.223 Ackley dies

[petenz]

I'm getting my .223 rebarreled to a fast twist .223 ackley improved soon, I'm currently using a lee collet neck die and a redding competition seater die, is it possible to modify them to work with the .223AI? Or even use them as is?



Anyone here played with a .223 AI (or standard .223) with heavy bullets, 69-75gr range, in a bolt action? I'm planning on using either a 69gr locally made RBBT VLD with a BC of .4ish or the 75gr Amax.

 

[petenz]

So can I use .223 collet neck die and redding comp seater with .223AI?


Anyone know?

 

[woods]

Hey petenz

You will be able to use the Lee Collet but not the Redding Comp seater. For my 280AI I use the regular 280 rem Lee Collet and Lee Factory Crimp Die but had to buy the Redding Comp seater and Redding Body Die specifically for the 280AI.

 

[WhiteMeat]

I'm using the redding comp seater in 223AI and from what I understand, the Lee collett neck die should be fine (I went a redding bushing die)

I'll be trying out some Hornady 75 HPBT and 39.8gr AR2208 (Varget) for fire forming tomorrow so i'll report back how they go in a 1:9 Lothar-Walther barrel. The 69 SMK was nice at 24gr of AR2208 (Varget) as a fire forming with most shots falling within about .2 to .4 MIL at 50 meters (indoor range - haven't been able to get out to the 200m outdoor range as yet )

 

[WhiteMeat]

The 69 SMK and the Hornady 75 HPBT both made one hold about 1 MOA at 50m indoors today, in the next couple of weeks i'll start doing load development for both and see how they go.

Good luck with yours as i'm sure looking forward to how mine works out

*edit* forgot to mention that these were fire-forming loads so they weren't "up there' in terms of powder capacity (24.5 grains of AR2208 / Varget for the 69grn SMK and 39.8 grn AR2208 / Varget with the 75 HPBT)

 

[petenz]

The 69 SMK and the Hornady 75 HPBT both made one hold about 1 MOA at 50m indoors today, in the next couple of weeks i'll start doing load development for both and see how they go.

Good luck with yours as i'm sure looking forward to how mine works out

*edit* forgot to mention that these were fire-forming loads so they weren't "up there' in terms of powder capacity (24.5 grains of AR2208 / Varget for the 69grn SMK and 39.8 grn AR2208 / Varget with the 75 HPBT)

that's a hell of a hot load

My barrel arrives this week

 

[WhiteMeat]

that's a hell of a hot load

My barrel arrives this week

:S oops, I meant 24.8 grains for the 75 HPBT, it's looking likely that i'll be settling on 26gr of varget for the 75gr AI loads too

 

[Armed in Utah]

Midway stocks the Lee die set for the 223 AI....along with the Redding std set...can not recall if the Redding is the 3 pc deluxe set or not....I have been loading the 223 AI for five yrs or so now...12 twist Pac Nor spins out a Nosler moly 55 BT @ 3500 fps on a mere 27.5/BM....safe load in my rifle......

 

[petenz]

:S oops, I meant 24.8 grains for the 75 HPBT, it's looking likely that i'll be settling on 26gr of varget for the 75gr AI loads too

What sort of speeds are you getting?

My barrel has arrived and it's all boxed up and off to the gunsmith soon.........

 

[WhiteMeat]

What sort of speeds are you getting?

My barrel has arrived and it's all boxed up and off to the gunsmith soon.........

Looking forward to seeing how your rig turns out and shoots

I haven't had a chance to run the loads over the chrony yet for a couple of reasons (ran out of projectiles and I still need to get a tripod for the chrono screens hehe) i'm more interested in finding an accurate load first though and then when that is 'settled' in, i'll give them a run to see what its doing numbers wise. I'm using CCI 400's as primers and am getting some decent cratering even out of 'mild' loads in the AI cases (about 24 grains Varget) so I might also change out to a harder primer to see how it goes after that (got the CCI 400s for fireforming purposes) i've got plenty of time at the moment though so am in no rush.

 

[TAP]

The .223 AI I had had a 1in 8"twist and I shot mostly 80gn SMK. However, I would also run some 69 and 75's on occasion. Didn't try the Lee dies. I had Redding comp seater and a neck bushing die. Varget was by far the best powder for me with Fed match primers being the best. This particular rifle wasn't real fond of the 69's. It did shoot the 75's into the 7's, the 80's into the 4's and the 52 SMK into bugholes. Tried various powder and primer combinations and always came back to Varget and Fed match.

 

[WhiteMeat]

I had Redding comp seater and a neck bushing die.

Just out of curiosity, did / does your neck bushing die size the entire neck down to the shoulder? Mine is leaving about 1mm of (apparently - no visual evidence of sizing occurring there) unsized area just above the shoulder on the necks

 

[TAP]

If I remember correctly, mine didn't size all the way down either. Haven't used them very often, so I don't know if this is typical or not. Would be nice to know, though.

 

[petenz]

Looks like I am getting my Redding .223 comp seater reamed out to AI and just using the Lee collet die. Too easy.