.223 AI for the newbie

[tomtom889]

Hey guys,

getting myself a .223 AI put together by Allan Swan (new barrel, new stock being glass bedded/pillar bedded etc) on a Tikka action, I have never owned a wildcat before but since I love reloading I wanted to add the extra challenge of fireforming brass etc. planning to shoot 75gr ELD-M projectiles through it and the barrel will be a 1 in 8 twist.

My main question is how do you prefer to fire form brass? Cream of Wheat method or just firing loaded ammo at the range? I am thinking of just firing loaded ammo at the range but if anyone has a somewhat safe load to fire form using cream of wheat I might try that as it can be done at home, I live on the Gold Coast so driving an hour to the range just to fire form brass seems like a bit of a task in itself.

Thanks guys!

[TassieTiger]

Fireforning with primer and dub load - is still loud and in suburbia may attract unwanted attention.
Thing for my way of thinking - fire forming with actual projectiles should match the chamber more precisely to what you’ll ultimately be loading...

[SCJ429]

I use a 40 grain ZMax projectile and a full load of 2206H to fire form. This has been a very accurate load shooting 1/4 inch and pop the shoulder forward nicely. I also do this fire forming while hunting.

You may find the Hornady projectiles do not perform as well as other target rounds. I have used Berger and Sierra MK which group very well. The Bergers need no batching at all.

[tomtom889]

Fireforning with primer and dub load - is still loud and in suburbia may attract unwanted attention.
Thing for my way of thinking - fire forming with actual projectiles should match the chamber more precisely to what you’ll ultimately be loading...

Thanks for the advice I'll definitely take it on board, overall it seems most people tend to fire their .223 REM loads through their rifle. Just wanted to see if there was any real benefits to the Cream of Wheat method. Thanks!

[tomtom889]

I use a 40 grain ZMax projectile and a full load of 2206H to fire form. This has been a very accurate load shooting 1/4 inch and pop the shoulder forward nicely. I also do this fire forming while hunting.

You may find the Hornady projectiles do not perform as well as other target rounds. I have used Berger and Sierra MK which group very well. The Bergers need no batching at all.

Thank you for sharing your fireforming load will definitely look into using it, do you have any heavy projectiles you recommend between 70-80gr that would be accurate and decent for hunting? Thanks!!!

[marksman]

to form 22 dasher cases l have been using shotgun/pistol powder in loads to just form the case with soap in the neck like wax to stop the powder falling out
it makes the paddocks smell like a chinese knock shop but works well l do it this way because of the short neck



when l form 17 ackleys l load them and shoot rabbits, lots of rabbits



its important when fireforming to have your cases at max length because they will usually shrink a bit when formed
that will sort itself out when they stretch but you really want square case mouths after

welcome to the dark side

[SCJ429]

The 223 AI is one of the easiest wildcats to form as apart from the shoulder, the case is not touched very much. I often use standard cases when hunting and plinking to build up my stock of AI cases.

I have used Berger 77 grain tactical rounds for hunting but it is not even close to what a 39 grain Blitzking from a 204 can do at 300 or 400 metres. I did used 80 grain Amax while they lasted but accuracy was not as good as Bergers. I tried the ELDX but they required a lot of batching and the results were nothing to write home about.

For hunting I use a 55 grain Vmax or ZMax and they are very effective on foxes out past 300 metres. For plinking the ZMax can knock the metallic silhouette Rams down at 500 metres if you hit them high on their horns. Any lower and you barely wobbly it. You don't gain a lot from the AI case but they do look as flash as a rat with a gold tooth.

[snag]

I stopped using the cream of wheat technique when Trail Boss powder came out. For what I have done, reduced loads have formed the cases spot on.

[Grandadbushy]

G'day TomTom mate I do similar to the others, I have a 22-250AI and I just drop a couple of grains from my chosen load and shoot them I keep them separate to my hunting load but still hunt with them you'll be surprised how accurate they can be unformed , I get 1.5'' @100 yds which isn't too shabby at all

[tomtom889]

G'day TomTom mate I do similar to the others, I have a 22-250AI and I just drop a couple of grains from my chosen load and shoot them I keep them separate to my hunting load but still hunt with them you'll be surprised how accurate they can be unformed , I get 1.5'' @100 yds which isn't too shabby at all

Hi thanks! I'll try fireforming using standard loads, I have some Lapua brass so hopefully once they open up stores in QLD and I get my rifle back from the gunsmith I can try it out and form some brass! Thanks!

[Strikey]

For my 223AI I use ADI/OSA brass and fireform with a maximum 223 load of 2206H with cheap Speer 55grn Varmint projectiles, cases form perfectly with one firing, interestingly there is very minimal recoil and this load will shoot half MOA but I cannot get these projectiles to shoot better when pushed faster.Anyways I have 2 loads with Sierra Matchkings that I am happy with as this is primarily a range rifle.

[Blr243]

Brass is such an amazing metal. None of this would be possible otherwise .....we very lucky to have it

[tomtom889]

For my 223AI I use ADI/OSA brass and fireform with a maximum 223 load of 2206H with cheap Speer 55grn Varmint projectiles, cases form perfectly with one firing, interestingly there is very minimal recoil and this load will shoot half MOA but I cannot get these projectiles to shoot better when pushed faster.Anyways I have 2 loads with Sierra Matchkings that I am happy with as this is primarily a range rifle.

Good idea to use cheaper projectiles for fireforming, I found a bulk pack of Hornady VMAX 55gr projectiles for $280 per 1000 which for a .22 cal in my opinion is still quite pricey. will definitely be buying cheaper projectiles for fireforming!

[tomtom889]

Brass is such an amazing metal. None of this would be possible otherwise .....we very lucky to have it

Agreed, the fact that it can be annealed so easily too is very handy especially for fire forming brass such as .223AI, I can imagine it would work harden the brass quite considerably.