Dixiedog1
New member
Originally Posted By: AckmanThere's really no downside to 223AI except that a Remington might need a couple little tweeks to make it feed properly. But your magazine setup apparently has no problems, so that's not a factor.
There's a lot of crap being thrown around on AI threads. First, with AI's there's no "fireforming" loads per se. There's NO working up 2 loads. Don't listen to that stuff. Start a little below what your manual says is max for the std. case and work up from there just like any other cartridge. When you reach most accuracy, that's your fireform load. It'll be more powder than max for the std. case and it'll be faster.....between a max .223 load and a 223AI load. Accuracy will be just as good. Realize that it's a hunting/ field load, not a "fireform" load. I shoot 50's in that case and can't tell you about 65/70's...... fireforming with 50's is about 75-100fps more than a std. 223, and formed cases are about 175-200 fps more than std .223.....this is depending on which bullet/weight/powder.
You've found a best/most accurate load while fireforming, with formed cases it'll be the same only just a little more. Very easy.
Then about loss of barrel life while "fireforming." Well, fireform loads are field loads. The "fireform" load will be maybe 1 -1.5gr more than a std. 223.......talk about using up the barrel is pure nonsense. The formed AI case will use about 2gr more than std. 223 - depending on bullet/powder......again, difference in barrel life is negligible.
Sounds a little contradictory....when you change the amount of powder used within a range it is working up a new load is it not?
There's a lot of crap being thrown around on AI threads. First, with AI's there's no "fireforming" loads per se. There's NO working up 2 loads. Don't listen to that stuff. Start a little below what your manual says is max for the std. case and work up from there just like any other cartridge. When you reach most accuracy, that's your fireform load. It'll be more powder than max for the std. case and it'll be faster.....between a max .223 load and a 223AI load. Accuracy will be just as good. Realize that it's a hunting/ field load, not a "fireform" load. I shoot 50's in that case and can't tell you about 65/70's...... fireforming with 50's is about 75-100fps more than a std. 223, and formed cases are about 175-200 fps more than std .223.....this is depending on which bullet/weight/powder.
You've found a best/most accurate load while fireforming, with formed cases it'll be the same only just a little more. Very easy.
Then about loss of barrel life while "fireforming." Well, fireform loads are field loads. The "fireform" load will be maybe 1 -1.5gr more than a std. 223.......talk about using up the barrel is pure nonsense. The formed AI case will use about 2gr more than std. 223 - depending on bullet/powder......again, difference in barrel life is negligible.
Sounds a little contradictory....when you change the amount of powder used within a range it is working up a new load is it not?