New barrel or New Gun

[farmerboyMT]

I need some input on my next project.  I have a CZ 527 Lux in .223.  I love the gun but its sporter barrel leaves something to be desired.  I have the option of rebarreling or buying new.  If I rebarrel I have the option of going to a .223 AI or sticking with the standard .223. I like the idea of another 200 or so fps with the AI.  But I keep wondering about going to a Savage 12FVSS or a 527 Varmint.  Either way I'm out $500 or more.  
So-
     Has anybody tried rebarreling to a .223 AI and if so how much success has there been?  
     Does it make enough of a difference to justify the cost?
Thanks
Bryan Danley

[Brithunter]

Errrr sorry but your post does not seem to make any sense :cry:

What is wrong with the barrel on the rifle?

The AI cartridge does not need a new barrel, they cut back one thread then re-chamber.


And why do you feel that you need an extra 200 fps?

Would you not be better off with a 22-250?

[beemanbeme]

I doubt that you will get 200fps increase with an AI barrel. And don't forget the hassle of fire-forming cases, much more expensive dies and such. That said, why do you want to rebarrel??  Poor accuracy??  Wrong contour?  
The correct answer on the rebarrel job is: Do you plan on keeping the rifle?  As you stated, the rebarrel will cost you close or more than a new rifle.  Money which you will never get back if you sell the rifle.  Most folks that are interested in a used rifle could care less that it has a premium xxx barrel.  They want to know if it goes bang when you pull the little, hangy-down thingy underneath.  And if you start explaining to them that the rifle has an AI chamber, their eyes sorta glaze over.
And you have no guarentee that you will like the new rifle any better.  
On a rebarrel, even with a mid-range cost barrel, if you have a good smith do the work, you often gain considerabley in the accuracy department.  However, as a rule, the .223 is so accurate "out of the box" that if you are a shooting crows and such and informal paper punching, the gains would be rather nebulous for your purposes.

[Coyote Hunter]

Last time I was faced with a 're-barrel or new rifle' decision it was due to a shot-out barrel.

In the end I was able to sell the rifle for $250 and buy a like-new Ruger M77 .257 Roberts for $400.  The Savage 110E I sold had no scope, the Ruger came with a Leupold M8 4x.  I had purchased a used M8 4x a couple months earlier for $100, so I figure the Ruger cost me the Savage and an extra $50.  It shoots great and is now my favorite rifle.

$500?  I'd look at the options.

[Slamfire]

If the AI is done correctly you fire form cases by shooting factory ammo. You'll lose a little velocity as some of the energy is used to reshape the case. You are right about the dies though, unless you have the smith make you a push type with the same reamer he uses on the barrel.  :wink:

[trotterlg]

Go here and look at the bottom of the page, get a new CZ barrel for $45.00, chamber it in .223AI and go shooting.  Larry

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/articles.php

[AZ223]

I was in a similar position; I have a .223 single shot NEF and wanted more velocity. I went for a Rem 700 in .22-250 so now I still have both! I wouldn't normally replace a barrel unless something was wrong with it, or it was burned- out, or if I just didn't like the look of it. A sporter barrel is a lot easier to carry on a hunt, but does get hot a lot faster than a bull barrel, especially in August in Phoenix.

What you want also depends on what kind of shooting you want to do; if you like to blaze away at the range or blaze away at prairy dogs, you might want a heavy barrel. I have an old Rem 700 in '06 -- it's great while the barrel is cool, but as soon as that skinny little barrel heats up, things start to go astray. But because it's primarily a hunting weapon, I'm glad it's only 7 1/2 lbs -- that's lighter than my NEF!

[roper]

Bryan,  I think you would have a fine varmit rifle going with a 223AI.  You would get the extra velocity,great case life and alittle long barrel life.  If the chamber is done right you should be able to fireform with 223 loads as not to waste the barrel, with 50gr bullets you should get velocity depending on barrel twist and lenght between 3500/3750fps and with 40gr bullets over 3900fps you would be about 100/150fps slower than a 22-250 but using 5 gr of powder less.
If you look at Sinclair catalog on Redding Type S FL die set for the 223AI cost $139 and for the 223 $113 and if you use Wilson dies there is not cost difference.  Shooting varmits you will pick up a good 100yds over the 223.
I'm alittle different then most, was reading an article in Varmit Hunter Magazine about the 223AI was the july 1995 issue so I rebarrel one of my rifles and I still load to that data, liked the round so much rebarreled another rifle.  Good varmit rounds are hard to come by and I'm lucky as I have
shot the parent round so I have something to compare data.    Always have to remember you may have some hidden cost on rebarreling a rifle like may having the action squared etc.  Remember there is one option you can buy a Cooper in 223AI.  Well good luck