223 Ackley Improved

[panhandlepr]

Last spring I bought a new Remington VLS in 223 Rem. The accracy is not up to what I had excepted. So I ordered a Hart
stainless barrel and got to wondering about the 223 Ackley chambering and if it was worth the trouble. Is there enough gain to make it worth while and are there any other benifits or drawbacks to this conversion? Anyone out there have any experience with this cartridge? Thanks

Panhandlepr

[wildcat]

No experience with 223 AI. If I were you, I would re-chamber for the 22-250 or 220 Swift. If you want the best long range 22 caliber varmint cartridge, go with the 220 Swift. Good luck with your decision, let us know what you decide to do.

Wildcat

[uncleB]

this is a topic I must disagree with wildcat, It would be ridiculous to open up the bolt face to make a 22-250 or a swift. A 223AI will gain about 100fps over a standard 223 with a 24-to26" barrel and your brass will last twice as long. it is a bit of a chore to fireform the brass.
If you really want to try something different how about a 222RemMagImp. you can shoot as fast as a 22-250 with far less powder and not change your bolt face.
UB

[LOBO]

I know nothing about this so I am curious; what makes fireforming the .223AI brass a chore? Reason I ask is, I have thought about the caliber myself.

Chris

[TOM H]

I've got a Hart barreled 223AI good case. I use 25gr/N-133 or 26gr/H-335 to fire form these loads I used for varmit shooting as not to waste the barrel till I get enough cases. My rifle likes 27gr/N-133 with a 50gr bullets velocity is alittle over 3600fps with a 52gr bullet and 26.5gr/N-133 alittle over 3500fps. I tried 31gr/748 with a 50gr bullet over 3700fps and 31gr/H-335 with 40gr bullet over 3900fps. I like the 223AI so much had another build used a Hart barrel again.

Another good case would be to open up the neck to 22 cal on the 204 ruger case and Ackley it. The BR guys play around with the 222mag case they moved the shoulder forward and change to shoulders called them 222x35 or 222x45 and those cases would be pretty close to a 22x204AI. I did a 6mm necked up from a 222x45 alot better case than the 6x47. I just don't think AI the 222mag case would be a good one to do.

I also shoot a 222AI it set up for the 55gr bullets and that is a nice round also.

I'm pretty luck as I also shoot a 222,223,222mag and 6x47. gives you a good measuring stick.

[LOBO]

Is fireforming the 223 AI a complicated thing? If you opened up a 204 ruger case to 22 and AI'd it, what kind of velocity could you get with the 75-80 grain bullets? I wonder how barel life would be?

Chris

[TOM H]

[ QUOTE ]
Is fireforming the 223 AI a complicated thing? If you opened up a 204 ruger case to 22 and AI'd it, what kind of velocity could you get with the 75-80 grain bullets? I wonder how barel life would be?
Chris

[/ QUOTE ]

Chris, They headspace the Ackley alittle shorter than the parent case but if set up right you should be able to fire factory 223 ammo. Both my 223AI have 1/14 twist barrel so I shoot more 50/52gr bullets.

A new 222 mag case filled to the top with H-335 will hold 33.3 gr a 204 ruger case necked up to 22 cal will hold 34.1gr a fired 223AI will hold 32.9gr. Velocity should be better than a 22br maybe on the upper end of 22-250 with a 22x204AI. I'm going to give Walt Berger a call one of these days and see what he thinks. I've just gotten as far as necking up some 204 case, I want to do a 20cal also for the 40gr bullets so may do that on a 204AI case.

Barrel life is a hard call I've got plenty of varmit rifles so I'll switch off and not get my barrel too hot etc so I get pretty good barrel life out of my rifles.

Well good luck