Who's shooting 223 AI?

waspocrew

waspocrew

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As the title states, who shoots the 223 AI? Like it or hate it?

I have a Tikka CTR 223 with close to 2K shots on the barrel - planning to rebarrel later this year and looking at the AI to get just a little more velocity. My factory CTR barrel seems a bit slow (not that velocity is everything). I reload for several cartridges (including 22/250 AI and 6.5 Sherman), so pretty comfortable with the process.

Any issue feeding out of factory tikka mags? I have a Waters 2.6" mag heading my way soon, so OAL shouldn't be an issue.
 
Have one. Had it for couple decades now. Remington SA Lefty. Pac Nor barrels were the rage then. As was a 3 groove...which it has. Fatter contour steel barrel, think a #5. Cut to 20"

Would I do it again?? Probably not.

Rifle is very accurate. It's been a lot of places with me...Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Washington.

I like how it's set up. And I have a well developed load for it. And I get free quality LEO ammo to burp for it.

Maybe I would do another simply because I am set up for it with dies and brass.

I think the lack of trimming is the key point in the chamber. Not the small come up in FPS. The front pocket of a pair of pants can carry quite a bit of ammo...but it would be the same in 223 non AI also.
 
I have had, and still have, multiple 223ai's over the last 20 years. Some guys have feeding issues though I never have. I've used adl, bdl, and aics mags. Never on a tikka though. Lack of trimming is a nice thing about them. Ive gotten great case life. You can get a little speed but it's not much in the small case. If doing it over today I'd do straight 223 1-7"tw and shoot 88's.
 
Mine originally started life as a Rem LTR 223 that I got bored with so I dropped it off at DE Rifles and Shawn chambered up a Hart barrel in 223AI for it. I originally ran the factory BDL bottom metal and it fed the 40° AI shoulder brass with zero issues. I've since swapped it over to a HS Precision detachable mag setup and that feeds just as well if not a little better.

If you're looking for something that's a little different and you don't mind the extra work involved a 223 Ack Imp may just be the perfect match for you. Pressure being equal they launch bullets about 100fps faster then the standard 223. Now, you'll hear/read of guys getting considerably faster velocities then that and some that will even talk about how their 223 Ack Imp shoots at or near 22-250 speeds just know they're doing that with considerably higher pressures. The little 223 case, especially with Lapua brass, will take a shit ton of abuse before it starts stretching primer pockets which for some seems to be their only sign of high pressure so be mindful of that when you talk to 223AI shooters that are getting hundreds of fps over the standard 223 velocities.

As an option to the 223 Ack Imp have you given any thought to a 22 ARC? It has more case capacity then the 223AI and requires no case forming. Not sure what the brass quality is like but the 22 Nosler could be one to look at as well.

I will say my 223AI is a tack driving little SOB. I can't say it's the 40° shoulder change because even fireforming it shoots teeny tiny little groups.
223AI.jpg
 
One of my favorites. I have had a few of them over the years, I wont be without one. My current 223 ack is on a ARC Coup action with a 1:7 Bartlein Sendero profile. It operates flawlessly with the Accurate Mag DSSF magazine. Best way to get your brass formed id to get a couple cases of 223 ammo and go Prairie Dog hunting, when you get back you will have plenty of formed brass, and fun doing it.
 
V35B said:
One of my favorites. I have had a few of them over the years, I wont be without one. My current 223 ack is on a ARC Coup action with a 1:7 Bartlein Sendero profile. It operates flawlessly with the Accurate Mag DSSF magazine. Best way to get your brass formed id to get a couple cases of 223 ammo and go Prairie Dog hunting, when you get back you will have plenty of formed brass, and fun doing it.
Click to expand...
You shoot 88s?
 
B23 said:
Mine originally started life as a Rem LTR 223 that I got bored with so I dropped it off at DE Rifles and Shawn chambered up a Hart barrel in 223AI for it. I originally ran the factory BDL bottom metal and it fed the 40° AI shoulder brass with zero issues. I've since swapped it over to a HS Precision detachable mag setup and that feeds just as well if not a little better.

If you're looking for something that's a little different and you don't mind the extra work involved a 223 Ack Imp may just be the perfect match for you. Pressure being equal they launch bullets about 100fps faster then the standard 223. Now, you'll hear/read of guys getting considerably faster velocities then that and some that will even talk about how their 223 Ack Imp shoots at or near 22-250 speeds just know they're doing that with considerably higher pressures. The little 223 case, especially with Lapua brass, will take a shit ton of abuse before it starts stretching primer pockets which for some seems to be their only sign of high pressure so be mindful of that when you talk to 223AI shooters that are getting hundreds of fps over the standard 223 velocities.

As an option to the 223 Ack Imp have you given any thought to a 22 ARC? It has more case capacity then the 223AI and requires no case forming. Not sure what the brass quality is like but the 22 Nosler could be one to look at as well.

I will say my 223AI is a tack driving little SOB. I can't say it's the 40° shoulder change because even fireforming it shoots teeny tiny little groups.
View attachment 900586
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed response! Great looking rifle and glad to hear it's worked out well for you.

Good question on the 22 ARC - I'm not chasing max velocity (I have a couple 22 Creeds), but figure if I can squeeze a bit more performance out of the 223 Rem case with really no down side, why not? I found a cheap Lee FL die and can use my other seating die, so the only major expense would be chambering a new barrel.

I'm definitely one who likes to tinker, so an easy AI like this would fit the bill.
 
V35B said:
One of my favorites. I have had a few of them over the years, I wont be without one. My current 223 ack is on a ARC Coup action with a 1:7 Bartlein Sendero profile. It operates flawlessly with the Accurate Mag DSSF magazine. Best way to get your brass formed id to get a couple cases of 223 ammo and go Prairie Dog hunting, when you get back you will have plenty of formed brass, and fun doing it.
Click to expand...

I did the same when forming 22/250 AI cases - went to town on some prairie dogs and had 100 pieces of formed brass in no time haha.
 
I just AI'd a Howa mini 223. only tested 2 loads so far. decent accuracy on the slow end, feeds perfect so far.
 
I have/had 223AI’s in Sako, m700, and Kimber Montana’s. Buddy shot my m700 and needed one so had another built for him.
1:7,1:9, and 1:12 twist rates, the 1:7 steals the show by a wide margin.
Built 3 of them around the 88 ELD m expressly. I’ll never be without the Montana 1:7.
88’s at 2650-2775 are a monster.
 
KHntr said:
I have/had 223AI’s in Sako, m700, and Kimber Montana’s. Buddy shot my m700 and needed one so had another built for him.
1:7,1:9, and 1:12 twist rates, the 1:7 steals the show by a wide margin.
Built 3 of them around the 88 ELD m expressly. I’ll never be without the Montana 1:7.
88’s at 2650-2775 are a monster.
Click to expand...
What barrel length & velocity with 88s?
 
I was thinking of starting with this. Pull the barrel, set it back, and have it rechambered to AI. I know I could start with a blued 16” for cheaper, but I’d rather have stainless and not a crazy short barrel.

Plus, I have quite a bit of gift cards to nearly get it without paying anything extra.


IMG_6474.jpeg
 
waspocrew said:
I was thinking of starting with this. Pull the barrel, set it back, and have it rechambered to AI. I know I could start with a blued 16” for cheaper, but I’d rather have stainless and not a crazy short barrel.

Plus, I have quite a bit of gift cards to nearly get it without paying anything extra.


View attachment 900887
Click to expand...
done right, you don't need to set it back. AI should clean up the original chamber but still allow factory 223/556 to headspace and fire.
Do it!
 
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