223 AI performance gains?

[dbk84]

Hey 223 ai guys, sorry if this has been beat to death but what kind of gains are you guys getting vs the standard 223 rem, I am trying to find out if this would be worth getting done or just to buy a 22-250 barrel? Thanks in advance. Devin

[trappst]

Kinda depends on what you want to do with it. Performance is very good for the 223 AI...how much will depend on barrel length but I got 3,600+ with 50g Noslers in a 24" barrel.

If it's a PD town your on, the 223 AI would be great....less powder, less barrel heat=more barrel life.

If you're only shooting a few shots a year chasing coyotes, the 22-250 is hard to beat.

[dcloco]

Pro's:

New brass is cheaper
1x fired brass is available and cheaper
smaller amount of powder used per round
LARGE selection of bullets
Longer barrel life due to less heat
Might have to trim the cases after 5 or 6 firings
Insanely accurate when fireforming loads (so...go shoot paper or prairie dogs when fireforming)

Con's
I can't think of any. :)

Without pushing a 223 AI hard, 55's at 3600, 69's at 3300, & 75's at 3150 fps.

[trappst]

Might have to trim the cases after 5 or 6 firings

"Might" being the key word in that one!!!! AI brass just doesn't stretch....even with repeated FL sizing.

[savageboy]

I 2nd everything Trapp and Dcloco said: my .223AI is my fav rifle to shoot. Powerful, accurate, easy to load for, flexible: w/ a 1:14 twist I can drive 50's to over 3600fps and it loves the Sierra 60gr Varmiter

[dbk84]

Well i was going to use my stevens barrel and keep the gun as light as possible but the smith said something about having to set the barrel back a bit so i was a little worried about kind of cancelling out the whole point of getting it done. Have you guys used sporter weights to do this or are you guys mainly using 26 in varmint weights? I thought it would be cool to have a walking varminter for yotes and p dogs?

[laportecharlie]

My 223AI is a LH model 16. I sent the gun to a gunsmith in Texas. They re chambered the factory sporter barrel, touched up the crown, reassembled and headspaced and had it back to me in one week. The cost was just over $100.00. That gun has been killing PD's now for over three years and still shots great. I wonder what a premium barrel would do?
Charlie

[dcloco]

Well i was going to use my stevens barrel and keep the gun as light as possible but the smith said something about having to set the barrel back a bit so i was a little worried about kind of cancelling out the whole point of getting it done. Have you guys used sporter weights to do this or are you guys mainly using 26 in varmint weights? I thought it would be cool to have a walking varminter for yotes and p dogs?


There is PLENTY of threads on a factory Savage/Stevens barrel. At most, he might have to face 0.020" off the breech of the barrel after rechambering to AI.

I have done...well....probably 18 factory barrels and only "set back" two...they were chambered wrong to begin with when they were regular 223's (too deep...just a touch).

Don't let your smith charge much extra for "setting back" a Savage/Stevens barrel....a couple of passes and recontour the edge of the chamber so rounds will feed.

[dbk84]

He said he would re chamber and re assemble and scroll 223 AI on the barrel once re assembled for 50 bucks, I thought that was pretty reasonable. Found a set of lee dies on midway for 30 bucks, so it would cost me 80 bucks total to do this, not bad. You guys have any fav starting loads that you would be willing to share?

[kslefty]

Just use your favorite load you are currently using, may not even notice a bit of difference in accuracy. I shoot 3 AI rounds but not the .223 yet.

[dcloco]

Just use your favorite load you are currently using, may not even notice a bit of difference in accuracy. I shoot 3 AI rounds but not the .223 yet.


Ditto what kslefty said.

[dbk84]

Well the rifle is at the gunsmith getting a facelift and he is working over the trigger while hes at it, ordered 100 new winny brass, lee dies, and some 60 gr hornady vmaxes, now all i can do is wait, thats the hard part. Im hoping these 60's shoot good cause i think they will stomp the poo out of yotes!