Have a Rem700 SSP in .223 Rem. and it's shooting about .75moa, has about 2000 rounds through it. I think it's doing well for an unmodified factoy rifle. Of course I'd like to do better. Was thinking of perhapse getting it rebarreled or just having it rechambered in .223AI, possibly with a tight neck, but am not sure if I should, or just be content with it as is, and leave it alone. All I really use it for is shooting off the bench at 100-300yds. I just like it because my handloads in .223 don't cost any more than the Eley black box for my rimfires, is acually more accurate than my rimfires, has more power and range, and is still pleasant to shoot.
.223AI or not?
- Thread starter JDBraddy
- Start date
I have two 223AIs and I like them. One is a 1:9 sporter barrel coyote whacker. The other is a 1:8 100-500yd bench/belly gun. Gives me 22-250 performance with less powder, recoil, and cost.
They provide a little more velocity so it shoots just a little flatter for just a little bit farther.
The best part for me is that the brass is cheap and very low maintenance. I collet neck size for 7-8 loads and the primer pockets go (12-15 loads) before I have to trim them. I hate brass prep so this is a big plus for me with the 223AI.
There is no really strong reason for the 223AI but it is fun
They provide a little more velocity so it shoots just a little flatter for just a little bit farther.
The best part for me is that the brass is cheap and very low maintenance. I collet neck size for 7-8 loads and the primer pockets go (12-15 loads) before I have to trim them. I hate brass prep so this is a big plus for me with the 223AI.
There is no really strong reason for the 223AI but it is fun
bigedp51
Leave your rifle alone and shoot it till the barrel is toast.............
When your zombie targets look like above and you can't make those critical head shots anymore then think about another barrel.
I would like to thank bozo699 for letting me use a photo of his practice target from his best shooting rifle.
When your zombie targets look like above and you can't make those critical head shots anymore then think about another barrel.
I would like to thank bozo699 for letting me use a photo of his practice target from his best shooting rifle.
Can't you just feel the love between Big Ed and Bozo! ;D
Seriously. The .223 AI is one of my favorite calibers but like they said, wait till it's a tomato stake and then make one. Just economics,
.
Seriously. The .223 AI is one of my favorite calibers but like they said, wait till it's a tomato stake and then make one. Just economics,
.bigedp51
MrMajestic said:
Both Bozo and I watch "The Walking Dead" Sunday nights on AMC, I wait till the Zombies get closer with my .223/5.56 AR A2 HBAR and get more zombies than Bozo does at long range during the commercials.
Besides Bozo's lubes his cases and his bullets slide down the barrel crooked as you can see in my first photo. :
The Aztec calender end of the world thingy didn't pan out so now its time to prepare for Zombie attacks. (and getting zingers in on my buddy Bozo) ;D
With mandatory head shots on Zombies they don't seem to notice the extra fps difference between the two. And fireforming cases during a zombie attack has its disadvantages.
(just ask Bozo about his panic shots)
I frequently rechamber used factory barrels to ackley.
I'd take an inch off the breach for a clean rechamber, and an inch off the muzzle to eliminate the fish mouth.
Cut a nice crown, and cut an ackley chamber. Reinstall the barrel.
While this is going on, anneal all of your used brass. Virgin brass or newly annealed fireform better.
Shoot unformed brass until the factory barrel becomes a good tomato stake.
You now have a lifetime supply of formed Ackley brass.
You can now fit a custom barrel to the action and develop a load with it already fireformed.
I'd take an inch off the breach for a clean rechamber, and an inch off the muzzle to eliminate the fish mouth.
Cut a nice crown, and cut an ackley chamber. Reinstall the barrel.
While this is going on, anneal all of your used brass. Virgin brass or newly annealed fireform better.
Shoot unformed brass until the factory barrel becomes a good tomato stake.
You now have a lifetime supply of formed Ackley brass.
You can now fit a custom barrel to the action and develop a load with it already fireformed.
bigedp51 said:Leave your rifle alone and shoot it till the barrel is toast.............
When your zombie targets look like above and you can't make those critical head shots anymore then think about another barrel.
I would like to thank bozo699 for letting me use a photo of his practice target from his best shooting rifle.
Wow, did i laugh hard at this one! Bozo699 where are you? ;D
Back to OP's question, go with a new barrel spec'ed out for 75 A-max with a .252 neck for no turn Lapua brass and drive serious tacks at all ranges out to 600 yards. I built a .223 AI for my son on a 40X action 8 twist HV profile Brux and it is a ton of fun. Found a load that shoots better than most people steering it with 8208 XBR and 75 A-Max and Br-4's all in lapua brass and its scary accurate. Only 200 rounds thru the rifle and now will anneal the brass and FL size it. I can't say enough about the .223 AI. Just a really cool cartridge.
Bozo699, try to tighten that group up a tad. The Walking dead is back on in 2 weeks! 8)
You could also just rechamber the barrel you have now. You can cut off and inch of the the barrel and rechamber it. What you are shooting out in the through and not the rifleings. I have done this with good results. If the berrel shot good it should shoot good after rechambering, and it`s alot cheaper than a new barrel.
alf
Silver $$ Contributor
Catfish said:
It costs just as much to rechamber a used factory barrel as a new custom.
Again, it's false economics to dump the coin in a factory barrel w/ 2K down it.
I bought a used 223 once that shot still shot scary good. I had the threads cut off, and rechambered to a 221 Fireball. That thing died way sooner than I thought it should have, thus my disdain for doing such.
i just rechambered my factory .223 rem barrel.....was $300+ cheaper than buying a new barrel...so figured why not.. spent a little and got the bolt knob replaced, action true'd, rechambered to .223ai, barrel threaded, custom brake made (was a VERY good deal, or i'd of just gotten a thread protector), and had the whole thing cerakoted for what it'd of cost to buy an aftermarket barrel and had it chambered... I'll shoot this one out in a few years, and toss on a custom one then..no biggie
if not, then close to it....possibly more
alf said:OK...I give up.....knock yourself out....
I agree with u ALF. 100 or 5000 down the tube it doesn't matter. I would rather have a .223 with a NEW match quality barrel than a .223AI with a factory barrel that has 2000 rounds down the tube any day. Just $300 extra is the difference. Look for accuracy, not the extra 100-150 fps of going AI.
mine was done so that I can run the same speeds with what is considered a lighter load and also from the benefits of less case prep needs. My gun spends its time blowing through rounds shot at steel and ground hogs....it's not a target rifle, so 1/2moa is more than adequate for my needs...so the factory barrel is fine, for now. later, it'll get a 6mm barrel and I'll swap over to a 6/223 due to .224 projectiles being so hard to come across these days
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