.223 ai reamer for heavies

[nrspence]

What reamer and freebore would you all recommend for 77 grain to 88 grain bullets? Looking to re barrel a Tikka in 223 ai.

 

[spife7980]

For a 77 Sierra, the wylde .062

For an 88 eld, the .090-.120 or so

For the 95 Sierra you’re gonna be closer to .180 or so

Most ai reamers I’ve seen are for the .062 area and just deal with a bit of case volume encroachment.

 

[Luke G]

As spife mentioned, the .090-.120 range would probably be perfect if you can find it. Good freeborn for the 88s and the 77smk don't mind a little jump.

Unfortunately though Spife is also right about most AI reamers being in the .062 range and losing a little bit of case volume. Some smiths can do a custom throat if you sent them a dummy round though. Deep South Tactical has a .223 AI reamer on order with .120 freebore if I remember correctly.

 

[nrspence]

Awesome, thanks for the info!

 

[just browsing]

My straight .223 is chambered with .125 freebore and it’s basically perfect for jumping 80+ bullets 20-30ish thou and not running into mag length issues.

Going to guess you’ll run into mag constraints with anything heavier.

 

[b6graham]

My straight .223 is chambered with .125 freebore and it’s basically perfect for jumping 80+ bullets 20-30ish thou and not running into mag length issues.

Going to guess you’ll run into mag constraints with anything heavier.

MDT poly mags?

 

[just browsing]

Modified MDT metal and Accurate-Mags.

Haven’t tried poly MDT or AI mags, but I seem to remember them accommodating similar OALs to the modified metal ones.

 

[nrspence]

Are 223 accurate mags 2.500?

 

[spife7980]

Are 223 accurate mags 2.500?

If you file the front lip off flush with the rest of the inside liner then you can get 2.550

 

[terrell35744]

This is the one I use for lapua brass and 75and 80elm . I got the print number from Brian Pence. Chambered spa few barrels with it and doing another next week

 

[nrspence]

.0618 freebore?

 

[terrell35744]

.0618 freebore?

yeah pretty much same as a wylde 75eldms right around 2.445 with a .050 jump
Jgs cut way better then my ptg reamers manson are very good too so I usually try to buy from one of those tow company's

just be sure to have a range of pilots krieger usually use .2178 but the kp barrels I just did needed .2186 and .2188

 

[nrspence]

yeah pretty much same as a wylde 75eldms right around 2.445 with a .050 jump
Jgs cut way better then my ptg reamers manson are very good too so I usually try to buy from one of those tow company's

just be sure to have a range of pilots krieger usually use .2178 but the kp barrels I just did needed .2186 and .2188

Great info. I sure appreciate it.

 

[terrell35744]

Great info. I sure appreciate it.

You got it. Only other thing is the redding dies are cut to the incorrect head space for a correctly head spaced ackley chamber which is -.004 (223 gage ) for go and a standard "go" becomes the no go. So the redding may not bump the shoulders back. One of two ways to fix this is to take a little off the bottom of the sizing die the other is to thin the shell holder

 

[nrspence]

You got it. Only other thing is the redding dies are cut to the incorrect head space for a correctly head spaced ackley chamber which is -.004 (223 gage ) for go and a standard "go" becomes the no go. So the redding may not bump the shoulders back. One of two ways to fix this is to take a little off the bottom of the sizing die the other is to thin the shell holder

Dang it, I bought i Redding type s full length sizer.

 

[terrell35744]

Dang it, I bought i Redding type s full length sizer.

Isn't a lot of choices on 223AI dies so you just have to fix it and your set. I run the same sizing die.

 

[Nortex]

My ai reamer uses a 150 freebore. It might be a touch more than most but it works great so far. Primarily running 80gr vld, eld or 75 eld.

 

[Seandradamus]

.125 freebore for 95smks and they are still bellow the neck shoulder junction but work great regardless, also runs 88eld and 85 hybrids great

 

[nrspence]

.220 freebore for 95smks and they are still bellow the neck shoulder junction but work great regardless, also runs 88eld and 85 hybrids great

Do you just single feed?

 

[Hondo1]

.220 seems like a lot

 

[supercorndogs]

95SMKs are a lot of bullet...

 

[Seandradamus]

Do you just single feed?

I run them from accurate mags at 2.560.
The mags will run 2.6 max after some filing on the front.
Edit to above .. I was mistaken, my freebore is .125 on the 223AI ….. it’s .220 on my 22 dasher

 

[nrspence]

What size bushing should I use with Lapua 223 brass if I’m looking for two or three thou neck tension?

 

[jzerfoss]

What velocities are you guys getting with a 223AI? I've seen others post their velocities with heavies and I'm seeing little to no benefit when comparing the velocities I get with a 223 wylde chamber.

 

[b6graham]

I've just heard there is no point to not go ai because the shoulder angle actually is better on the brass if chambered properly.. it tends to stretch less and you can get 2.5 more grains in it so I would think that has to translate to velocity somewhere

40 degree is nice for less trimming

velocity wise, AI isn't super duper extra velocity out the ass crazy ness. its mostly marginal

 

[jzerfoss]

Just for reference from a 223 wylde chamber I was running 88gr elds from a 22" Krieger at 2830ish(definitely a fast barrel) and 2850s from a 26" MPA/X-caliber barrel. I've been able to get in the 2870s safely with a 28" proof barrel with a long throated 223 manson chamber and it's not fully broke in yet. No problems with velocity inconsistencies or need to trim very often.

What kind of velocities are you guys seeing with 85gr or heavier bullets with the 223AI?

 

[Seandradamus]

I’m getting 2785 with 95s
3130 with 80s in my 28”
3080 with 80s in my 22”

 

[jzerfoss]

I’m getting 2785 with 95s
3130 with 80s in my 28”
3080 with 80s in my 22”

2785 is pretty decent for 95's. I'm guessing that's with your 28"?

 

[Seandradamus]

2785 is pretty decent for 95's. I'm guessing that's with your 28"?

Yep 28” 6.5Twist , I run a .305 G7
Shoots identical wind as a 105 Hybrid at 2900
To 1000 yards

 

[shaun1826]

I wouldn’t go with anything less than a 0.254 neck diameter either. 0.255 would probably be better if you can.

 

[nrspence]

Only draw back to me is fire forming and you can’t shoot tac class in PRS.

 

[jpcowboy]

You got it. Only other thing is the redding dies are cut to the incorrect head space for a correctly head spaced ackley chamber which is -.004 (223 gage ) for go and a standard "go" becomes the no go. So the redding may not bump the shoulders back. One of two ways to fix this is to take a little off the bottom of the sizing die the other is to thin the shell holder

I am facing this issue with my redding die, how much do you have to cut off? Thanks