223 ACKLEY IMPROVED
We got a second hand Sako model S491 rifle in 223 Remington. The stock was in bad shape, and the barrel did not look any better. The action looked fine apart from some part of the bluing, which was rubbed off.
We thought this rifle might be a good candidate for some custom work. We gave this matter quite a bit of thought, and a decision was made to go all the way and build it into a 223 Ackley Improved, as we have never had one before.
A Hart heavy, fluted barrel was finished at 25 inches and chambered for the 223 Ackley Improved. We fitted a McMillan marksman stock and a Leupold-6.5 – 20X scope in Leupold mounts.
Federal brass and Federal 205M primers were used throughout. All bullets were molly coated, and were seated to just engage the rifling. All groups are 5 shots at 100 yards.
|
POWDER |
VELOCITY |
GROUP |
BULLET |
|
27.5 VARGET |
3082 |
0.546 |
BRAWAND 52 |
|
28.0 |
3186 |
0.390 |
|
|
28.5 |
3241 |
0.553 |
|
|
25.0 VVN 133 |
3146 |
0.403 |
|
|
25.7 |
3258 |
0.337 |
|
|
26.4 |
3393 |
0.261 |
|
|
27.1 |
3467 |
0.226 |
|
The following were loaded in Remington brass and used the Federal 205M primers. All bullets were molly coated. Groups were 5 shots at 100 yards.
|
POWDER |
VELOCITY |
GROUP |
BULLET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.0 VVN 130 |
4232 |
0.506 |
35 BERGER MEF |
|
28.5 |
4306 |
0.693 |
|
|
29.0 |
4414 |
0.669 |
|
|
29.5 |
4477 |
0.267 |
|
|
30.0 |
4540 |
0.650 |
|
|
26.0 H 4198 |
3913 |
0.833 |
|
|
27.0 |
4148 |
0.544 |
|
|
28.0 |
4378 |
0.622 |
|
|
28.5 |
4470 |
0.630 |
|
|
29.0 |
4530 |
0.585 |
|
|
29.5 |
4584 |
0.544 |
|
|
28.0 REL 7 |
4405 |
0.283 |
|
|
28.5 |
4513 |
0.487 |
|
|
29.0 |
4590 |
0.914 |
|