Thread: Anyone played with 223AI?

Wondering if anyone has played with the 223AI?

Particularly interested in fast twist 80gr plus type setup

Seems to me it would be an ideal economical long range plinker/all rounder

I'm pretty sure @gimp had one.

I recently read about one might have being on a face book reloading page it sounded like on average gains were 150fps from a full barrel but no first hand experience

Had one. Wouldn't bother. Get a normal .223.

Originally Posted by gimp

Had one. Wouldn't bother. Get a normal .223.

Form a diffrent AI owner, dont bother its a pain in the arse to fireform all the brass (i have a 22 250AI) just buy a standard caliber, as gimp say get a 223 and if you want faster get a 22 creed or 22 arc

Mate is shooting one. According to him its a totally different rifle after he got it AI'd..

I've got a reamer if you looking for someone to ackley your 223.

Ai ing brass sucks. From an ai owner.


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22 Terminator/22-204 is the way forward if you have the magazine length available

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....rminator-5607/

Doesn't seem so long ago

at least with a 223 factory ammo is reasonable and it would be quite usable with forming loads. 223 is cheap to run and I reckon Youd loose that with 204

I'll be in touch @Jaco if i do want to scratch the itch

Great pills if you want more speed put more powder behind it have a little experience
22 Terminator is good
22x47 lap is better
22 Creedmoor will be next

I wasn't going to comment but couldn't help myself.
Been the owner of a couple of these types of cartridges over the years it's good to see other people that have done it think the same as me
Don't do it!
Stick to standard chamberings that you can buy quality brass for.
If you want to push the big .224 pills get a 1-8 twist 22-250 or going 88/90 go 1-7.
My 2 cents!


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I know of a fella..who got a .223 reemed out to that longer version,based on 204 case...used it,stuck it in cabinet as pain in arse in so many ways,then years later got sick of not having cheap easy wallaby rifle so got it rechambered back into 223....... and lived happily ever after LOL.

Greetings All,
The extravagant claims for vastly increased velocity in AI cases are only made with vastly increased pressure. Time after time actual pressure tests have shown little, if any, increased performance. The .280 Rem AI seems to be the gold standard for increased performance but this is achieved to loading to higher pressure. The .280 is loaded to comparatively lower pressure. Still it is a free country and if having an Ackley Improved case rings your bell go to it. Just don't expect the fancy shoulder to produce miracle gains. I did have a .30-06 AI at one stage but it is long gone and not missed in the slightest.
Regards Grandpamac.

From the other side of the fence, I have 3 improved cases. 243ai, 280ai and a 338 Norma improved. Fire forming is simply more shooting, I like shooting, the fire forming loads are generally as accurate as the formed, so gongs, targets , hunting is just the same as with the parent case. There is a gain to be had in velocity, how much is often debated but a gain is a gain. Example is the 243 ai with a 23 inch barrel running a 105 vld at 3140fps, is the pressure up on normal loads? maybe but lapua cases last 12 reloads or more and everything functions perfectly , over a thousand rounds in 12 years and counting. Cases don't grow, Iv never had to trim any cases. feeding has never been an issue ,I would not go back to the parent case.
That being said I dont think Id do a 223ai.

I basically dont own calibres that are not AI'd. 308 ans 204 Ruger excluded. Never had any issues with a ackley, my ackleys are some of the most accurate rifles Ive ever shot.

Maybe its just because AI is a lifestyle for me - I dont know anything else - that I dont have any complaints.