New 223 Ackley

[Ramblerman]

I finally treated myself to a full on custom action, and put this together to be my "forever" rifle...cheap to shoot in quantity, etc...Borden BR, Brux HV in 223 AI, Pauduc and Birdseye maple stock by my best buddy Tom and machining by me. First five shots after two sighters to get the scope lined up with fireform loads with 69gr SMKs and 27 gr Shooters World Precision Rifle produced a .300" group at 100 in the wind...it did just as well with 27gr CFE and I've never had it shoot in anything...Never had a rifle shoot everything I fed it this good every group, right out of the gate... needless to say I'm a proud poppa and so thankful to my brother Tom for making such a straight and pretty stock. Shoot well brethren! Shoot well

 

[Ramblerman]

Tom just brought these blanks over for the next two...found a matched set of Borden's on here from the late Sid Goodling to build twin, for now I think Grendels. Tom fell pretty hard for the Borden...and deservedly so. So two more coming, hahaha.

 

[stacy]

That’s good looking rifle and you’ll enjoy it love my two 223 Ackleys

 

[Longtrain]

Love, love my 223AI, it’s on a slick Tikka 595 action with a 30” Hart 1:8. 69 SMK’s and 80.5 Berger’s are my go to bullets.
Shooting a 300 yard F Class match, the scorers behind me, said at the end of a string that, “you know, your rifle doesn’t even move when you shoot?”
Well it does move, just a smidge, my scope and position stays right on target the whole time. Sweet rifle that shoots lights out.

 

[Texas10]

That's a job well done, Rambler. But judging by the pics, you've got too many toys!

Have you tried the tipped MK's, or the 73 gr Berger?

 

[Bill Norris]

Definitely love my custom built Rem 700 .223 AI by O D Custom Rifles (WSMNUT here on the site) Easy to drive and smooth as silk action. 52 gr. Bergers and 55 gr. Sierras shot really well last time out.

 

[linebaugh]

Love, love my 223AI, it’s on a slick Tikka 595 action with a 30” Hart 1:8. 69 SMK’s and 80.5 Berger’s are my go to bullets.
Shooting a 300 yard F Class match, the scorers behind me, said at the end of a string that, “you know, your rifle doesn’t even move when you shoot?”
Well it does move, just a smidge, my scope and position stays right on target the whole time. Sweet rifle that shoots lights out.

Agreed. My gun moves so little with the 75ELDs that I swear you can almost hear/feel the firing pin drop. It is probably my favorite gun to shoot not counting 22LR

 

[Ramblerman]

That's a job well done, Rambler. But judging by the pics, you've got too many toys!

Have you tried the tipped MK's, or the 73 gr Berger?

Hahaha, I'm very blessed, that's for sure sir and I have always liked my toys...

I want to try the tipped Sierra's too and some newer Berger's... I still have a thousand or so 69 SMKs, so they we were mainly just for fireform use, but still seem to shoot okay

Definitely my new favorite. Thanks for all the kind words and suggestions!!

 

[MoneyWaster]

Not to hijack the thread, but I’m considering a .223 AI. An accomplished PRS shooter buddy of mine says that it isn’t worth it, but I’ve researched it here and find many who love it. My intended purpose is to shoot paper and steel out to 600 in a PRS style rig. I’ll likely shoot 75 or 80 gn pills.

I’ve had a Defiance Deviant action sitting new in the box for 3 years now and haven’t gotten around to building anything off of it. I currently have a .223 Remington barreled action which consists of a Bartlein M24 barrel with an 8 twist which is screwed into a trued Remington 700 action. It’s currently sitting in the corner after stealing all of the parts off of it to build my Vudoo V-22. I’m getting the itch to have a .223 up and running again, and figured that I’d move the barrel to the Defiance action and build a 20-222 with the left over Remington action. I’m assuming that the head space will be off for the .223, and it will require lathe time to headspace the chamber to the new action, so if I go AI with it, it will somewhat justify the cost of the lathe time. What do you think about this plan?

Lou

 

[Ramblerman]

Not to hijack the thread, but I’m considering a .223 AI. An accomplished PRS shooter buddy of mine says that it isn’t worth it, but I’ve researched it here and find many who love it. My intended purpose is to shoot paper and steel out to 600 in a PRS style rig. I’ll likely shoot 75 or 80 gn pills.

I’ve had a Defiance Deviant action sitting new in the box for 3 years now and haven’t gotten around to building anything off of it. I currently have a .223 Remington barreled action which consists of a Bartlein M24 barrel with an 8 twist which is screwed into a trued Remington 700 action. It’s currently sitting in the corner after stealing all of the parts off of it to build my Vudoo V-22. I’m getting the itch to have a .223 up and running again, and figured that I’d move the barrel to the Defiance action and build a 20-222 with the left over Remington action. I’m assuming that the head space will be off for the .223, and it will require lathe time to headspace the chamber to the new action, so if I go AI with it, it will somewhat justify the cost of the lathe time. What do you think about this plan?

Lou

Well, no experience feeding a 223 Ackley from a magazine, but my 260 Ackley feeds ok...not as good as a straight 260, but adequate from an aics mag. Knowing that it might not be as slick feeding as a straight 223, I still like the idea. Is it worth the trouble? Probably not, but since when are we absolutely practical? Hell, I just like the way the case looks...and honestly...does it take anymore than that?

 

[MoneyWaster]

Well, no experience feeding a 223 Ackley from a magazine, but my 260 Ackley feeds ok...not as good as a straight 260, but adequate from an aics mag. Knowing that it might not be as slick feeding as a straight 223, I still like the idea. Is it worth the trouble? Probably not, but since when are we absolutely practical? Hell, I just like the way the case looks...and honestly...does it take anymore than that?

You and I think the same way Ramblerman. Lol. And for what it’s worth, my research says that the .223 AI feeds reliably from AICS mags.

 

[Ramblerman]

You and I think the same way Ramblerman. Lol. And for what it’s worth, my research says that the .223 AI feeds reliably from AICS mags.

Sweet, then git r dun hehehe

 

[CavReconScout]

I run 223 AI in a Ruger RPR using MDT and Ruger AI magazines. It feeds great, no issues at all. I am using it this year in regional PRS matches with Hornady 75 ELD-M. It's a laser, 3080 fps out of a 24" barrel and only has 3 mil drop at 600 yds. I use it for the shorter matches and use a 6mm Creedmoor for the longer ones.

 

[Shootin25]

Nice rig ...!

 

[linebaugh]

Not to hijack the thread, but I’m considering a .223 AI. An accomplished PRS shooter buddy of mine says that it isn’t worth it, but I’ve researched it here and find many who love it. My intended purpose is to shoot paper and steel out to 600 in a PRS style rig. I’ll likely shoot 75 or 80 gn pills.

I’ve had a Defiance Deviant action sitting new in the box for 3 years now and haven’t gotten around to building anything off of it. I currently have a .223 Remington barreled action which consists of a Bartlein M24 barrel with an 8 twist which is screwed into a trued Remington 700 action. It’s currently sitting in the corner after stealing all of the parts off of it to build my Vudoo V-22. I’m getting the itch to have a .223 up and running again, and figured that I’d move the barrel to the Defiance action and build a 20-222 with the left over Remington action. I’m assuming that the head space will be off for the .223, and it will require lathe time to headspace the chamber to the new action, so if I go AI with it, it will somewhat justify the cost of the lathe time. What do you think about this plan?

Lou

Feeds reliably from AI mags in my Origin action. I would say it cycles a bit rougher than I would like but the performance gains are worth it.
75ELDs at 3060-3070 from a 26" and I shoot matches out to 8-900 yards with mine. Love it. Probably a slight disadvantage but not much. Biggest problem is spotting hits at times. Next year I am going to quit using my big gun and only run this 223AI off of my dillon. I won't win but I bet I have just as much fun and I can't compete with the big dogs anyway.

I just loaded another 100 rounds tonight. CFE 223 right off the drop. I sure do enjoy not weighing each round.

 

[Ramblerman]

Feeds reliably from AI mags in my Origin action. I would say it cycles a bit rougher than I would like but the performance gains are worth it.
75ELDs at 3060-3070 from a 26" and I shoot matches out to 8-900 yards with mine. Love it. Probably a slight disadvantage but not much. Biggest problem is spotting hits at times. Next year I am going to quit using my big gun and only run this 223AI off of my dillon. I won't win but I bet I have just as much fun and I can't compete with the big dogs anyway.

I just loaded another 100 rounds tonight. CFE 223 right off the drop. I sure do enjoy not weighing each round.

Awesome...and CFE finally showed me something with this round too...bout time, I have about ten pounds I was trying to figure out what to do with...and now I will just throw a bunch of it from my measure into some waiting 223 Ackley cases and make it go bang

 

[6xcshooter]

I get great results with benchmark and the 69gr match king

 

[Ramblerman]

I get great results with benchmark and the 69gr match king

I have some of that as well and will give it a try.

 

[Longtrain]

Well, no experience feeding a 223 Ackley from a magazine...

I have no experience with AIS mags, but my Tikka 595, feeds like grease through a goose from the Tikka single stack magazines. Just a lot of fun to shoot.