What is 223 Remington Match?

[Ned Ludd]

So, to shoot Berger 90's at 600 yards and get the smallest groups, do I want a barrel chambered in Rem Match?

Here is the reamer print for the 223 Rem ISSF reamer sold by Pacific Tool and Gauge (PTG). They usually keep it in stock. This reamer has worked exceptionally well for a number of F-TR shooters over the years. It is optimized for the 90 VLDs, but you can also load Berger 80.5s and SMK 90s, possibly a few others, in a rifle chambered with this reamer. That is not to say that a reamer that was slightly different in some certain dimensions couldn't also work well; there is probably some amount of latitude in a few of the dimensions listed below. However, the 223 Rem ISSF reamer is a proven design, and if PTG currently has it on the shelf, it will dramatically cut the lead time involved in having your own specific design manufactured.


Edited to add: a .223 Rem "Match" reamer is likely whatever the company selling it wants it to be, within reason. If it has the word "Match" associated with it, it has to be more accurate, right?

 

[cmillard]

My compass lake match is between a .223 and Wylde.

 

[js2013]

I’m surprised the Compass Lake has the same freebore as the 223 at .025.

I shoot CLE with 80’s at around 2.445-ish OAL and every barrel shoots great with no pressure signs

 

[Stepsjframe]

I assume 223 rem match is just a min spec match chamber 223.

 

[johnfred1965]

since we are all assuming things, My assumption is the original 223 match was designed for service rifle use with lighter bullets. To throw the heavier bullets available, I would assume the comments on the 90 grainers to be more appropriate. I also assume the wylde chamber, while used by many service rifle shooters, is not a "Match" chamber, just a compromise chamber between the short throat 223 and long throat 5.56. Just my ASS-umption, everyone has one!!

 

[BillC79]

PTG 223 Remington Match reamer
I have seen several diagrams of the PTG 223 Rem Match Reamer with variable values for freebore and neck diameter. I was looking for something with intermediate freebore to the Manson T.15 Fullbore reamer and a 223 Remington SAAMI reamer to shoot Berger 85.5gr hybrid bullets. The attached diagram was provided to me by PTG for their current 223 Remington Match reamer. The freebore appears to be comparable to the 223 Wylde (.0619) with tighter case body dimensions and smaller neck diameter than 223 Wylde.
I’m adding the diagram to this thread for others who may be searching for an example of the current PTG 223 Remington Match reamer. If someone has a copy of Dave Kiff’s The Gunsmith’s Book of Chamber Prints, I would be interested to know how the diagram below compares with the printed diagram in the book.

 

[K22]

In some terminology, "match" is used to indicate a chamber
with SAAMI mimimum dimensions.

Different users have different terminology.

For example, someone called the company president an idiot.
This caused a great rift in the company----about half wondered
who called the president an idiot and the other half wondered
who called the idiot a president.

Are we confused ?

A. Weldy

My smith back in 2009, re-barreled my Rem 700 with a Douglas match barrel, 12" twist designed to shoot 50 and 55 grain Nosler varmint bullets. He labeled the barrel, 223 Rem Match.

When I asked him what that meant, he told me that the chamber was cut to provide reduced free bore and tighter chamber tolerances because of my accuracy requirements for a precision varmint rifle using those bullets. All I know is this is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I think that used to be called Army Match Rifle Unit Reamer.

 

[dusterdave173]

The magic that is not mentioned is that the ISSF chamber designed for the heavy stuff WILL shoot the other bullets just great! I ordered a 7 t 223 ISSF from Urban--and another Hawk Hill chambered by my local smith same deal
Both barrels shoot the 85.5 Berger as intended--just great. And they both shoot the 53 Vmax like crazy--so I had some left over 40 Vmax loads from last years PD shoot--made up for a totally different rifle and said well..lets see--Surprise!!! I guess at 3600 FPS in a 7 twist all would say those bullets would blow up--they would guess with about a half mile jump that would not work--well---they did not evaporate--they shot little bug hole groups.
This lesson taught me plenty get throat long enough for the heavy you intend then test and prove to yourself you can do MUCH more with that barrel than the web would let you believe
Short camber limits you--so far in my very small experiment I see that longer does not Hurt you
YMMV

 

[dusterdave173]

BTW Urban makes a Great barrel for a Fair price and I think if you just listen to his advice you will shoot better I know I have!

 

[Bill K]

I have read and heard fairly often, that another thing with a 223 Match Chamber, is that factory 223 Rem will not fit and you must reload your brass to fit the Match chamber.

 

[urbanrifleman]

BTW Urban makes a Great barrel for a Fair price and I think if you just listen to his advice you will shoot better I know I have!

I am curious how my "budget barrel" stacked up against the boutique Hawk Hill.

 

[DR_2297]

PTG 223 Remington Match reamer
I have seen several diagrams of the PTG 223 Rem Match Reamer with variable values for freebore and neck diameter. I was looking for something with intermediate freebore to the Manson T.15 Fullbore reamer and a 223 Remington SAAMI reamer to shoot Berger 85.5gr hybrid bullets. The attached diagram was provided to me by PTG for their current 223 Remington Match reamer. The freebore appears to be comparable to the 223 Wylde (.0619) with tighter case body dimensions and smaller neck diameter than 223 Wylde.
I’m adding the diagram to this thread for others who may be searching for an example of the current PTG 223 Remington Match reamer. If someone has a copy of Dave Kiff’s The Gunsmith’s Book of Chamber Prints, I would be interested to know how the diagram below compares with the printed diagram in the book.

View attachment 1514325

Do you realize that the Manson T15 was designed around the 85.5?

 

[BillC79]

Do you realize that the Manson T15 was designed around the 85.5?

yes, and I have another rifle cut with the Manson T.15 reamer.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I have read and heard fairly often, that another thing with a 223 Match Chamber, is that factory 223 Rem will not fit and you must reload your brass to fit the Match chamber.

This is simply not true.

 

[MisterHelix]

I have read and heard fairly often, that another thing with a 223 Match Chamber, is that factory 223 Rem will not fit and you must reload your brass to fit the Match chamber.

Well, it might sometimes be kinda true, depending. Recently I purchased a Rainier Ultramatch barrel, and my previous hand loads tailored for a more spacious cut, simply would not chamber. Maybe I just got a tight one and my old one was sloppy, I don’t know. I don’t measure some of the stuff other folks measure.

I don’t mean this anecdotal incident as an absolute, but it was interesting to see firsthand.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

Well, it might sometimes be kinda true, depending. Recently I purchased a Rainier Ultramatch barrel, and my previous hand loads tailored for a more spacious cut, simply would not chamber. Maybe I just got a tight one and my old one was sloppy, I don’t know. I don’t measure some of the stuff other folks measure.

I don’t mean this anecdotal incident as an absolute, but it was interesting to see firsthand.

Could be a poor chamber job. Have seen quite a few of those lately especially from production barrels.

 

[MisterHelix]

To clarify, factory .223 ammo does chamber in the new barrel, but my handloads would not, so it’s just as possible that it was my previous barrel’s loose chamber that was contributing to the tolerance stacking.

Most factory ammo I come across (though I haven’t shot any in years) is pretty short, I suppose sized to minimum spec, to fit all chambers.