got five-shot groups of .4" at 100 yards.

July 11, 2005, 02:17 PM	#6
arthurrh Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Posts: 189	Latest test, I now have a load for the Hornady 60 grain V-max. I'm using 27.0 grains of Win748 powder and got a .25" group 5 shots at 100 yards.