223 AI (Ackley Improved) on a Rem 722B Action

223 AI

I call this rifle “Big Boy”, it was a 222 Rem re-barreled to 223 AI with a 1 1/2 inch straight contour German Blazer barrel with a very large muzzle brake installed.  It weights in at around 18 pounds with scope, not a rifle you carry around the field. 

The round is a .223 Rem on steroids; a wildcat round started by P. O. Ackley many years ago. Takes a standard .223 Rem, blows out the taper of the case to get a nearly straight case, and puts on a 40 degree shoulder.  What is really neat about this cartridge is how easy it is to make the case.  Take a standard 223 Rem shoot a prairie dog and that fire forms them to the 223 AI.

There are several advantages, more powder capacity; which will give you more velocity, but more pressure, and cases don’t stretch for two or three firing.  As with all of my rifles “I DON’T LOAD HOT ROUNDS”.  So my cases last for many firings.