223 to 223AI?

W

William Suter

Well-known member
Looking at maybe buying a used Contender barrel in 223. But......I'd like to have it re-chambered to 223AI. I know to do a barrel correctly it needs to be set back a thread or two then re-cut the chamber. This may be impossible to do on a Contender barrel due to the way they mount the frame, no threads. Could one just run the reamer in the existing chamber and cut a new AI chamber or is it best to just leave it alone??? I already have two rifles in 223 but I also already have a bunch of 223AI brass as well as dies setting on the shelf. I really didn't want to re-chamber either of those, but push comes to shove I guess I could. Or leave well enough alone and sell my dies and brass.
 
If using a 223 barrel you would have to cut off the "under lug/pivot" and have it welded back on in the proper location to create the proper headspace as well as have the rear of the chamber machined off for proper headspace as well as have the area for the extractor area reworked/machined.
Way cheaper to go the boltgun route unless you can find an aftermarket company that already sells them.

I've been wanting to do something similar to a 17hmr NEF that I have changing it to 17 WMR. The juice just isn't worth the squeeze.
 
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The under lug/pivot area is the area that concerned me. I know with a bolt rifle you just unscrew the barrel and go to work. Might be cheaper just to order a barrel already chambered in 223AI.
 
You can do a 223 Improved, not AI, you will have to make your brass by fire forming either with a false shoulder or jamming a bullet into the lands l as you will be moving the shoulder forward. You can still use your 223AI dies and brass.

You can also rechamber to 22-204 without having to set the barrel back if your looking for more power. All without having to do major gunsmithing on the contender.

What is your reason for wanting a 223AI?
 
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William Suter said:
I kinda always thought the improved and Ackley were the same.
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Not necessarily. Pretty much any bottleneck cartridge that has the shoulder angle changed to something steeper is generally referred to as an "improved" cartridge. With the 223 most often you see them improved to a 40° shoulder but if someone did one with a 30° or 35° shoulder it would still be considered a 223 "improved". Generally any cartridge with a 40° shoulder, whether Ackley himself ever actually did one, is referred to as being "Ackley Improved". I have a 338 Lapua Improved and there are numerous different "improved" versions/reamers out there but because mine has a 40° shoulder it's referred to as a 338 Lapua AI even though I believe P.O. Ackley died before the 338 Lapua was ever made.

Like AWS mentioned the easiest way to go about making a faster stepping small case size 22 cal would be to do a 22-204 because you wouldn't have to set the barrel back at all and it would be a straight re-chamber job with a 22-204 reamer. I don't know how much they can hone one to open it up but you could possibly have the neck opened up on a standard 204 Ruger FL die to avoid special dies or just use a 204 FL die then set neck tension with a mandrel although that'd be working the necks a fair bit more.

Honestly, I'd just leave it alone and either shoot it as is or sell it and get a bolt gun you could turn into a 223AI.

I bought a Rem 700 LTR a number of years ago and got bored with it pretty quickly so I took it to my smith and had him screw a new Hart barrel on it chambered in 223 Ackley Improved. It is probably one of the best shooting rifles I've ever owned but it most likely would have shot equally well as just a standard 223 too. Be careful with your reading about the 223 Ack Imp because you'll hear/read alllllllll kinds of stories about how they shoot 3-400 fps faster then a standard 223 and I have no doubt people are those velocities but they're also doing it at considerably higher pressures too. The 223AI loaded to equal pressure of a 223 slinging the same bullet is good for about 100fps give or take but because the little 223 case can take A LOT of abuse before it starts showing really obvious signs of over pressure, especially with brass like Lapua makes, folks tend to run them at extreme pressures.
 
Have seen it done, buddy wished he had left it alone.
For what used barrels are going for, and shop rates, just spend a bit more and get one done right.
A smaller .22 can be done and end up correct. Imho your still in it for more than it’s worth in the end.
 
There are a few custom barrel makers for contenders that make 223AI barrels for a reasonable price compared to the gunsmithing involved with changing an existing barrel. Plus you get your choice of twist rate, barrel length and weight.

EA Brown, SSK and Bulberry are the ones I see mentioned the most. I've bought from EA Brown in the past for other than contender barrels.
 
While I agree, sometimes the squeeze isn't worth the juice. I just like the case and already have the components.I have two bolt rifles in 223 that would be easier I know. I was just thinking the Contender might have been a little easier. Might be time for Plan "B". When I figure out what Plan "B" is. LOL
 
I'll chime in here, I've had 3 223 barrels reamed to improved, after they had barrel extensions on them. AWS is right, it can be done without setting back, you just have to know that going in you may have to jam the bullet on the first firing.

I don't regret it at all. But I had a part-time hobbyist do it for very cheap, retired railroad machinist. He made and/or threaded a lot of barrels for me and did a great job and very reasonable. Unfortunately he passed last year.
 
I would do my Sako but the smith that originally installed the barrel didn't have a clue about Sako rifles. After head spacing the barrel, evidently the bolt would not close with the extractor in the bolt. He didn't know that you have to allow a space for the extractor so he just ground it off. Dumbass! You had to take a cleaning rod with you every time you wanted to shoot the rifle to bump the case from the chamber. Still a dumbass. So after several weeks of searching, a member on the Sako forum messaged me and said he had two extractors for a Sako L461 and would sell me one of them. $120.00 later my rifle is repaired correctly. But my smith had to cut a relief in the barrel for the extractor. So now, knowing how hard parts for the little Vixen are to find, I'm a little gun shy of having anyone work on it. But of the two 223 rifles I have, the Sako would be first choice.
 
Yeah no way I'd modify a Vixen. My projects were take off rem 700 barrels made into ar barrels. They all shoot very well and were dirt cheap.
 
Urbanrifleman over at Accurate Shooter has very reasonably price 223 AI barrels for different bolt action. The easiest way to build a 223 AI is with a Remage or nutted Savage barrel. Savage 10 actions are fairly reasonable or you can use Remington 600, 700SA, 722 or Model 7 as they are all threaded the same, just be sure they all started as small bolt face actions. Savages you can change bolt heads.
 
But he doesn't do Sako's. Already checked with him. Nice thing is he's only 10-12 miles from my house. He does offer one for the Ruger American. That would be a safer route for me. And leave the Sako alone.
 
I have both. I like the fact that you hardly ever have to trim an AI case. However, the downside is having to fireform the case. I use the AI with a fast twist barrel so I can get the 75s on out there.

I don't know if I'd do another one. If Lapua/Alpha/Peterson AI brass was offered, I'd consider it.
 
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