.223 AI Rechamber

songdog33

songdog33

New member
Howdy all. I have a Ruger American Predator in .223. I would like to have it chambered to an Ackley. Anybody here have a gunsmith with Ackley calibers experience that they trust that I can send the gun to to have this done. I live in Elko, Nevada and there are no gunsmiths here that seem to be able to do this. Thanks for any help you can give. Tom
 
Tom, I will get you the number of a good gunsmith up your way, but I don't know if he will work on a factory barrel.

Here is the issue, the factory chamber is huge, and normally gunsmiths have reamers that are more toward match dimensions.

So, a gunsmith has to cut off enough of the barrel to where the chamber starts to taper and get smaller in dimension. Often, there is not enough barrel shank to do what I have described. For this reason, a gunsmith can not re chamber some factory barrels, depends on the barrel and the amount of straight shank he has to work with.

I would urge you to consider an X Caliber Barrel made in Montana, the 4 that I have are simply unbelievable in how they do not copper foul and the accuracy is like benchrest standards. A contoured X caliber barrel is $200 that is not chambered and they can deliver the barrel to you in about a month. X caliber has the newest and latest hole drilling, hole honing, and button rifle equipment that is being made today. Getting a hole drilled straight and honed after the drilling is of major importance along with heat treat with the bore sealed during that process.

There are some good gunsmiths on this board, do a search on Sponsors, I don't think twice about mailing my gun to a gunsmith...never had any problems. Besides, all you need to mail is the barreled action.

Good luck
 
Hey Songdog

You would be most wise to listen to what Ackleyman has to say. He is exceedingly knowledgeable about barrels and the chambering of them. And he knows how to squeeze every single bit of accuracy out of them. Trust me on that.

I only have one X-Caliber barrel and have only had it for a few weeks, but 1/4" 100 yard groups seem almost harder NOT to get than to get. And that was shooting off a bipod too. Next time I will be trying with a proper rest under my forearm and I bet it will be even smaller. I have my sights (no pun intended) set on some half-mile prairie dogs next summer and I think this will be the combo to do it. I really do.
 
Thanks. I have read that my barrel would have to cut a little (set back?). The gun is new and only been shot a few times. If I have to change the barrel then I do not see any benefit to converting to an Ackley. The cost would be more than the guns value.
 
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I'd give a lot of thought to rechambering a factory barrel before I spent $250 +/- on it. If it shoots real well the way it is, why mess with a good thing.

Some gunsmiths are quirky about their reamers too. I know one in particular that will not put any of his reamers in a used barrel.
 
I just talked to Rogers Rifle Shop in Salt Lake City. He said that if the lead(throat) was not too long that it could be done. He said that the gains are not worth it for the cost to have it done and only if I were putting a new barrel on should I consider it. I guess the gun will go back in the safe and go back to my black rifle. Thanks for all the input. Tom
 
Originally Posted By: songdog33 I just talked to Rogers Rifle Shop in Salt Lake City. He said that if the lead(throat) was not too long that it could be done. He said that the gains are not worth it for the cost to have it done and only if I were putting a new barrel on should I consider it. I guess the gun will go back in the safe and go back to my black rifle. Thanks for all the input. Tom

For what it's worth, it may not have been the answer you wanted to hear but I think they gave you good advice.

I had similar thoughts with the 223 that is now my 223AI. At first glance it sounds like a good idea but after talking to a couple different "smiths" I came to the realization my money would be much more wisely spent if I rebarreled it with a quality aftermarket barrel which is what I did and it turned out quite nicely.
 
I considered it once and asked a friend about it.
He had one done, the smith had a personal preference of chambering a round with no pressure to close the bolt.
His gun has not shot correctly.
Best to go with a known reputable gunsmith who doesn't let the floor sweep do the work.
Or get Superformance ammo.
 
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