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16-20" 223AI

RyanScott

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 14, 2005
2,500
1,296
38
Houston
I have a surgeon action and a Krieger 1/8 light Palma barrel. I want to shoot 75 AMAXs. I could potentially get out to a thousand but 700 and in is more likely. An OPS 16th will live on it so length matters.

How long should I go?
 
Re: 16-20" 223AI

Ryan: Hard to predict. No standard chamber. Velocity will vary greatly depending on chamber dimensions, lead, and the particulars of the barrel.

I have a fast 24 Shilen, and a slow 22" Bartlein with a .223 AI Holland chamber. If your smith has the patience, I'd cut the barrel at 22-24", shoot it to establish potential velocity, and then trim and thread to desired length.
 
Re: 16-20" 223AI

Well, in a standard .223 match chamber, I'm at 24.4, lit via wolf SRM primers, in LC brass, and sending 82 bergers at 2900. Granted this is a 26 or 27" barrel, but I have room to step on it, and would do so easily in a shorter barrel. Add Winchester brass into the equation, and you can get even more velocity....
 
Re: 16-20" 223AI

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grand</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ryan: Hard to predict. No standard chamber. Velocity will vary greatly depending on chamber dimensions, lead, and the particulars of the barrel.

I have a fast 24 Shilen, and a slow 22" Bartlein with a .223 AI Holland chamber. If you smith has the patience, I'd cut the barrel at 22-24", shoot it to establish potential velocity, and then trim and thread to desired length. </div></div>

^^^This is wisdom.
 
Re: 16-20" 223AI

Smith has all the patience I'm willing to pay for, which isn't much. Thinking I'll do 20 and try for 3000 fps or so.

At some point I'm going to do a 16" 22/204 on a Kimber Montana. With a Gemtech Trek T.
 
223AI built with 1 in 8 twist Brux cut to 22". I get near 3100 FPS with 77SMK. It is a smokin hot load of AA2520 and my bolt has had AR type extractor and a firing pin bushing installed. BTW, it is accurate as hell. I don't get that velocity from my straight 223 with a 26" Kreiger.
 
Im geting 2970 from my streight .223 1:8 25" true flight with 80gr berger vlds with 25.5gr of varget.
Pushing the 75gr amax at 2840 had them out to 850yards still very accurate at that range 5 consecutive hits on a 10" gong..

With the AI i would go for 22" should push 3000 no problem and should go to 1000 yards no problem..
Id try the 80gr berger vld's over the amax tho For targets at least, they are much better with the wind i found.

Gary
 
My 18.5" yeilds 3025 with a 75amax and 335. I'd like to have an 11" 223ai on a bolt gun. That would be a sweet truck gun with a can.

I shot a guys .223ai this week (could be yours if you were out at the nippi shoot last Saturday.... if so, thanks again!) and it was a pretty sweet gun. I foresee one in my gun safe here in the near future...
 
I too have always wondered why people run the 75's instead of the 80's. I'd love to rebarrel by .223 to the AI with a faster twist for the heavy bullets but that probably wont be for awhile.

If you want to see a 75gr AMAX really scream, stick it in our new caliber! The 22 Creedmoor!
I run a mild load and am getting 3410 fps.

That sounds like it would be awesome. what kind of drop/drift would that have at 1k and also what about barrel life?
 
I am still in a testing phase with it really. I have about 200 rounds on it now and thats various hunting trips and some target shooting. I was able to take it to K&M a few months ago and was engaging out to 900 yards with ease.
After my initial zero, I took a cold bore shot out to 400 yards and only needed .8 mils to hit
When I get more time with it and am able to really push the cartridge I will make a thread on it as a review.

It has already put down 4 coyotes and to say I am happy with it, is an understatement.
 
Tell us more..... barrel life? case used? gunsmith doing the work?

Barrel life is still in testing....
Case used was the 6mm Creedmoor from GA Precision
GA Precision did the work, in collaboration with Copper Creek Cartridge Co.

I will make my own thread when I have more data collected. Don't want to derail this one.
 
Barrel life is still in testing....
Case used was the 6mm Creedmoor from GA Precision
GA Precision did the work, in collaboration with Copper Creek Cartridge Co.

I will make my own thread when I have more data collected. Don't want to derail this one.


Please do.... I'm very interested in this build. Thanks for the quick response bud.
 
If you want to see a 75gr AMAX really scream, stick it in our new caliber! The 22 Creedmoor!
I run a mild load and am getting 3410 fps.

If you get the urge to wring the piss out of it, the 80 grain Berger VLD has always held up better for me in the 22-243 at 3500 or so. The a max seems to like running in the 3350-3400 range in my barrels. I normally start popping the a max at 3500-3550.

Apologies to the OP for the derail.
 
If you get the urge to wring the piss out of it, the 80 grain Berger VLD has always held up better for me in the 22-243 at 3500 or so. The a max seems to like running in the 3350-3400 range in my barrels. I normally start popping the a max at 3500-3550.

Apologies to the OP for the derail.

I was hitting 3540 easily with the 75gr amax.... no pressure signs.
But I think 3400 is the accuracy node to stick with.