School me on 223 AICS mags
- Thread starter Hickswr
- Start date
I don't have a solus here to test, but I have a hunch it's a possible issue with most 3 lug actions with a 6 o'clock lug cut and an interrupted feed ramp which allows the small diameter 223 case to drop down into that lug clearance cut in the feed ramp, resulting in the small diameter 223 cases being presented to the breech and chamber at a non-optimal angle.
I had this issue on my AIAX with a 223 conversion and I also noticed the same behavior trying 223 in my CDG as both of them have 6 o'clock lugs and interrupted feed ramps, but both of them made that non-optimal feeding angle with 223 work by having a conical breech face. The solus doesn't have a conical breech to help.
My old nucleus and current Archimedes actions feed 223 perfectly even though they're 3 lug, but those actions don't have a 6 o'clock lug and therefore have a full feed ramp like any "normal" R700 action. That's why I run 223 in my Archimedes and save the CDG for 308 diameter cases and AW mags.
223 is a weird one and I don’t know why, either it works or is doesn’t. I know single feeding my TL3 is a slight pain because the rounds don’t sit high enough and I have to get them started into the chamber but yet it feed great from a magazine
223 is a weird one and I don’t know why, either it works or is doesn’t. I know single feeding my TL3 is a slight pain because the rounds don’t sit high enough and I have to get them started into the chamber but yet it feed great from a magazine
Zermatt used to offer a push feed 223 bolt head for the TL3 if you experienced feeding issues, but normally they only recommended it for 223AI or other 223 based wildcats that had feeding issues.
Single feeding a CRF action can be problematic depending on how the mag or sled hands off the cartridge to the extractor. Some CRF extractors snap over the case rim better than others when single feeding.
That isn't that weird.223 is a weird one and I don’t know why, either it works or is doesn’t. I know single feeding my TL3 is a slight pain because the rounds don’t sit high enough and I have to get them started into the chamber but yet it feed great from a magazine
Single feed, the round sits higher. So when it hits the feed ramp, it's pushes the nose at a low angle.
When it's in the mag, the round is lower. So it hits the feed ramp, the nose goes at a higher angle and gets into the chamber properly.
If you want to single feed better, you need the round to sit lower, not higher. I assume you are feeding off an empty mag and not a sled?
I first read about it with Ruger Americans years ago unfortunately not until after I got hosed. What really pissed me off was Magpul. I had their stock and that's when I figured out they wouldn't feed. Instead of ditching it I held out because their 223 AICS mag was imminent(lol on me). Eventually long afterwards when the mag came out I ordered one only to have it not work. Magpul had told their mag would definitely work in their stock with my American rifle but then wouldn't respond after it didn't.
When I single feed my .223 in matches I don’t sit the round on the mag I push the nos into the chamber so when the bolt pushes it it’s already at least half in the chamber.
The Zermatt bolt heads are made to have the extractor pop over the rim even though they are CRF. No damage or issues. Have done it a lot in other calibers as well.
I did some more playing around with my Solus action to figure out why it's slamming rounds in the breech face. It's the 6:00 cutout in the feedramp for the bolt lug. The round slips right through the bolt lug cutout and there isn't enough ramp for the shoulder to hit the ramp and get kicked into the chamber.
From what I'm reading, this is a common Solus issue. Seems like I made a bad choice for a 223 action. My Origin doesn't have the same issue.
From what I'm reading, this is a common Solus issue. Seems like I made a bad choice for a 223 action. My Origin doesn't have the same issue.
The last Zermatt action I had refused to feed 223 Ackley. I fought it for a long time. Tried it in a Terminus and it fed like butter.
Sold all my Zermatt actions and havent looked back.
Sold all my Zermatt actions and havent looked back.
I just received a Solus 223 Wylde barreled action built, plan was to use a Manner's PH with Hawkins M5 Hunter DBM bottom metal and magazines. I am using this as a short range hunter, 69gr Scenar, Norma and SMKs, so if forced to use the Magpul mags, it won't bother me to much.
If it becomes too much of a headache or I decide to go with a heavier bullet, I may have to back up and rebarrel to a 6.5 PRC.
I am already 5 - 6 bolt rifles deep in 223 along with that many ARs, I just wanted a 26" M24 contour rifle, so in hindsight, this was a bad decision. I ordered this months ago, when Aero first announced the 223 bolt head.
If it becomes too much of a headache or I decide to go with a heavier bullet, I may have to back up and rebarrel to a 6.5 PRC.
I am already 5 - 6 bolt rifles deep in 223 along with that many ARs, I just wanted a 26" M24 contour rifle, so in hindsight, this was a bad decision. I ordered this months ago, when Aero first announced the 223 bolt head.
223ai- zermatt makes a special pushfeed bolt head specifically for that round.
The mdt poly mags don’t feed worth a shit with my factory rem700 in a keg bravo. They are turds compared to basically every other 223 mag. Much less in any of the other 223s I’ve tried them in, it should at least work for a factory rifle.
The MDT .223 mags worked great for my 700 action in a Manners stock with mini chassis.
I ran the old polymer MDT .223 mags in my Nucleus (in an ACC then ACC Elite) for thousands of rounds, they ran great but eventually they do wear out. I've been using the metal mags now for years and they run great, much smoother than the old polys. I've got a few of the new polys as well (12 rounders) and haven't had any issues with them. I'm pretty sure that the only feeding issues I've had with that .223 were with old poly mags that had worn out and when testing some prototypes of the new poly mags and that gun is on it's 4th (or 5th?) .223 barrel so it's literally seen 30k+ rounds of .223
They do now... Customer service from them was less than zero. Soured me so much I just walked away from the company. It is a shame, AJ had built such a good company too.
