.223 vs .223AI

[B23]

What kind of realistic fps gains can be expected in a 24in barrel shooting 50-55gr bullets between the 223 and 223AI???

I've heard as high as 150fps but I struggle with believing that. I'm thinking more like 50fps gain on the average.

Thoughts??????

 

[jwp475]

A good ballistics rule is that at equal pressure with a 10% increase in case capacity you can expect a 2 1/2% increase in velocity.

The velocity will inicrease at 1/4 the of the increase in case capacity

 

[J E Custom]

The 223 AI has approximately 7 to 8% more case capacity than the standard 223 adding
100 to 140 ft/sec of velocity to the 223 rem (This changes with bullet weight).

After fire forming the brass, it is more stable and resists case growth minimizing case
trimming.

In grains capacity the difference is about 2.5grains +or - depending on the powder type.

So if you want to shoot heaver bullets a 50 grain in the AI will compete with the 45 grain
in a 223 rem.

You can find loading data on Graymist's web site.

It is a neat little round and easy to fire form by simply firing standard 223 rem in the AI
chamber.

Hope this helps.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Trickymissfit]

years back the guys at Varmit Hunter's Magazine got on a .223 AI kick. They were comming up with velocities that were not that far behind a 22-250! I knew better, and also knew they were somebody's shill. Anyway a guy I know ordered in a reamer from one of the big names that was ground to Steve Tim's spec. They built three or four rifles on 700 actions. Shot very well at about 100 fps greater velocity. One guy even went so far as to inquire about why his gun was running close to 300 fps slower than what they got even though he was using an identical setup Course there was no answer!
gary

 

[strombeckj]

I do not have a crony so I cannot comment on fps. However I have a 1:14 Krieger at 24 chambered in .223 AI. I can load 28.5gr's of 8208 XBR with a 50gr Blitz king's and hit PD's all day long at 500 yards with no signs of any pressure issues. IMR's suggested max load is 25.8 gr of xbr will get 3407fps with a 50gr pill. I know that my friends will not attempt to shoot their standard .223 on a regular basis past 400 yards and leave it up to me and the others with larger 22 cal's. I think it's a great compromise between a .223 and a 22-250. Not to mention….no case trimming. I can reload my LC brass 5-7 times before it requires any trimming and at that point I just toss it.

 

[Trickymissfit]

I do not have a crony so I cannot comment on fps. However I have a 1:14 Krieger at 24 chambered in .223 AI. I can load 28.5gr's of 8208 XBR with a 50gr Blitz king's and hit PD's all day long at 500 yards with no signs of any pressure issues. IMR's suggested max load is 25.8 gr of xbr will get 3407fps with a 50gr pill. I know that my friends will not attempt to shoot their standard .223 on a regular basis past 400 yards and leave it up to me and the others with larger 22 cal's. I think it's a great compromise between a .223 and a 22-250. Not to mention….no case trimming. I can reload my LC brass 5-7 times before it requires any trimming and at that point I just toss it.

thats about 40" of drop using a 200 yard zero; 30 inches with a 300 yard zero. A 50 grain bullet will do 3400 fps on a good day with a 24" barrel. You load looks about right for a .223AI, but I think you should try BLC2. This is a nice dense loading, and should group very well (start at 26.5 grains)
gary

 

[strombeckj]

thats about 40" of drop using a 200 yard zero; 30 inches with a 300 yard zero. A 50 grain bullet will do 3400 fps on a good day with a 24" barrel. You load looks about right for a .223AI, but I think you should try BLC2. This is a nice dense loading, and should group very well (start at 26.5 grains)
gary

I have not tried the BLC2, your the 3rd person who has brought it up, might be something to that. It's a 300 yard zero, and 1.5 mil hold over to a 500 yard kill provide I do the rest.

 

[strombeckj]

thats about 40" of drop using a 200 yard zero; 30 inches with a 300 yard zero. A 50 grain bullet will do 3400 fps on a good day with a 24" barrel. You load looks about right for a .223AI, but I think you should try BLC2. This is a nice dense loading, and should group very well (start at 26.5 grains)
gary

I have not tried the BLC2, your the 3rd person who has brought it up, might be something to that. It's a 300 yard zero, and 1.5 mil hold over to a 500 yard kill provided I do the rest.

Can't wait to get my hands on some of the new 53gr v-max's. .290 of BC...that's crazy!

 

[Trickymissfit]

I have not tried the BLC2, your the 3rd person who has brought it up, might be something to that. It's a 300 yard zero, and 1.5 mil hold over to a 500 yard kill provide I do the rest.

you also might want to try H335 and H322. I've had some luck with the older lots of 2015BR as well as IMR 3031. I know where a .222AI reamer resides, and have been thinking for a few years now about building a long necked .223AI off of that reamer using a 1:8 twist barrel. The longer neck will handle 70 grain bullets better than the standard .223 neck, and case capacity looks similar to a generic .223. If it won't shoot; I'll simply build a fast twist 22-250 out of it (actually a 22-250 short)
gary

 

[B23]

That's promising to hear. So, if I had no plans to ever shoot anything heavier than a 60grainer's what twist should I use? I guessing 1-12 should be about perfect.

Thoughts?????

 

[strombeckj]

I can shoot up to most 55gr'ers. 1:14 krieger. You should be fine

.

 

[B23]

Was just looking on Broughton's site and they make a 1-13 5C That just may be what I'm looking for.

What do you all think for length? I can't decide between 24 and 26.

 

[strombeckj]

I would go with a 26. Mine is a 24 w/break wish I had done a 26.... Oh well.

 

[Trickymissfit]

That's promising to hear. So, if I had no plans to ever shoot anything heavier than a 60grainer's what twist should I use? I guessing 1-12 should be about perfect.

Thoughts?????

I've tried 60 grain bullets in a .223 (1:14 twist) and a 1:12 twist 22-250. The 60 was getting ragged in the 22-250, and similar results with the .223. Three quarter inch groups were the norm. I think a 1:10 twist would be perfect in the 22-250, but on the otherhand I never really did a lot of development with the 60 grain bullet so there might be a problem. Perhaps a shorter 60 grain bullets is what I needed.

Fifty-five grain Nosler BT's bullets have problems in a 22-250 with a 1:14 twist, but the Vmax shoots just fine due to the S/G factor. But the Nosler shoots fine in a 1:12 twist. The 60 grain partition bullets will shoot OK in a 1:12 twist 22-250, but will be almost unstable in a 1:14. I've been messing around with 60 grain Hornadays, and can say for sure they won't work in a 1:14 twist barrel. But a 1:10 (or even a 1:11) barrel should put you right in there. Savage has offered a 1:9 twist 22-250 barrel in the past, and would think it would handle anything out to 75 grains
gary