Fireforming .223 AI

Smokin Barrel

Smokin Barrel

Active member
In a couple weeks I will have my first "improved" chambered rifle. I have been researching but seems to be a few different ways to skin this cat. Just looking for some info on what works, what doesn't, etc. and to get a crisp, fully formed shoulder with one firing if possible.
 
With my .223 AI I found that I need pretty much standard power .223 to get a good sharp shoulder every time. Several years ago I messed around with 12 grains of Blue Dot and while it shot very well my shoulders were a bit too rounded. I think that they would have been OK as I do not shoot full throttle loads most of the time. I had a bunch of Fioochi .223 ammo back then that I fireformed by shooting at our local ground squirrels. Better than punching holes in paper, right?
 
I have a pair of them in AR's. I simply use the same load for fireforming as subsequent loads. There's no difference in speed or accuracy. I start with once fired brass and resize in the AI die.
 
In the two 223AI Rem 700 rifles I have I reload 35 gr or 40 gr varmint bullets at max 223 Rem loads and shoot them at squirrels and they fire form perfectly.
 
I shoot a few AI'd chamberings, 223AI 22-250AI 243AI 25-06AI, and with all of them I use max(ish) loads of the parent chamberings in them. Generally accuracy is great with the fireform loads. Some guys load FF loads in the lands to guarantee positive headspace but with a properly cut chamber that is not needed. The 223AI is my baby with a 1-8"twist and heavy bullets and if push came to shove it is the ONE chambering that I would never be without. I've used it on whitetails to just shy of 500yds and on groundhogs to much further. It is by far my favorite. So what are you having built?
 
Originally Posted By: brdeanoI shoot a few AI'd chamberings, 223AI 22-250AI 243AI 25-06AI, and with all of them I use max(ish) loads of the parent chamberings in them. Generally accuracy is great with the fireform loads. Some guys load FF loads in the lands to guarantee positive headspace but with a properly cut chamber that is not needed. The 223AI is my baby with a 1-8"twist and heavy bullets and if push came to shove it is the ONE chambering that I would never be without. I've used it on whitetails to just shy of 500yds and on groundhogs to much further. It is by far my favorite. So what are you having built?

This. I run a 22" 7 twist, and with fireforming loads of 24.0-ish grains IMR8208xbr and the 80.5gn Bergers, it consistently shoots in the 1/4-1/2moa range and has no problem whacking coyotes, rocks, and anything else that gets in the way. When I get a chance, I will try the 69 & 77 TMKs for giggles, but with the way it shoots, I haven't even bothered to work on a formed brass load yet. I have also shot quality factory 223 ammo in my other 223ai to form brass and results have been excellent as well.
 
In my ackley calibers I have a pretty tight process.
1. load a normal round in the parent brass
2. take the rifle out and hunt with it
3. save spent brass that is now formed
 
Originally Posted By: 6724In my ackley calibers I have a pretty tight process.
1. load a normal round in the parent brass
2. take the rifle out and hunt with it
3. save spent brass that is now formed


My process is extremely high tech. Not!

With my 223AI I do it exactly this same way.
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Originally Posted By: 6724In my ackley calibers I have a pretty tight process.
1. load a normal round in the parent brass
2. take the rifle out and hunt with it
3. save spent brass that is now formed


Good deal. This is what I was hoping to see.

Originally Posted By: brdeano..... It is by far my favorite. So what are you having built?

It will be on a R700, #4 fluted 1-8" Brux at 18" sitting in a McM Hunter. I will be running 75gr ELD's.
 
Question for ya: What did you use as your Overall length?
If I load to SAMMI specs with the Sierra 45 grain TNT, I barely have any bullet in the neck, for a .223 Rem, anyway.
 
When I had my last 223AI, I just loaded regular rounds and shot them. They shot well and were good practice. If they shot poorly, I could see the pistol powder and non-bullet type loading, but in most I have ever heard of, just shooting regular full house 223 loads is the preferred method.
 
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