Should I go with Ackley Improved?

Taylor-Made

Taylor-Made

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
21   0   0
I am newish to Longer Range shooting and I spend most of my time shooting alone, however, on occasion I have and still plan to shoot in some competitions. I chose to go with 223 for its ease of reloading and how affordable it is. I have a new barrel on the way now because I want to use the 80 grain pills. The 69 SMK's destabilized beyond 800 metres.

My question is. Should I go with an Ackley chamber? My gunsmith is of the opinion it is a no brainer and I certainly respect his opinion. Secondly is the Ackley legal for competition?

Thanks for the input folks!

By the way, I'm sure some will be of the opinion I should move away from 223. Not yet, that's the next rifle
 
I shoot the 223 as far as some try to get their Lapua's so I see nothing lacking in this little gem.

For competition, stick with the 223 Rem. The improved will get you into open divisions and then there are better options.

Also, I would hope you went at least 8 twist. 7 or 7.5 twist better.

The 223 is way more fun then its size suggests.

Jerry
 
I agree with Jerry.

The AI version will put you in F-Class 'open' (If shooting F-Class) as the FTR is only for 223 rem and 308 Win, or their NATO equivalents.

You will not be competitive in open class, although you will still have fun.

If I wanted a really fast 223 with superb accuracy, I would go 22 BR, but I suspect your bolt won't allow that.
 
Taylor-Made said:
My gunsmith is of the opinion it is a no brainer and I certainly respect his opinion. Secondly is the Ackley legal for competition?
Click to expand...

THAT would be the kicker, competition rules may dictate No goon the AI.
From a brass life and slight case capacity increase to push the bigger bullets , yes it makes sense, but not at the cost of painting yourself into a corner if competition is in the plan.
 
If no competition work use is the plan then the AI has great merit. Slightly greater case capacity is nice, especially for shooting the heavier bullets, but the number or reloadings you get from a casing is unreal on the AI version.
Lapua brass is not cheap and to get 30 or 40 reloadings from a casing makes it all the less expensive to shoot. I have a client who has over 60 reloadings from the same casings and is still going. Personally mine only has 41 reloads.
Now just to be clear, part of this equation is the chamber in the rifle, the load as well as the sharp shoulder, not just the shoulder alone.
 
I have done the AI with the .223 and 80gr pills for open F-Class. You will get an extra 25fps for an additional .5gr powder capacity. It's really not much of an improvement as far as Ackley's go, but it does work. At the time I did that conversion the Norma 6BR came out and became the clear winner past 600meters. I still keep mine up to that range and love the light recoil and accuracy of the case.

If you're looking to shoot varmints and have a ton of cheap .223 brass then the Ackley is nice. If you only have a .223 boltface then sure, but you'll need new dies or modified ones.
 
If dies are a good fit to the chamber, your loads are within the elastic limit of the brass, and the rifle is mechanically sound, any cartridge will deliver long brass life.
The 223 AI will not achieve enough over the standard 223 to make the conversion worthwhile. You could increase the usable case capacity by a greater amount by simply lengthening the throat to better accomodate the heavy bullets. Regards, Bill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom