17-223AI Dies

Bear

Bear

New member
I'm building a 17-223AI and want to get some opinions on forming dies,brand if I have to use a 3 die set or can I neck size from 22 cal. to 17 in one step.
 
I have Rcbs dies for my 17-223, at first I was sizing with a gutted 223 die then my 17-223 with decapping pin. I had trouble with crushing shoulders was the reason for the first step but later I had tracked the cause down to fresh annealed brass. Now I take my brass and size in 1 pass then anneal after word. Havent crushed one since.
 
The AI version will probably be custom dies.
I originally tried to run fired 223 brass through the 17-223 die, I crushed a lot of shoulders. I tried annealing first and that helped. Now what I do is run fired, annealed 223 brass through a 223 die without an expander and then the 17-223 die, and do not lose any brass.
I like ackleys, but the 17-223 has already got plenty of zip, I wouldn't bother with the additional cost of dies. I'm running 25's at 4000, with the AI what will you get? 4200? I don't think that makes any appreciable difference, other than barrel wear.
I find that nearly all of my converted brass is short. I also find that I need to neck turn to get any accuracy. I have also had issues with varying brass thickness creating pressure problems, some are thicker necks and cause over pressure resulting in blown primers and junk brass. I turn them just enough to clean them up, same thing I do with 17 Mach IV. My 17-223 BHW barrel has shot 1/2 MOA at 300 yards.
 
Paul Bike makes a real nice set of form dies.

PLAN on neck turning.

Bear, the 17/223 AI will be on par with a 17 Remington, and with 24g of IMR 4350, the 25's are doing 4200 and change in a 24" barrel shooting tiny groups in the 17 rem. I turned the necks on the last custom 17 Rem that I had with zero freebore and accuracy was groups about the size of a pencil eraser.
 
I am puzzled as to why people say that the 17 remington is faster than the 17-223. The 17 remington is shorter from the case head to the shoulder. From what I find in a Hornady manual, the head to shoulder dimension of a 17 remington is 1.351", while my 17-223 is 1.43 approximately. Put one case next to the other and it is pretty obvious that the 17-223 is longer to the shoulder and therefore has a greater case capacity. The 17 remington has a longer neck, but there is no powder in the neck. Shoulder angle is the same.
 
Originally Posted By: 6724I am puzzled as to why people say that the 17 remington is faster than the 17-223. The 17 remington is shorter from the case head to the shoulder. From what I find in a Hornady manual, the head to shoulder dimension of a 17 remington is 1.351", while my 17-223 is 1.43 approximately. Put one case next to the other and it is pretty obvious that the 17-223 is longer to the shoulder and therefore has a greater case capacity. The 17 remington has a longer neck, but there is no powder in the neck. Shoulder angle is the same.

And here I thought I was the only guy on the planet that knew that! surprisingly when a fellow measures actual case capacity the 17-223 is greater also. Who'd thought that?

Greg
 
It has been 40 years since I have owned a 17/223...memory fades!

Also, the load of 24g of IMR 4320 at 4200 out of a 24" bbl with the 25's in the 17 Rem is tough to beat without a ton of work and expense.

Best of luck!
 
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I have a friend who bought his dad a Tika17-223AI and dad did not want to mess with forming brass. So he pulled the barrel and put a 17 Rem barrel on the receiver and I picked up the 17-223AI barrel.
 
Redding makes a 223 40 degree(223 AI) Type S FL Bushing die. You should be able to use it with progressively smaller bushings to form your brass. You will have to purchase a 17 cal. expander ball spindle as the threads are smaller on it than the 223. You will maybe have to ream the necks depending on the reamer specs.
 
I talked to my gunsmith friend and decided to shorten the barrel and make it a 17 Fireball. It will be cheaper and way easier for brass.
 
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17 Fireball brass is not exactly everywhere. If you do find any, it will be pricey, a whole lot more than 223.

I end up using 221 fireball brass and neck it down and turn necks. Just like I do with 17-223.
 
Bringing up an old post again but I was in an old old old pawn shop in Tulsa today. On the shelf was a set of 17-223 dies. The set had a neck sizer, seat, full length, form and trim. Now all I need is a rifle. Any suggestions?
 
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