223 AI

C

cmabbott04

New member
Hey guys,

Quick couple questions on the 223 AI. I plan to purchase normal 223 Lapua brass and load up normal charge (middle of the charge min/max) with cheap bullets and fire form, then do real load development with those fire formed cases. Is this the right approach? Do i have to worry about anything while fire forming (too little charge, too much charge)? I have never done it before, still trying to learn.

Thanks!
 
Just load up a safe published load and fire them, most the time you won't get a complete forming with one go around. A lot of times the shoulders are left slightly rounded but will be able to accept basically a full AI charge.
 
You will be just fine. I even fireformed some .223 brass to AI just using 12 grains of Blue Dot with a 40 grain bullet. The brass was not 100% sharp after firing but close enough so that I could use .223 AI loads in it after that.

I still have two other .223 rifles but they dont get near the use my .223 AI does. I mean, why bother with them when you got an AI? My thinking anyway.

Oh- see that 705 yard prairie dog kill in my avatar? That was done with my Savage 112 with a ER Shaw .223 barrel that I paid $150 for that I had re-chambered to AI. Sure took a lot of critters with it. Still shooting it today.
 
While you'll probably be fine with a mild load, I fireformed with a pretty hot load myself. Made nice little sharp shoulders first time out.
 
The shoulder is annealed which is where the case is moving the most. It won't be anymore difficult to form Lapua than any other brass. I would recommend that you get setup to load at the range, at least go with primed brass an drop powder then seat the bullet. Keep increasing the load until you get a fully formed shoulder. You should find that it will take a near max load for a plane .223 to get fully formed shoulders. You will not be overloaded until you get past the point of forming a sharp shoulder. I have a .223AI and if your fireform load is correct they well shoot in the same group as your AI loads out to at least 200 yards. I've worn out a couple of barrels p-dogging with my .223 AI and I get a good strong forming load and form them shooting critters.
 
Mind if I ask a clarifying question? Safety first!

So... I would load normal 223 and lets say im shooting 62 grain Barnes TTSX with H4895 which per the manual has 24.5 grains max charge. I would be fine loading them at 23.5 grains and shooting which will "likely" result in a pretty well formed AI case that I would go ahead and load up with an AI charge next?

Sorry for all the questions!
 
Load 1 at 23.5 grains and see how it forms. My guess is that it won’t fully form the case. My experience is that it takes near max .223 loads to fully form the case due to the increases chamber size moderating the pressure. That’s why I recommend getting set up to load at the range. If 23.5 doesn’t do it then keep going up until you get a formed case. It’s surprising how much of a hit you have to give those cases to get them to fill out sometimes.
 
When I started with mine I used a max charge for 223 and had great accuracy ( 5 shots under 1" @ 200 yds ). I killed a lot of groundhogs while fire forming. Shoulders were nice and sharp, keep in mind that your brass will come out 10-15 thousands shorter after being formed so don't trim your brass to much before hand.
 
Thanks! Last (for now
smile.gif
) question... Is my standard AI charge about 2 grains over max .223?
 
Every rifle will be different on the Max load.

Most of my 223 AI loads are what you would consider max for a regular 223, and at that point, they are very, very accurate...just work up a load.

Mild loads may get you some case stretching.

Good luck
 
I have a .223AI with a 22" 1/8 twist Rock 5R barrel that Kampfeld Custom built me on a Borden Alpine action. It is probably one of the most fun cartridges to shoot in that it's a super efficient cartridge with little to no recoil. I'm shooting 75 gr AMAX out of mine behind 26.2 gr of RL-15. This yields my 2,940 fps using Lake City brass and a CCI 400.

To fireform for my setup, I use a max published .223 load using the Hodgdon data. You'll find that the AI case will hold about 1.5-2 grains more powder than a traditional .223. Case stretch has not been an issue, therefore no need to trim.

Lastly, the .223AI is not a SAAMI spec cartridge. Therefore, every chamber in .223AI may be different. You're working with somewhat of a wildcat cartridge. The safest and best recommendation is what others have stated in that you need to work up what works in your rifle.
 
Originally Posted By: ackleymanEvery rifle will be different on the Max load.

Most of my 223 AI loads are what you would consider max for a regular 223, and at that point, they are very, very accurate...just work up load

Pretty true for me. The loads that I shoot in my .223 AI would be way hot in a standard .223 but are nice in the AI version. Wonderful accuracy and easy bolt lift.
 
I just loaded some 223 stuff like I normally would do for hunting. I found that it shot better groups than my 223 AI ever does. I've gotten a completely formed cartridge first time every time. Those 223 loads also killed a few coyotes.
 
How far would you guys say maximum range for DRT on a coyote is? I am shooting under 250-300 most of the time but just want to make sure i can keep an ample amount of knockdown over my 22-250
 
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