223 AI

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223 AI

Post by cqguy73 » 15 Jan 2021, 6:56 pm

I have a Tikka varmint that sits in the safe most of the time. To convert it to 223AI is the only thing you have to get done is run a AI reamer into it or do you have to cut some off the barrel and completely redo it. Have got all the stuff now to do a few wildcat's.
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Re: 223 AI

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Jan 2021, 8:23 pm

Tikka barrels are so hard I broke my reamer and stuffed the barrel once. I would not do it again.
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Re: 223 AI

Post by on_one_wheel » 15 Jan 2021, 8:33 pm

Are the AI gains worth it with .223 ?

I've been tempted but I'm on the fence with my research.
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Re: 223 AI

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Jan 2021, 8:41 pm

As far as setting back the barrel, you would usually cut off at least a whole thread if not two, this will clean up the old chamber and clock the barrel into a position where the stamped writing is back in position.
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Re: 223 AI

Post by bigrich » 16 Jan 2021, 6:21 am

i've been looking into this recently . with heavier pills there's not that much of a gain , with lighter 40 and 50 grain pills supposedly the gains aren't far behind
22-250 . supposedly ;) depends on which online data you want to believe . i think for the cost of a ream job if ya got a spare 223 rifle and ya want a new project it might be fun and wouldn't cost too much . if i hadn't shortened my weatherby's barrel i'd probably have done it by now . at 21" barrel length it's not worth it for me as i think 24" is what you'd need to get the best out of the ackley conversion . JMHO :thumbsup:
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Re: 223 AI

Post by Oldbloke » 16 Jan 2021, 9:17 am

Trade it in on something more suitable. Boring but works.
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Re: 223 AI

Post by bigrich » 16 Jan 2021, 4:01 pm

Oldbloke wrote:Trade it in on something more suitable. Boring but works.


stepping up to 22-250 is the obvious solution , 223 AI is appealing due to free brass and less powder . and a bit of stuffing around :P depends if you want a project ;)

but as you say OB , keeping it simple is a lot less hassle :thumbsup:
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Re: 223 AI

Post by Oldbloke » 16 Jan 2021, 5:25 pm

bigrich wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:Trade it in on something more suitable. Boring but works.


stepping up to 22-250 is the obvious solution , 223 AI is appealing due to free brass and less powder . and a bit of stuffing around :P depends if you want a project ;)

but as you say OB , keeping it simple is a lot less hassle :thumbsup:


Yep, but if it was a rifle you inherited from dad or carried for many years!
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Re: 223 AI

Post by Bugman » 18 Jan 2021, 1:40 pm

Thought of doing this or similar simply for something to do. No go for me. I am a lazy bugger so I stuck with my 243. That will do me nicely and I saved some money.
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Re: 223 AI

Post by Bill » 18 Jan 2021, 6:02 pm

on_one_wheel wrote:Are the AI gains worth it with .223 ?

I've been tempted but I'm on the fence with my research.


A mate chambers all his Roo culling guns to 223 AI, Nosler 50gr BT at around 3500fps does the job. Barrel life is inxs of 4000 rounds atm, not something the 22-250 can achieve and he gets around 400 fps over most factory 223 ammo so it helps when the distances start stretching to 300. :drinks:
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Re: 223 AI

Post by Bill » 18 Jan 2021, 6:04 pm

SCJ429 wrote:Tikka barrels are so hard I broke my reamer and stuffed the barrel once. I would not do it again.


my gunsmith didnt complain when he used a flogged Tikka T3x stainless 25-06 barrel to build my 256 Win Mag.....you need to find a new gunsmith :lol: :drinks:
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Re: 223 AI

Post by bigrich » 18 Jan 2021, 6:08 pm

Bill wrote:
on_one_wheel wrote:Are the AI gains worth it with .223 ?

I've been tempted but I'm on the fence with my research.


A mate chambers all his Roo culling guns to 223 AI, Nosler 50gr BT at around 3500fps does the job. Barrel life is inxs of 4000 rounds atm, not something the 22-250 can achieve and he gets around 400 fps over most factory 223 ammo so it helps when the distances start stretching to 300. :drinks:



very interesting info , thanks bill :thumbsup:
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Re: 223 AI

Post by SCJ429 » 18 Jan 2021, 8:52 pm

Bill wrote:
SCJ429 wrote:Tikka barrels are so hard I broke my reamer and stuffed the barrel once. I would not do it again.


my gunsmith didnt complain when he used a flogged Tikka T3x stainless 25-06 barrel to build my 256 Win Mag.....you need to find a new gunsmith :lol: :drinks:


Don't say I didn't warn you if it happens to you, my reamer cost over $300, halfway to buying a new barrel. Not worth the risk.
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Re: 223 AI

Post by Smiley » 18 Jan 2021, 8:57 pm

I have a Sako A1 222 in need of a new barrel. It's going to be a 223AI. I would've gone with 222 magnum but the magazine length won't allow it.
The selling point is that you can fire form cases just by shooting regular 223 ammo through it.
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