Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 223 to 223AI worth it

I have a tikka superlite with a 1:8 havent even put a scope on yet. Already have a 700 in 1:12 that shoots 55 lights out. Thinking about having it punched to the AI. Worth it?

If you want to get away from trimming cases, yes. Otherwise the performance increase isn't that much to brag about...i.e. Im getting 3400 out of a 22 inch barrel with 55 gr TTSXs...
3500 with 50 grain Vmax.


If you are thinking of shooting 75 grainers, there will be mag mods involved too...

I don't think you will gain enough velocity to warrant the change. I have had 2 rifles that were Ackley Improved a 257R and a 7X57 both custom made. I finally sold the Roberts but it was hard as it was an AI. I mention this because it's something to consider if you ever want to sell it.

Ah good point!

load the 223 up to full house nato specs or 65kpsi. since you have a factory gun and want to go fast with a 22 cal, why not just get a 22-250

No trimming is a worthy reason, added speed don't hurt nothing either.

There's a reason to not do 22/250, recoil, 40 percent increase in powder for 10% increase in velocity and shorter barrel life.

Of course anyone with half a brain would of course go 22/204 Ruger.

Well....yeah.....

one note about trimming, sinclair makes an insert that allows you to measure your actual trim length. I suggest doing that you will find you don't need to trim near as much as you think you do.

had one but was a target build too heavy for hunting. Happened on this tikka on a trade kicked the AI idea around cause of the 1:8 if it was a 1:12 wouldnt even crossed my mind.

exactly.

I've made chamber length checking gauges for a few rifles and most are at least .030" longer than max brass spec, one was .045" longer.
No need to trim until you are near that measurement and by that time your brass may have other issues.

I almost never trim brass after the initial squaring up of new brass.

I'm digging my first one and waiting on the second. 50's at 3,700 and 75's at 3,150 is a lot of fun. I think Steve Timm pushes 40's out at 4,000. That is certainly nipping at 22-250 velocities with less powder, muzzle blast, recoil, barrel length and not to mention available brass. Fireform loads shoot just as tiny groups as the formed loads. If a guy likes the .223 he oughta love the .223AI. It's just funnerer.

One Important thing about trimming brass is to always trim to a consistant length as carbon can build up in front of the case mouth and cause issues!

Nope. Spend $30 on a 3-way trimmer, call it done...

Just Do It ! Annnd that .223AI is a Sexy little Bitch

Rich

Thanks guys I think Ill go ahead and do it now the second questions any recommendations to gunsmiths?

I had Redneck do mine. Shoots little groups.

Man, this place is getting weird! Used to be a thread like this was good for ten plus pages. Where have all the good times gone?

223AI is old news, an itch I scratched, and didn't make the cut.....

I use to shoot the AI and had fun and a lot of luck in the groundhog fields. I shot 40's out of the 2 I had. I still have the barrels but I don't use them any more.
I shoot a 223 with a 1-8" now and don't look back. The AI was fun and you'll have a blast with it.

Mark

I'd trip it and go Montucky,then punch it out to 223AI...and yield a vastly superior platform.

I prolly shoot the 223AI chambering more than a smidge and were there something better,I'd simply have a bunch of 'em. I'm currently gunning a herd of (13) 223AI's and have had 'em from 18-26". I'd never go longer than 22" again,mainly because I have.

Hint.

Over the counter,the Montucky STEALS the fhuqking show and the Hornie 75 HPBT a given,with the 75 A-Max being a possibility.

Re-hint.

It's far and away the most for the least,is easy on barrels,logistics make brass nearly free and the COAL latitude is never unwelcomed.

26grs of powder in a 22" spout,will scoot a 75gr to 3100fps+.

'Course...I just might shoot a few other .224" chamberings too,from which to extrapolate same.

Yep. That'd be another hint.

Hint...................











(Addendum: For THE Perpetual Window Licker)


SuperKchunt,


Nawwwwwwww...it's wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy cooler than that.

75A-Max.




Be SURE to wax eloquent upon your hilarious version of "knowledge","results" and "experience",if only to yet again tote Stupidity to a place it hasn't been before. As per always,toss the pics in "your" album and feel free to say you gunned 'em,if only to add "substance" to your Imagination and it's Pretend.

PLEASE do not let the cat get your tongue,nor the couch your kchunt,as you regale the masses with all the things you almost did,the wares you nearly did it with and all the places you nearly did them. Extry points awarded for plagiarized pics.

Laughing!

Bless your heart...................