Recut 223 to 223AI ?

[slo squeezin]

I need some advice. There are a number of 223 rifles for sale on the forums. I'm looking to possibly build or buy a 223AI. Can a 223 chamber be re cut to 223AI without taking the barrel off the action?

I remember a gunsmith saying he would not reattach a factory barrel back on the action it came from. I don't know if this is a personal opinion regarding factory barrels or if there are issues with factory barrels I'm not familiar with.

I'm trying to figure out if I can re chamber an existing rifle to 223AI or if I need to go to the expense of re barreling to get what I want. Opinions / suggestions on this issue would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[jepp2]

I need some advice. There are a number of 223 rifles for sale on the forums. I'm looking to possibly build or buy a 223AI. Can a 223 chamber be re cut to 223AI without taking the barrel off the action?

I am speaking of a Remington 700 action. To get the proper headspace, the barrel must be removed and taken back a turn.

I purchased a rifle that had been re-chambered to 223 AI. The headspace was +0.016" when it should have been -0.004". Maybe I could have fire formed using COW, or necked the brass up and back down leaving a false shoulder. I had my smith do the job the correct way and set the barrel back a turn. I can shoot any factory or reload 223 to fireform to 223 AI.

 

[Shawnba67]

If you run an ackley reamer into a standard chamber without a setback you end up with a wildcat. You can still use Ackley dies but you cannot safely fire factory ammo. See the headspace numbers in above post.
So if you want easy fireforming then NO, if you want more horsepower and can stand the required brass prep then yes.

 

[Doug Beach]

Spending money on a factory barrel is a gamble, at best.
You cannot convert a .223 into a correct .223AI, without removing and setting back the barrel.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Gotta set it back. And the 223ai just isnt worth it over a 223- kinda like a 308ai

 

[slo squeezin]

Thank you for the insight folks.

 

[carlsbad]

I'll add one thing to the good replies above. There is no problem reinstalling a factory barrel. -Jerry