I am seriously considering rechambering my Ultra to .223 AI so I am reading everything you guys say very intently.
As long as the pressures don't exceed the original cartridge or the rifle's limits,there shouldn't be any problem with doing the conversion.
One question......How can you stay within the pressure limits of the original chambering if you are increasing the amount of powder in the case?
DISCLAIMER: I have shot all my life, but have not done much on the 'smithing side of things, so any questions I ask may or may not be stupid ones :lol:
Second question.....I have case dimensions for .223 REM, but would like to compare dimensions to a .223AI. Do you know where I can find drawings of the improved version? I've looked but had no luck.
Thanks,
Wes
One question......How can you stay within the pressure limits of the original chambering if you are increasing the amount of powder in the case?
No-one says you have to increase the amount of powder in the case now do they? :wink:
This is my whole point of contetion for my rechambering.I'm not expecting to gain a great deal of velocity and I'm not planning to try to reload to get it over the standard 30-06 velocities,that's not my intentions for doing this rechambering in the first place,what I do want,is the chance at improved accuracy and the ability to choose my own seating depth for the various bullets.,I'm wanting to utilize....Believe me...I do know the limitations of these rifles,and you really don't want to go overloading them,by a whole bunch.Heck...I don't like overloading any rifle for that matter..The benifits of the increased performance from the Ackley Improved cartridges are gennerally for a BOLT ACTION RIFLE....not our handi's.However the main advantages for us is improved case life,and a chance to clean up an otherwise sloppy chamber,or long throat.By given us a longer case life,what does that really mean except the brass isn't flowing as much as it would in an otherwise normal factory round.This includes backwards as well.If the brass isn't having as much rearward movement,isn't that reducing backthrust? With the backthrust reduced,we won't have as great of chance stretching the frames of our rifles.
Now ..good ole Fred feels that the free bore that NEf has so gratiously given us,for only a select few rifles(since not all the good Handi owners have this malidy)is a built in saftey for the pressure,well I have spoken with H&R and I can tell you what they told me,and how they told me doesn't coinside with Fred's viewpoint.As long as the bullet is allowed some free bore say .010" this will allow the standard pressures to be alright.Jamm a bullet up into the lands hard and drop a max charge of powder into the case and it's a very dangerous situation.H&R told me this...not someone else.
We cannot turn our little Handi rifles into something they aren't...a bolt action.This is not ,nor has it ever been at anytime my intintions of doing so.I am rechambering to correct a problem with mine,one that H&R won't do anything about.I know the limitations of MY rifle,and I understand the safe-gaurds I must do to keep me and it safe.
Please....before doing anywork on your Handi...talk to a compitent gunsmith,one familiar with the Ackley Improved cartridges and get their take on it.Then call a few more and see if they concure with the first one.Talk with as many gunsmiths as you can,prior to doing any work.
Here's all I have on the 223AI taken from the 10th Edition of Cartridges of the World..by Frank Barnes.
I hope that helps
case dimensions for the 223 Ackley Improved
bullet dia. .224
neck dia. .250
shoulder dia. .365
base dia. .375
rim dia. .378
rim thickness .041
case lenght 1.760"
ctge. lenght varies
twist used 7-12
primers used small
Mac