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

 

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Last updated September 2nd, 2000