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223 AI seating die

kyotekiller25

Silver $$ Contributor
This might be a dumb question, but does a guy have to buy a 223 AI seating die, or can you get away with just the typical 223 Rem seater to seat for the AI?

Thinking about reaming out my 223 to an AI and just curious is all. I know I'd have to get a 223 AI sizing die, but wasn't positive about the seater.

I bought a nice 223 Rem Forster ultra micrometer seater, so that would be the seater in question specifically.

Thanks
 
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Your Forester won't work unfortunately. Great seater, but Ackley cases won't fit.

I'm currently using a Hornady 22 cal "universal" seating die with micrometer stem with great results for my 223 AI.

I have the same 223 Forester seater die you have.......I know for a fact the 223 Ackley cases won't fit in it
 
I am loading my 223 Ackley ammo on a Dillon 1100 and 550. I am using Redding Competition Seat dies in both machines.

The 1100 loads short range ammo and the 550 loads long range precision ammo.
 
Depends on how hard the sleeve is. If its too hard, he (your gunsmith) can just make a new sleeve. I don't know if Forster hardens the seater sleeve.
 
I'm gonna call Forster Monday and ask if they have a 223 AI sleeve or body, whatever the correct term is for it, as they don't have it listed on their website. If not, I'm going to ask them if their sleeves/body is hardened to where it will ruin my smiths reamer.

My smith said he'd charge me $75 to cut the AI chamber and $35 to ream the seater, so long as it won't ruin his reamer he said. Or another option is to get an extra 223 sleeve for $15 and have my smith just open that up to the AI. That way I could just switch out sleeves and still use the same die to load for both my AR 223 and the bolt 223 AI.

So I would be into the 223 AI conversion roughly $200 after getting the Redding FL bushing sizer for another $100 also. Not to bad.

Also forgot to mention I'll be feeding these from MDT 10 rd polymer mags from a Rem 700. Will there be any feeding issues with the magazine or feed rails? It feeds flawlessly as a standard 223 right now. Just not sure if the mag or feed rails will need modified. Thanks for the help so far!
 
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sw282 said:
www.ebay.com

LOT #702 NICE!!! WILDCAT REDDING FL DIE SET .223 REM. IMP 40 W/SHELL HOLDER | eBay

USED DIE IN GOOD CONDITION.
www.ebay.com

223imp dies. l recently bought a set of 222 dies from this seller
Click to expand...
That's not a bad deal at all. But I'm looking for the FL bushing sizer and micrometer seater die set up.

Still deciding on if all this is going to be worth going to the AI. And I'd like to know if I'm going to have any feeding issues with my set up. Trying to do a little research now on that. Seems like the push feed actions tend to work better with the 223 size cases, which I have a 700 so hoping that's the case. But I'd like to hear from some guys that hopefully know for sure before I pull the trigger on going the AI route. I'd hate to jump in on it, only to have feeding issues. Would defeat the whole purpose.
 
boltfluter said:
My main concern would be how your smiths reamer matches up to your neck diameter and throat length. Very easy to ruin your chamber unless he sets the barrel way back. Something to consider.
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That I am not sure of. I didn't know you had to set the barrel back to rechamber? Then again I'm not a gunsmith. It's a 28" Bartlein HV so should be plenty of meat left to rechamber. Also, it was cut with an extra .020" FB over the standard Wylde chamber. I hit the lands at 2.510" with the 75g ELDM, where most standard Wylde chambers are about 2.490" at the lands with the 75 ELDM. I would more than likely do the same FB with the AI chamber, as it puts the 75 ELDM right where it needs to be in the case at 2.510 COAL. And as far as matching up to the neck diameter, that is something I have zero clue about as again, I'm not a smith. I just load and shoot.
 
kyotekiller25 said:
That I am not sure of. I didn't know you had to set the barrel back to rechamber? Then again I'm not a gunsmith. It's a 28" Bartlein HV so should be plenty of meat left to rechamber. Also, it was cut with an extra .020" FB over the standard Wylde chamber. I hit the lands at 2.510" with the 75g ELDM, where most standard Wylde chambers are about 2.490" at the lands with the 75 ELDM. I would more than likely do the same FB with the AI chamber, as it puts the 75 ELDM right where it needs to be in the case at 2.510 COAL. And as far as matching up to the neck diameter, that is something I have zero clue about as again, I'm not a smith. I just load and shoot.
Click to expand...

Just a few things to ponder on if the AI chamber is worth it. And some questions for your smith so you are both on the same page.
 
After much thought, not sure the AI is going to be worth the risk of rechambering and extra money for dies. It's only going to add maybe another 100fps anyway, which doesnt really do much at 1K. And I don't want the risk of messing up the reliable feeding. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
IDK about Rem 700 feeding, but I've run many thousands of 223AI rounds through two AR barrels with no feeding problems. 700 feeding should be much less violent. 1714915660925.jpeg
 
I use my hornady 6.5 creedmoor seating die on my improved swede. The hornady seater is a nice setup.

I wouldn't bother rechambering a 223 barrel that is working well as is.
 
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