223 AI

[yenak]

I have a 223 I want to Ackley. Does the barrel have to be set back, or can it just be reamed to the Ackley? I'm getting conflicting stories from two different gunsmiths.

 

[shortgrass]

Ackley headspace is shorter, the barrel needs to be set back and chambered with an Ackley reamer to Ackley head space dimentions. The 'gunsmith' who told you that you don't have to set the barrel back must not be much of a 'gunsmith'. The 'search' function, on any firearm forum, is your friend.

 

[jscandale]

I always thought (no experience with one) Ackley used the same case dimensions with the shoulder blown out to 40° so that factory ammo would fire from an Ackley chamber. Wouldn't that make the headspace a touch longer than the parent case?

JS

 

[yenak]

After more research I found the Ackley is .004 shorter than the 223. The smith that told me it didn't need to be set back USE TO WORK for well known custom builder.

 

[shortgrass]

Those are the key words, "USED TO WORK". In order to safely fire form the parent case to Ackley the loaded round (in the parent case) needs to have a slight crush fit between the bolt face and the point where it contacts the chamber on the shoulder end. When the round is fired under these conditions the stretching of the case to Ackley occurs at the forward end of the case, which is where you'd want any stretching to take place. You, certainly, wouldn't want the stretching to take place at the head of the case, which is what happens when you fire a round in a chamber that has excessive head space (Ackley of not!).

 

[ReedG]

This article from the "Articles" link on this site http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/ has excellent info on the Ackley and has case drawings with all specs.

 

[shortgrass]

www.mansonreamers.com 'click' on instructions IMO, the description "gunsmith" is getting to be very over used!

 

[yenak]

Shortgrass

"gunsmith" I'll agree with that.

 

[Preacher]

It would really need to be checked with gauges before it would be known rather it needed set back or not.
Some factory chamber vary way more than the Ackley can use, and some are short enough to not need set back at all......

 

[gotcha]

+1 for Preacher. Also have you considered your twist rate & throat length in order to stabilize the heavier (longer) bullets the AI is capable of shooting???

 

[yenak]

Shortgrass Thanks for the PM . I have a Model 70 HBV and a Sako 75. The Sako is an 8" and the Mod. 70 is a 9". I'm thinking of AI'ing the Sako.

 

[lpreddick]

one problem i encountered with my .223 AI rem 700 BDL is that rounds in the magazine almost never fed smoothly...bullet hitting everything. i bought a "score high benchrest follower" from sinclair and did as instructed putting it on top of the factory folllower and it was a mess! finally removed the factory follower and set the device on top of the spring and...YEA! 90+% cases feed smoothly, albeit as a single shot but i can chamber and shoot without all that profanity.

 

[yenak]

I finally talked to smith that made sense. Trojan Arms in Troy Il. The smith told me he takes one thread off of the barrel, and so on. I asked him if he just needed the barrelled action. He said no he wants the whole gun scope included and send some of my reloaded ammo. I could elaborate more as we had a 15 minute conversation, but i'll leave it at that.

 

[waynemac]

We did mine... Tikka T3 Lite in .223 Rem. It has the 8 twist barrel. The only issue we encountered was the reamer was a match reamer, and the Tikka's chamber wasn't. We had to clean up a transition that was just up from the case head. I'm impressed with this little round, and it's easy to make. Dies are available from several good makers, and all Ackley stuff looks way cool!!! There's a mag. Modification I found on 24hourcampfire.com for the Tikka that allows me to shoot 75 grain A-Max bullets, loaded out to touch the lands, from the mag.
I like mine, and it was easy,
Wayne

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

Set it back, fresh chamber, be happy

 

[langenc]

Agreed. Do it right-and only cry once.