Thread: 1000m rifle.... What?

Love my .223AI, so much so that I'm in the process of having a slightly larger AI built.
They are easy to load for and make a lot of sense to me.
As long as the smith sets up the chamber for a very slight crush fit on the shoulder of the parent case, then any problems of excess head space shouldn't be an issue.
Brass stretch and subsequent trimming is almost non existent, and 100-150fps depending on parent case is usually the norm.
Maximum parent case loads are usually a good starting load for AI chamberings and fire forming loads are normally very accurate.
What's not to like?

The Savage Model 99 is a rear locking action, hence the spring back with a hot load. So-called improved cases were initially developed in the U.S.A. in order to get extra velocity, through greater pressure, in relatively weak lever-action rifles, such as the notoriously weak Stevens 44 and 44-1/2 single-shot rifles using varmint cartridges; and various repeating types.

The U.S.A. and Britain engaged in a joint project after WWI to develop a lighter-recoiling cartridge which could be used in self-loading rifles, selective-fire rifles and machine guns. The British wanted a rimless cartridge that would feed and extract as reliably or better than the .303. The Yanks wanted to avoid the feeding and extraction issues that plagued the .30-06 more than any other modern rifle cartridge used in that conflict.

It wasn't just the Chauchat machine gun that failed with the .30-06. The machinegun that became the Vickers-Berthier and equipped the Indian army in WWII had problems with the .30-06 during the trials that culminated in adoption of the BAR. Increased taper and lower pressure were crucial parts of the equation. The long range target shooters in the U.S. Army sabotaged the process and the excuse given by MacArthur c. 1932? of existing ammo stocks was false, as those ammo stocks were all used up within the next several years, during a depression with cutbacks in training budgets!

The French adopted the 7.5x54MAS, an obviously tapered cartridge so close to the 6.5x55SE that Hornady used reformed 6.5x55 cases to develop their load data for it. When the yanks started work in 1941 to develop a new .30 calibre cartridge, they commenced their research with a thorough scientific examination of the aforementioned French cartridge. Subsequent adaption of the .300 Savage case probably resulted from a combination of cost saving imperatives (retention of existing rim size) and a desire to equal .30-06 ballistics (the 7.5x54 uses a 140gr projectile if I recall correctly).

Originally Posted by Matt2308

Love my .223AI

How come u didnt go 22-250 bro?

Originally Posted by ARdave

How come u didnt go 22-250 bro?

I had the .223 first and it didn't involve changing bolt face or anything else. Just re chamber and shoot.
At 3550 with 55 grain V-Max's and 3600 with 53 V-max using much less powder, I never felt the need for a .22-250.

yea wicked man