Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 223 AI build suggestions

If your were to build one from scratch what componets would you use..money is an object but honest quality has great value.
which action,which barrel,barrel twist,flutes or no,barrel length,gunsmith,stock..ect..would you use?
i want it to be accurate with regular 223 ..i would like it light but not too light..i always try to take a rest and would like it to settle on a sandbag for the range,but not a heavy barrel beast so it handles well in the truck or for a walking varminter..coyotes,javilina,jack rabbits.I know alot of good people here have several and have built several.I know there are things you would have done different at times or you got right and maybe you could share your experiences..thanx
JD

Rem 700 Action
Hart Bbl....1 in 10 twist
Stock?...your choice.....lots of good ones out there...


Thinkin about the same build myself right now..


My other thought is just to buy a stainless Tikka T3 and have the chamber reamed....

Ingwe

Personally I'd go one of two ways.

Option A would be to buy a T3 like Ingwe said and have it punched. You'll get a light but not too light and yet incredibly accurate rig.

Secondly, you could buy an ADL 223, stick it in a Ti take off handle and cut the barrel to 21" and have it punched.

Either option will do you very well and both options are cost effective.

Dober

Borden Alpine action
Lilja #2 cut at 22" 1 in 8 twist
McMillan hunters edge or compact


Sorry kinda blew your money is an object but hey you would have one nice rifle

Or if you really wanted to keep it affordable grab a kimber montana in .223 and have it punched to AI.

I've already acquired most of mine except for the barrel and stock, which have been on order for about a month.

Rem M700 SA
Brux factory Rem Varmint contour, 1-8" twist (will order cut to 20")
McMillan HTG Forest Camo, Std fill
Williams 1-pc bottom metal (later want CDI bottom metal so I can use Accuracy International 223 mags)
Jewell Trigger
Badger base and rings
Leupold MKIV 6.5-20x50 M1 turrets/TMR reticle

Haven't picked a smith yet. Will probably have the metal coated with black Cerakote. Also will probably send my bolt off to Hooper Ordnance to have a Badger knob installed.

I'm hoping all will weigh about 10 lbs, but I may be dreaming.

And I've got a plan to ream out my 223 T3 Hunter to 223AI. Already has the 1-8" twist barrel. The plastic mag is the only limitation as far as I see it, but I think I've figured out a way to lengthen the mag box so I can stuff 2.4" or 2.45" COL rounds in there. I guess we'll see how it turns out.

This and the barrel cut to 20" would be a perfect lighter-weight 223AI IMO.

Any bets as to which one will shoot better....

Dober

My chioce of actions, Sako L-461, Mini-Mauser, Model 7/ Rem 600

Barrel, Pac-Nor SS 3 groove 20" approx .75 at the muzzle.

I have a 600 done like this in 6x45

For a factory rig I'd just rechamber a CZ 527 Varmint.

erich

Rem 700
1-8" #3 Rock @22"
standard fill mcmillan classic
3.5-10 in talleys
8.1 lbs as it sits w/o bipod.

It feels lighter than 8lbs because it balances well.

Remington Predator...punched out to AI..

1 in 12 twist..but will shoot 53 gr. TSXs into .5 moa out to 300 yds...( when I do MY part )



Ingwe

Scope looks familiar Ingwe, have you ever used the 2-7 with BP?

Dober

Nope...I now have 5 3x9 BPs and am gettin pretty used to them...
Plus, I dont know about the subtensions etc on the 2x7 but the 3x9s on 9power span exactly 18 inches from center to top of bottom post at 200 yds....lets me range pretty well inside ludicrous distance ( out to 400 yds) and I aint shootin farther than that anyway....the combo works for me and I can hit Burris for a pro-form on occasion....

Ingwe

Thx, was just curious I have two 3-9 BP's and totally love them as well. Just wish I could still take advantage of the pro form on occasion...

Dober

Knowing how the Tikka already shoots as a plain ole' .223, it may be a toss-up. Why do we spend so much money?? I'll never know, but I already have the next one planned and already have an action and stock and Rock barrel for it!!! It will be a heavy barrel 22-250! Maybe a 22-250 AI!

my most accurate rifle is a .223 AI with a 1-8" Brux.

i couldn't stand the HTG, so i sold it and dropped the barreled action into an AICS to run with the new .223 mags.

mpwolf, that is a nice rifle!

Trued 700 action
PN Light weight contour @ 21"
Talley rings
Sprial fluted bolt/campfire knob.
3.5-10 w/TT's.

7.3lbs, if I recall correctly without the bipod.

I wish you'd lose that picture SS...it's going to end up costing me money.

I love that stock.

SS,

What are the specs on that stock? You build some cool schit my friend.


Travis

Almost had mine today but let it go....was bidding on a lvsf in .223 with a leupold Mark 4 3x9 scope with Tallys and a Harris bi-pod....I was up to $917 and it sold for $922

George that woulda been a sweet one to punch out...I think thats about the nicest "walking" varminter they ever put out...


Ingwe