223AI Barrel Life Question

[DHD]

For you 223AI bolt action guys. What has been your barrel life with the heavies in a fast twist.

My use will be a range toy in a "something different" caliber. Specs will be Bartlien 1-7", 4 groove, VS contour, +/- 26" (I have a 29" blank). Action isn't finalized yet, but the Manners T5A is already here inletted with a Remington 700 footprint and DBM. I plan to shoot the 75 Amax, 80 Amax, 80 SMK, 75 VLD. Well maybe not all of them, but you get the picture. This is mostly for 600 yard steel targets.

While I'm asking questions, what is a good reamer that matches my criteria above.

 

[eric n]

I have 3k+ on mine, still going strong.
75 vld and amax at 3050fps with a 23'' medium palma... What mags do you plan on using? I have the AI polymers and they feed really well but are discontinued now, not sure how well the accurate mags work.
I used the stock reamer from kiff. I wanted to shoot 53 amax as well so it was a compromise, if I were to shoot strictly heavies, I would throat it a bit longer because you will get donuts.

 

[acloco]

My 2nd 223 AI was purpose built, to be abused. Planned on taking this to the prairie dog field AND running it hot, if necessary.

Yes, I have lost a little throat, Round count is 4500. I do ws2/danzac coat the bullets though. Next barrel will be using HBN.

If you are mag feeding, you will be limited on your throat length. 0.020" off the ogive seems to work well.

 

[DHD]

As far as mags go, I use AICS mags in my standard bolt face rifles. They have all been messed with to give me as much length as possible. I have read a lot of love/hate reviews on the polymer 223 Accuracy International mags. I want as much length as possible so I'm on the fence about which mag, but it will have to be either AI or Accurate Mags I suppose. I am also familiar with the PT&G DBM that uses AR15 mags but don't plan on using that set up. However, I am committed to using a DBM due to my stock inlet.

The barrel life seems very good on the 223AI per your experiences. Another choice was a fast twist 22-250 using SLOW powders, but it seems barrel life would be short and sweet. This will mainly be a target rifle to fill in a niche on the small side, so it will be shot a lot.

I'll call PT&G about the reamer.

 

[40X Guy]

As far as reamer specs for your .223AI, my sons .223AI has a .252 no turn neck using Lapua brass. Loaded Lapua .223 brass measures from .2495 to .250. This rifle is used strictly for short range BR. Freebore is .100 which is perfect for 80 grain A-Max and 80 MK's. We run 75 A-Max in his rifle as they shoot superb and they are seated pretty far out of case but rifle does not care. We will be switching to 80 MK's this spring and get into some mid range shoots. If wanting to shoot both 75 and 80 class bullets, I would probably opt for something on the lines of about .090 freebore.

Frank

 

[DHD]

Thanks for the info. I should get the action next week and then it's just a decision of getting a reamer (for my usual builer/machinist) or sending it to someone that already has one. Pluses and minuses either way.

 

[bobcat93]

I shoot the 77 gr. Nosler custom competition bullets in mine from AI mags. When I burn the throat out I can have it set back for the 69 gr. Bullets ... Start long and squeeze the life out of that barrel..I love shooting mine..it is the most accurate gun I've ever owned. Also I'm not a rich man and work very hard for my money ( like most of us) and think in the back of my head every time I pull the trigger I'm one step closer to another bill from the gun Smith..lol...oh well I guess golfers have the same issue..and i'd rather be on a range then a golf course any day of the week.

 

[shoot4fun]

My first 223AI was a slight set back/rechamber of a standard 1 in 12 Remington barrel. It held up for a bit less than two thousand rounds of 40 grain Vmax burners at 3600+ FPS. But then I have come to find out that most carbon steel factory R700 barrels are not built for shooting. The present one is a Brux 22" 1 in 8 twist. The 22" is just about the perfect barrel length and the McRee chassis allows me to feed it from AICS magazines without a hitch. It has about a thousand rounds of 77 SMK at 3000 FPS and a pass thru of the bore scope shows a nice clean throat, very minor fire-cracking and potential for thousands more rounds.

 

[DHD]

My first 223AI was a slight set back/rechamber of a standard 1 in 12 Remington barrel. It held up for a bit less than two thousand rounds of 40 grain Vmax burners at 3600+ FPS. But then I have come to find out that most carbon steel factory R700 barrels are not built for shooting. The present one is a Brux 22" 1 in 8 twist. The 22" is just about the perfect barrel length and the McRee chassis allows me to feed it from AICS magazines without a hitch. It has about a thousand rounds of 77 SMK at 3000 FPS and a pass thru of the bore scope shows a nice clean throat, very minor fire-cracking and potential for thousands more rounds.

Good deal. I don't mind spending money on these toys, but I consider load work up expensive especially when I am starting a completely different caliber (which, it seems, is all I ever do).

I've got 375 rounds through my newest caliber change (6×47L) and I already see some fire checking. The throat hasn't moved any appreciable amount, just some light fire checking. I want the 223AI to last for a while.

 

[rflshtr]

Good deal. I don't mind spending money on these toys, but I consider load work up expensive especially when I am starting a completely different caliber (which, it seems, is all I ever do).

I've got 375 rounds through my newest caliber change (6×47L) and I already see some fire checking. The throat hasn't moved any appreciable amount, just some light fire checking. I want the 223AI to last for a while.

I bought a used Ruger #1 in .223 in the mid 90's. I shot over 4000 rounds through it at prairie dogs and then made it a .223 AI and shot another 6000 rounds through it at prairie dogs. It finally got where it would only group 100 shots into a three inch circle at 100 yards while fireforming new brass. Re-barrelled to another .223 AI 1 in 7 twist.The original barrel made it over 12,000 rounds but only the first 10,000 were real accurate. Barrel was shot warm but not at real high pressure. Think I got lucky with that one.

 

[DHD]

I'll say you did get lucky there. Even though I don't own a No. 1 currently, I did have one in 25-06 some years back. I traded it towards something I thought I wanted more (what I traded it for has long since gone down the road). I had very nice wood and shot .75" @ 100 for 5 with 100 grain NBT's. It didn't have any of the "accuracy enhancements" done to it either. Oh well, live and learn, maybe.......

 

[AckleymanII]

I'll say you did get lucky there. Even though I don't own a No. 1 currently, I did have one in 25-06 some years back. I traded it towards something I thought I wanted more (what I traded it for has long since gone down the road). I had very nice wood and shot .75" @ 100 for 5 with 100 grain NBT's. It didn't have any of the "accuracy enhancements" done to it either. Oh well, live and learn, maybe.......

It would be very helpful if you guys were stating what powders you used, it does make a difference.

 

[rayjay]

As far as reamer specs for your .223AI, my sons .223AI has a .252 no turn neck using Lapua brass.

Frank

This was the first thing I thought of. Definitely get a custom spec chamber. No need to abuse you brass in an overly generous chamber. IIRC, for most American mass market brass a .250 throat is good as the loaded rounds were .247-.248 . Measure the necks of some loaded rounds of the brass you will use and then figure out the throat dia you need. Then use a FL bushing die or a FL die with a honed neck to give you the neck dia you need for bullet tension.

 

[DHD]

It would be very helpful if you guys were stating what powders you used, it does make a difference.

Keith, you make a good point. I wish I could find the thread where "Laurie" went into some detail about hotter and cooler powders and which were easier on barrels. It was an easy read and while technical, not hard to understand by a knuckle dragger like me. I may send him a PM to see if he would give me more details as it seemed he was referencing a study already completed.

The conversation you and I had earlier in the week mentioned H4350 and Re17 being hot/hard on barrels, and some of the spherical powders being easier on barrels. I appreciated the conversation.

 

[urbanrifleman]

With H335, what life can I expect?

I've never shot one out with any powder hahaha

This one has to have 5000 rounds on it, easy. Probably more. Still shoots the same.

 

[S&sprecisionTx]

First barrel I got roughly 8 to 9,000 rounds this is my second barrel
223AI
26", 1-7,
88eldm
Varget
2920

 

[S&sprecisionTx]

6000rds on the varmint gun first barrel
2nd barrel 1000
223ai
1-12 , 26 ,
H322
3700
53vmax

 

[urbanrifleman]

First barrel I got roughly 8 to 9,000 rounds this is my second barrel
223AI
26", 1-7,
88eldm
Varget
2920

A long throated 223a with 230 to 250 freebore for the 88 ELDM would be a thing of beauty.

 

[bobcat93]

FOREVER!...every time I would shoot my 223 AI I would sit down with a box of 100..I tried my best to use maturity and not heat my barrel up to much..I even noticed a forum member made a little device called barrel cool it was a fan to stick in your chamber to blow ait through it. I had to purch just to support another membes ..out of principle..and behold it works good..ive had it for years and it still works..I think he was the first one to make it..now others have copied his design..if not the first..dang near. Anyways the rifle was uneventful to shoot once I had load developed..and I sold it..brass life was incredible. So is barrel life and accuracy