Rechambering a .223 into a .223 AI

[sstkmkrr]

How difficult is it to open up a per-chambered .223 Win. bolt action Bbl into a .223AI chamber, once the barrel has been removed.

Thanks for your input.

Steve Murphy

 

[Shynloco]

Steve,
I am no Gunsmith, but have pondered this issue myself. What I learned from a Gunsmith, is that you would need the appropriate reamer to rechamber the rifle barrel. The bolt face remains the same as all you are really doing, is changing the angle of the shoulder of the brass and allowing for more powder to loaded into the casing. Keep in mind, you would also need the appropriate dies (AI) for your brass. But once the barrel is rechambered, you can put it back on (adjusting for the appropriate headspace) and you should be good to go once your AI brass has also been FL resized.

Alex

 

[savagedasher]

Steve,
I am no Gunsmith, but have pondered this issue myself. What I learned from a Gunsmith, it that you would need the appropriate reamer to rechamber the rifle barrel. The bolt face remains the same as all you are really doing, is changing the angle of the shoulder of the brass and allowing for more powder to loaded into the casing. Keep in mind, you would also need the appropriate dies (AI) for your brass. But once the barrel is rechambered, you can put it back on (adjusting for the appropriate headspace) and you should be good to go once your AI brass has also been FL resized.

Alex

I know friends that chamber them by hand. Its not much chance from a standard 223.
Larry

 

[Shynloco]

I know friends that chamber them by hand. Its not much chance from a standard 223.
Larry

Larry,
I'm curious...what tool(s) would you use to make that change in shoulder angle in both the chamber and your dies? I agree its a small change, but how would you proceed? Thx

Alex

 

[savagedasher]

Larry,
I'm curious...what tool(s) would you use to make that change in shoulder angle in both the chamber and your dies? I agree its a small change, but how would you proceed? Thx

Alex

Kiff and others sell the reamers and the tools to do it. If someone has good mechical and patence it's not a problem. Larry

 

[Shynloco]

Larry,
Thx. And I am aware Dave Kiff has the reamer. But the response perhaps suggested something other than a reamer was used. If not, sorry for misunderstanding as a reamer is the only tool I am aware (or have ever seen used to change a chamber) of that will get you the chamber you need.

Alex

 

[shortgrass]

Steve, I am a gunsmith (MCC class of '93). Set the barrel back half a turn or more and use a .223 AI reamer to chamber to the proper headspace. You'll have a 'fresh' throat that way and headspacing will be correct. The "GO" gauge for the .223 Rem. becomes the "NO-GO" gauge for the .223 AI. Now, mark the barrel with the proper caliber information. (to heck with Kiffs' reamers, get a JGS or Manson) I don't think you'll be able to change your dies, they're too hard for a HS reamer. Besides, a chambering reamer is not a sizing die reamer. Those are two different tools. If I wanted a "good" chamber I'd do it in a lathe, not by hand.

 

[savagedasher]

Larry,
Thx. And I am aware Dave Kiff has the reamer. But the response perhaps suggested something other than a reamer was used. If not, sorry for misunderstanding as a reamer is the only tool I am aware (or have ever seen used to change a chamber) of that will get you the chamber you need.

Alex

call Dave he will tell you what is need. If it is barrel off different tools are needed. Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

Send it to Larry and when you get it back, put both hands over your ears when someone else fires it. LOL

I can't believe after all the years of the AI cartridges being around that there are still people who don't understand the mechanics of blowing out case taper and changing shoulder angles.

 

[Ggmac]

Eddie and short grass are correct , forget the other wasted space . You can purchase Ackley dies . I my experience , the effort and cost aren't worth it . Just my being frugal , but the velocity gain isn't great .
Good luck

 

[savagedasher]

Send it to Larry and when you get it back, put both hands over your ears when someone else fires it. LOL

I can't believe after all the years of the AI cartridges being around that there are still people who don't understand the mechanics of blowing out case taper and changing shoulder angles.

I can't myself . When Ackley came out every gun smith changed them by hand. It was Ackley explains it in his books. Back then most chambers was made by hand. Ackley is shoulder angle change and doesn't change head space enough to worry about. Oh well I guess I better get rid of my Ackleys that were hand reamed . NOT Larry

 

[Ggmac]

Hmmm! All gunsmiths , I know that's a line of uneducated nonsense . Maybe wannabe gunsmiths , gee Larry do you really know that many .
I'm sorry but having nothing to do all day but give bad information on riflesmithing , that can dangerous , is not wise . Take up golfing or bowling .

 

[Eddie Harren]

I can't myself . When Ackley came out every gun smith changed them by hand. It was Ackley explains it in his books. Back then most chambers was made by hand. Ackley is shoulder angle change and doesn't change head space enough to worry about. Oh well I guess I better get rid of my Ackleys that were hand reamed . NOT Larry

.004", or more, of excess headspace may be OK with you but not me!

 

[savagedasher]

.004", or more, of excess headspace may be OK with you but not me!

That would depend on the parent case . After the case is blown out their is no problem.
What is a dasher? Almost the same as a Ackley but it must be blown out or fire fourm .
I know it has worked for 60 years that was when I had my first Ackley made and it was hand reamed . Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

That would depend on the parent case . After the case is blown out their is no problem.
What is a dasher? Almost the same as a Ackley but it must be blown out or fire fourm .
I know it has worked for 60 years that was when I had my first Ackley made and it was hand reamed . Larry

That would depend on the parent case . After the case is blown out their is no problem.
What is a dasher? Almost the same as a Ackley but it must be blown out or fire fourm .
I know it has worked for 60 years that was when I had my first Ackley made and it was hand reamed . Larry

The neck- shoulder junction, on a Dasher, is blown forward. The neck- shoulder junction on a 223 AI is actually moved back .004" or so. Don't compare apples to oranges old man, you'll get covered in juice!

 

[savagedasher]

The neck- shoulder junction, on a Dasher, is blown forward. The neck- shoulder junction on a 223 AI is actually moved back .004" or so. Don't compare apples to oranges old man, you'll get covered in juice!

That evens makes it better . All mine was chambered for where factory brass and I never had to move the shoulder . But if you read The normal set back on a barrel is .004
The chamber is .004 deeper to get totally clean up. Just seat the bullet long and shoot it. Just like Ackley recomended . Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

That evens makes it better . All mine was chambered for where factory brass and I never had to move the shoulder . But if you read The normal set back on a barrel is .004
The chamber is .004 deeper to get totally clean up. Just seat the bullet long and shoot it. Just like Ackley recomended . Larry

That is not the way Ackley suggested doing it. Look at the two drawings. 6MM BR vs. 6 Dasher. The two you used for comparison.

 

[shortgrass]

That evens makes it better . All mine was chambered for where factory brass and I never had to move the shoulder . But if you read The normal set back on a barrel is .004
The chamber is .004 deeper to get totally clean up. Just seat the bullet long and shoot it. Just like Ackley recomended . Larry

What page does it say than on, Larry? I have both books right here on the shelf.

 

[savagedasher]

That is not the way Ackley suggested doing it. Look at the two drawings. 6MM BR vs. 6 Dasher. The two you used for comparison.

I blow my brass out for both using the bullet jam method. When I don't the belted case I don't . When I chambered my 260 AI we put blue painter tape on the standard go guage for a reference on the head space guage
Ackley never a true specification . Because it was a wild cat
Dashers are the same . They now have a case that has a standard and brass will be head stamped dasher

 

[Ggmac]

Strike ! What works and what is done correctly and works safely are the difference between a professional and an amateur !