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Gentlemen, The boys and I made it up to the range yesterday to wring out various rifles and loads. The GA Precision .223 AI performed fairly well. The pictured group was the first group(3 shot) out of this rifle loaded with fireformed brass. I could'nt have asked for more... Though I am going to work up the powder charge a bit...(grin) One of the guys shot a .30 Caliber hole to give me an aiming point. Distance to target was 107 yards. The rifle was zeroed to Winchester Bulk Pack 45 grain HPs. With the fairly thin air it shot higher than I would have guessed... ![[Linked Image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/MattinVa1/DSCF0005881.jpg) This picture sucks in the extreme. The lens was cold and setup for closeup pictures. You can see Mount Evans in the background. It has the highest paved road in North America at 14,130 feet high... ![[Linked Image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/MattinVa1/DSCF0052403.jpg) Regards, Matt.
NRA Life Benefactor Member
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Lemme guess?
More than one pard wants a 223AI now?!!?..............(grin)
Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
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Campfire Tracker
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Man, I wish George would figure out how to put together a stick already.
That surprises me absolutely none, coming from George's shop.
So Matt, are you going to keep this one? If not, I bet I know where you could unload it.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Light barrels cain't shoot...................
Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Matt-sounds like you've a winner, any chance you clocked that load?
The 223 AI biz has me a bit thinking.
Thx
Mark D
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
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Yep, That rifle looks like a keeper to me.
Good Shooting,
HBB
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Stick,
They grew more than a little interested in the little black rifle when the target was retrieved. Had no shortage of volunteers to help fireform brass...(grin)
CAS,
Do believe I'm going to keep this one, however, should she go up on the chopping block I'll keep you in mind...(grin)
Mark,
I did'nt think to bring my Oehler out here with me. Have no real clue on velocity.
HBB,
Thank you...
Regards, Matt.
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Thats a good shooting rig. seeing all the posts from you big stick, dog zapper and fva. have me wanting a 223ai real bad. almost ordered a sps today to get started but ill wait a bit and finish my 243ai, but it wont be long
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Matt in VA, I am running almost the exact same loads as you.
I am using:
Winchester brass
WSR primer
H335 at 30grs
Sierra BK 40gr bullets
2.260 OAL.
From a 22 inch tube I am getting 3800+ fps.
My gun will flatass shoot. I think the 223AI is probably one of the best choices for AI type chamberings because you can get factory ammo so cheap that there is no need to handload just to fireform. I use Winchester white box for forming and it still shoots around 1.5" at 100 which isn't bad.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I don't shoot much W/W brass in my 223AI's,but speculating the chamber dimensions and such,I'd grant 3800-ish fps with a nekked 40 with 29grs of '335.
No secret I shoot 31.0grs with a moly 40,when I launch them. No secret they'll crack the 4K barrier either.
There will be several 223AI's built over the course of this Winter,from guys on my crew,as neither bugholes nor the PACT Pro lie.
One poke is ALL it takes.............
Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
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Stick, I think I was getting right at 3850fps, and no signs of pressure with 30. I certainly think I could hit 31 with no problems and push 4k, but 30 was the max I tried that day and they were grouping 5 shots at .5" so i called it good enough. Now...time to call some dogs.
You ever shoot any wolves? I was wondering what kind of horse power it takes compared to a yote???
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Watched a pard poke a Woof at 220yds with a 50gr V-Max outta his 223AI. Tore lungs outta him and Ray Charles coulda done the tracking.
Them 50's are a wicked bastard..................
Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
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Campfire Tracker
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Matt,
Very impressive but I'm not surprised. How is the feeding with the AI'd cases?
FVA
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Stick, wish I could shoot some wolves. Cool to hear that a 223AI is enough medicine. I figured those things would need something like a 243+.
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dogcatcher223,
I'm fireforming with Winchester White Box as well. Rifle has been averaging roughly .5" with the fireform load. Almost makes it too easy...
FVA,
Thank you. No problems with feeding soo far....
Regards, Matt.
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Campfire Kahuna Emeritus & Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Kahuna Emeritus & Campfire Outfitter
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Matt, Believe or not, your results are typical. My average reader who built a .223 Ackley usually called or e-mailed with the fabulous fireforming accuracy. Actually, they were worried that if the fireforming accuracy was fabulous, the precision might fall apart when actually shooting it as an Ackley. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Trust me, your accuracy will be as good, or better, once you start loading it Ackley-Style. Wonderful, wonderful cartridge. Steve
"God Loves Each Of Us As If There Were Only One Of Us"
Saint Augustine of Hippo - AD 397
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I just built a heavy tactical type rifle in 223AI. Shot it for the first time this weekend. Fireforming loads produced one hole groups for five shots. I was planning on building a 20 tactical next but I may have to change my plans.
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Steve,
The above group IS the first three "Ackley-style" handloads I've shot in this rifle. Would have shot more, however, I thought something was screwed up because I could only see that one hole. Had I tried to do it on purpose I'm confident I could have kept it under MOA...(grin) I did'nt even weigh the powder. Threw them with my Harrells Culver Measure. Only other issue was segregateing the handloads by their respective runout. The first ten rounds had less than .001" of runout with the other 25 showing less than .002" runout. The Redding S type die, .245" Titanium Nitride Bushing, and Carbide Expander Ball all per your recommendations. Thank you for your help again...
Regards, Matt.
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very nice......how does it feed from the box?
"after the bullet leaves the barrel it doesn't care what headstamp was on the case"
"The 221 Fireball is what the Hornet could have been had it stayed in school"
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Would you guys just please shut the hell up? I have a perfectly fine left handed M700 VS .223 that shoots, well, ya know, okay, pretty good, not bad - well, .7's and .8's for five shots with the occasional .4 thrown in for braggin' counts as "okay", doesn't it? Christmas is coming up and I do NOT need to spend the money to have this thing reamed to an AI. I don't LIKE AI's, I am morally and philosophically opposed to them... (so, like, would you guys recommend any brand of reamer over another? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery.
Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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