.223 ai worth it

[boomer81]

i have a buddy needing money he has a 700 vtr in a mcmillian a5 stock jewel trigger timney rail ai bottom metal with magazines. probably has 100 rounds through it. its a hell of a deal.

but i have no use for another .223 i shoot 77 grain stuff out of my ar's all the time. my smith suggested .223 ai. not sexy but it makes sense ive been wanting a low recoil long barrel life 1000 yard gun. i have a ton of components and a machine soley dedicated to .223

so we can either build a ai or for $200 more open the bolt face and do a sako extractor and do whatever i want. what twist would you go with. will 8 stablize the 75 and bigger stuff and also 50-55 grain. we have taken the ar's out to 800 with 77 grainers so will the ai mags fit bigger stuff

 

[padom]

I was going to go this route but found no need when I can push 75 ELD-M (Amax) in Lapua 223 brass at 3015 and 80 ELD-M (Amax) to 2915 and both shoot one hole groups.

Im in the middle of doing a 223 barrel test/review. I have had zero issues shooting the 75-80g bullets at distance with the Shilen 1:7 or this Mullerworks 1:8. Criterion just sent me to 26" 223 Wylde 1:7 to test and I have a 26" Bartlein 1:7 to test that will be here in a few weeks.

Varget / 75 ELD-M

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H4895 / 75 ELD-M

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[cjgemm]

roughly 100fps faster than plain .223 and no trimming unlike plain .223

 

[Sixfivesavage]

I went AI on mine to help regain some velocity lost by going with an 18" barrel, make my brass visually identifiable from my AR brass and to eliminate trimming. I hate brass prep and trimming especially. You can always just run factory .223 or 5.56 if you're lazy or in a bind and don't have full house loads. Feeds fine from mags.

 

[Dogsniper]

I went a I . No trimming and more velocity out of short barrels. I get 2800 fps with 75 amax in A 16" 1-8 twist bartlien and 3006 fps with my 65 sierra game kings. I also have a 20" barrel chambered the same when I burn the 16" out. Great foe a suppressed long range fur saving gun.

 

[Dogsniper]

I was going to go this route but found no need when I can push 75 ELD-M (Amax) in Lapua 223 brass at 3015 and 80 ELD-M (Amax) to 2915 and both shoot one hole groups.

Im in the middle of doing a 223 barrel test/review. I have had zero issues shooting the 75-80g bullets at distance with the Shilen 1:7 or this Mullerworks 1:8. Criterion just sent me to 26" 223 Wylde 1:7 to test and I have a 26" Bartlein 1:7 to test that will be here in a few weeks.

Varget / 75 ELD-M

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H4895 / 75 ELD-M

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I'm getting these speeds with 10" less barrel length

 

[padom]

I'm getting these speeds with 10" less barrel length

I'm getting almost 3100 with zero pressure signs, you said your getting 2800 out of your 16". 250-300fps difference

 

[Dogsniper]

I'm getting almost 3100 with zero pressure signs, you said your getting 2800 out of your 16". 250-300fps difference

I see that. I was looking at your most accurate loads. I would love to get 3100 fps with the 20" barrel when it is time to throw it on. I can get more velocity but accuracy isn't as good. I would bet at least 150 fps more out of your 26" pipe if you ackleyed it.

 

[padom]

Yea I'm good on velocity. This thing hammers at distance with these new ELD-M's. Maybe I'll turn one into an AI after I'm done this barrel review since I'll have 4 223 barrels sitting here.

 

[boomer81]

What is barrel life like by the way shooting the bigger stuff fast. That’s the biggest deal and the main reason I’m considering the .223 ai. I was burning 243 ai barrels out pretty quick launching 115 dtacs but damn it was fun. But running $500 Schneider 5r tubb barrels that gun went bye bye in my divorce. I was all set to buy a Howa mini action 6.5 Grendel. But this popped up. I’ll have $1500 in gun alone after rebarrel and truing bedding etc. Basically I’m getting the gun for the cost of the a5 stock. The howa is $500 I could have it tweaked and bedded and threaded by my Smith for $300 and drop a 2.-10 vortex on it for $1500 total as well.

 

[NLS7162]

I went with an Ackley and it is crazy what can be done with this little round. I am pushing 80gr Eld-m at 2950 with Varget through a 20" 1:7.7 bartlein. This has been a fun rifle for my young kids to shoot.

 

[bkw1911]

I'm getting almost 3100 with zero pressure signs, you said your getting 2800 out of your 16". 250-300fps difference

Not 10" but 6" less I get the groups from your 2nd from the left varget and 3050fps with the 75amax. No pressure. Got up to 3100 but accuracy was about .75" and not one hole anymore.

 

[Dogsniper]

Yea I'm good on velocity. This thing hammers at distance with these new ELD-M's. Maybe I'll turn one into an AI after I'm done this barrel review since I'll have 4 223 barrels sitting here.

That would be another good test . Data on velocity before and after the ackley ream. I dig your tests!!!

 

[308pirate]

RCBS X sizing dies will solve your brass trimming problems, stat