This data is being presented for informational purposes only. Care in reloading is a function of knowledge and skill. I suggest reading several reloading manuals before attempting reloading for the first time. I try to always consult at least 4 reloading manuals/sources before loading a cartridge for the first time. Top loads in any reloading data are just that, don't exceed. If possible always go with the recommended starting loads found in the manuals. With few exceptions my quest is for the load that provides: 1) top accuracy, 2) case life and 3) velocity. I consider them in that order. Sometimes I'm lucky and get all three.

223 Ackley Improved (40˚)

My 223 Ackley Improved (40 degree shoulder) was assembled during the Spring of 2005.  The base gun was a Savage 110 with a nice maple thumbhole stock by Claude Gatewood. The barrel is one of the Adams and Bennet 1-14 twist varmint taper that was available through Midway.

Why did I have the gun done in 223 AI?

Generally when having a custom gun built it does not cost any more to have it chambered in 223 AI than it does in 223 Remington. The original 223 barrel on the Savage was past redemption.

I already own 5 other 223's.

My 22-250AI and 243AI needed a little brother

Fireforming was straight forward. Put the 223 cartridge in the rifle and pull the trigger. None of the complications I had when forming other Ackley Improved cartridges. I lost no cases when fireforming.  Fireforming loads are superbly accurate, so don't waste them on punching paper.  Form your brass while you hunt.

I could find no published data in any current reloading manual for this cartridge. The measured difference in water capacity was only a 2.2 grains between the 223 Remington and 223AI or about 7%.   The loads tested in formed cases were started just below published maximums for the 223 Remington and were increased to a level .5 to 1.5 grains above that published maximum.  All test cases weighed within 1 grain, averaged 95.5 grains and had their flashhole deburred.and were trimmed to 1.750 inches.  Range temperatures for all testing was from 65 to 90 deg. F. First chronograph screen set 15 feet from the muzzle.

One of the trials when going to a wildcat cartridge is finding loading equipment to handle those chores.  Lee Pacesetter 223 AI dies were purchased through Midway for less than $26.00.  The brass only has to fit in one gun so unlike the 223 Remington brass I am only partially sizing the neck of the case. Runout has been under .002 with the Lee dies.  I recently had a friend run a 223AI reamer in a Forster 223 Remington seating sleeve so I could use a Forster Ultra Seater die.  The only real advantage with the Forster seating die is I can use the micrometer adjustment when seating different bullets.

Have I tried using military brass! Well yes.  Those cases also formed well.  I have not used them for any further load testing though.

In the tables below loads in light greeen are the most accurate with that bullet. Loads in red are maximum in this gun. Fire forming loads are in black.

Why build a 223 Ackley Improved? Pro's: cheap brass, lots of good bullets, doesn't cost any more when rebarreling an action to get the velocity and case life advantage of the Ackley.  Cons: uses slightly more powder, is a custom creation with few off the shelf guns available, another set of dies to purchase.

223 Remington      223 Ackley Improved

WARNING: the OAL information below is for this gun only.

Overall cartridge length should be measured for each bullet you intend to use in your gun.  I measured the maximum OAL with a Sinclair OAL tool.  Most bullets are loaded 0.030 off the lands.

LAPUA 223 BRASS TEST

I fire formed the Lapua 223 brass with 40 grain Hornady Vmax, 27.0 gr of H335, Remington 7.5 primer and loaded to 2.300 inches (.015 off the lands). As the brass is on the heavy end of 223 brass (103 grains vs 95 grains) I needed to work up loads to make sure I did not exceed reasonable pressures. I used 6 cases to determine how far I could go with the H335/Nosler 40 BT combination loading all six cases at each .4 grain step and shooting two, 3 shot groups.

After determining which load would be the most accurate in the gun I shot 6 more groups at 100 yards with that load. The load I used was 40 Nosler BT, 29.2 grains of H335, Remington 7.5 primer, loaded to 2.320.

The four groups without a self induced flier were .221, .366, .389 & .195 for an average of .29275 The other two groups had two bullets touching, with the third bullet .15 to .25 away from them. The fliers were my fault for not reading the wind correctly or a holding error. It certainly cannot be attributed to the brass. Further use of those pieces of brass created hits in the center of later groups. Last group shot was the .195. I might add that the gun had 40+ rounds through it when I shot the smallest group. All but the initial loading on the brass was done while I was on the range.

Some conclusions:

After 6 firings the primer pockets remained tight, bolt closure was still easy, with no brass exceeding the 1.760 maximum case length. Most brass, when formed, ended up at 1.750 and the majority now measure between 1.755 to 1.757. The .29275 average group size is about .19725 smaller than the average of the 6 best groups fired previously in this rifle using Winchester brass. At $39.00 per 100 Lapua 223 brass is two times more expensive than Winchester or Remington but it represents a substantial improvement in load consistency. I will acquire more. It might also be noted that newer Lapua 223 brass is now much lighter in weight.