223AI

[MarkS]

I just got my 223AI 8 tw barrel for a savage LRPV. It shoots 50 Gr Blitzking / H335 great with fireforming loads. What are you shooting in your? I have some 82 gr BT Berger's, what powders work best.

Mark Schronce

 

[alf]

Varget or R-15 has been the best for my 22-204's (same capacity) with the 75's. Haven't tried any other weights.

 

[fivering]

I have had excellent results using Re-17 behind 80 gr Bergers in my .223AI at 600 yds.

 

[lpreddick]

your 8 twist obviously prefers heavy bullets, but for a 12 or 14 twist 8208 xbr, 28 gr with a 52 gr berger or fowler will print one hole. the extreme rpms from an 8 twist can spin apart berger 60, 62, and 64 gr bullets(in my 8 twist 22 br). the extreme rpm with 52 gr bullets will really dismember ghogs. my 14 twist 223ai is one of my treasures. i have seriously thought of getting one with an 8 or 9 twist. interested in your project. [/quote] if i can see you, i can touch you.BANG!

 

[acloco]

RL15 or H4895 works well.

 

[HillbillySniper]

I run Varget with 75gr Amax shoots great proven itself out too 900 yards


Hillbilly

 

[MrMajestic]

Don't have an AI yet however my straight .223 loves VV N140 behind the 75 grain A-Max. It's certainly in the same burn rate as Varget and RL15 so may be worth a shot(pun ;D). Although my .243AI with 60 grain Bergers will not take as much of it as it will Varget, lost a couple of Lapua cases to that experiment! Thinking seriously about a Brux 1:8 in .223AI for my model 12.

 

[GaCop]

I've have excellent acc uracy with the 75 gr A-Max and N-140. My barrel is 1 in 8 twist but I get excellent groups with the 52gr SMK in 223 Rem brass that I'm fire forming to AI.

 

[TOObuilder]

Finally got shooting my new build this evening. Pac Nor 26", 12 twist. Too cloudy for the chrony so no speeds but fire form loads look good so far. Looks like Benchmark does well.

 

[MildBill]

My new 223 AI also likes benchmark for fireform loads. I have found the following combination to be very similar to TOObuilder's results as far as group size goes

my fireform recipe is
lake city 09 brass (brand new from natchez shooters supply, not once fired stuff)
federal goldmedal match primer
25.5 benchmark
50 grain sierra blitzking
3214 fps ave over the chrono

My rifle is a Rem 700 Varmint SF that I had the action trued and factory barrel punched out to AI when it was new after putting about 40 rounds down it to make sure the barrel had potential. It also is now wearing one of the Stocky's laminated long range target stock with the Hart aluminim v-block bedding block in it instead of that flimsy piece of plastic it came with.

 

[MrMajestic]

"Too cloudy for the chrony"

I am confused. Did you mean too sunny? ???

 

[TOObuilder]

Nope, too cloudy. Late in the evening in low light or when it is very overcast/cloudy I get frequent error readings. Sunny conditions it seems to work fine.

 

[ACLakey]

I found my rifle shoots well with between 26.0 and 26.5 of H335 using either 50gr BT or 52gr Sierra BTHP Match for fire forming. I have used RL15 and Varget mostly for my 75gr Amax loads. I found RL15 gives me better velocity but Varget is more accurate in my rifle and more stable over a wide temp range. Below are two groups I shot Friday with the Varget load while trying to fine tune my dials.