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223 AI 1:14

I recently acquired a barrel in 223 AI 1:14 twist, 24". I plan on mounting this on a Savage rifle for PD shooting. What powders are recommended for 40-50g bullets. I would prefer to shoot the 40g Vmax or 40g BT.

thanks,

Randy
 
Like its smaller brother the standard 223, the 223 Ack Imp is a pretty easy cartridge to load for and finding a powder that works well for you shouldn't be a problem at all because there are many.

For a PD gun where you may be out there in the heat of the day with the temps rapidly climbing I'd suggest using one of the more temp stable powders like H322, H4198, Benchmark, or H4895. There's other powders like H335, Win748, RL10 & 12, as well as a bunch of others that will work well for you also, but they'll be more effected by ambient temp changes so be mindful of that when you are working up your load.

These little cases will take a ton of abuse before the brass starts going south, so you'll hear allllllll kinds of crazy velocity numbers thrown out there about what kind of speed guys are getting with their loads so be careful using someones load, particularly if they're claiming hundreds of FPS over a standard 223 because the AI version, at reasonable pressures, is really only good for about another 100-ish fps over the standard version. I have one and it's one of the best shooting guns I own.
 
Gi Brass lc/wcc will take 556 levels of pessure as will Lapua. You will need a thick cup primer like cci 450 or Rem, Tula, etc etc to run 556 pressures.
 
I recently acquired a barrel in 223 AI 1:14 twist, 24". I plan on mounting this on a Savage rifle for PD shooting. What powders are recommended for 40-50g bullets. I would prefer to shoot the 40g Vmax or 40g BT.

thanks,

Randy
It's very hard to beat Benchmark, meters great & shoots great.
 
A2200 is fantastic for 40 grain bullets. The key is work up a load in the summer when it will be closer to the temp's you are shooting in. Also and the most important thing is don't put the round in the chamber until you are ready to shoot.
 
I have about 16 pounds of AA2200 left from the days when it was sold as a surplus powder and Wolf primers which I've used in my 223 AR with great success and ball powder. I'll try that combination once I get the barrel mounted. If that doesn't work out I'll have to try other powders.
 
40 gr vmax or ballistic tip over RS Tac. Runs over 3950 fps in my 26" shilen, no pressure and is a serious dog launcher. Work up from ramshots max load for a standard 223.
 
My 24" AR-15 has a 1/14" twist as does my .223 AI Savage. Almost all I shoot in them are 50 grain bullets. Usually a Vmax or Ballistic Tip. But they shoot 40 grain bullets and 55 grain bullets just as well. If I am after something that needs more than a .224 55 grain bullet I go for a larger caliber.

While I really like the 40 grain bullets for critters up to 300 yard or so but on occasion I get a longer (sometimes much longer- like 700 yards) shot so that's why I like the 50 grain bullet. To me and my shooting buddies the 50 grainers are what we like best so that's what I buy the most of and shoot the most of.
 
40 gr. Nosler BT and Hornady V-Max are all I shoot in my 223's and have settled on the following.

VV-133 if you can find it at an affordable price, easy to develop a load with and temperature insensitive which is a consideration on hot days out 'dogging.

Xterminator - It is available at reasonable prices, accuracy and velocity are on par with VV-133, not sure if it is temperaturer insensitive but I know of no temperature related pressure issues with it.

H-335 - available at reasonable prices but can sometimes exhibit high pressure when loaded and left in a hot chamber on a hot day, very accurate and easy to develop a load with.

drover
 

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