The .223 Ackley Improved is a wildcat cartridge created by gunsmith P.O. Ackley. It is based on the .223 Remington cartridge but features a steeper shoulder angle and minimal body taper. The design changes increase the cartridge's powder capacity, thereby potentially enhancing its velocity and overall ballistic performance.
Use cases for the .223 Ackley Improved include precision shooting, varmint hunting, and target shooting. It is popular among handloaders and enthusiasts looking for a performance boost over the standard .223 Remington without significantly increasing recoil. Compatibility with .223 Remington firearms is maintained, as .223 Remington rounds can be fired in a .223 Ackley Improved chamber, which will then form the cases to the improved dimensions.
General benefits of this improved design are increased velocity, flatter trajectory, and slightly higher potential energy, making it a versatile and effective choice for medium-distance shooting. However, factory ammunition is not available, so it typically requires custom handloading.