Yeah, that's the route I would take, too. 22-150 AI gives lots of velocity and there is minimal mucking about with forming brass.
High speed .224's
- Thread starter Cleftwynd
- Start date
Yeah, that's the route I would take, too. 22-150 AI gives lots of velocity and there is minimal mucking about with forming brass.
Ive been hearing about the 223AI lately. Luftmech where did you get yours done?
Sorry Cleftwynd for the little derail.
Hey, I love when a conversation evolves! More to read and learn as far as I am concerned.
To the rest, going from 220 Swift to the AI version seems simpler than going from 243 to 22-243, then fire forming to 22-243 AI. Both are simpler than the middlestead though, one of the reasons I place it third or lower in my choices.
The main reason I would go to the AI in the swift is case taper, the extra velocity isn't needed for me. The 22-243 AI is interesting to me as well, just a slight bit more case prepping. Being able to fire factory ammo in the 220 SAI and end up with fire formed brass is appealing as well.
I will keep investigating, in a perfect world I would own one of everything....lol
What sold me on the 223 AI was the ease of forming the brass, install 223, shoot, return home and reload as an AI. I was surprised at how accurate the the 223 rounds were when fire forming, to the point that I hunt with them as is and top off as AI later.
Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
.223AI/22-204 are close to the same case capacity. If you weren't in to fire forming run the ruger case. I'm getting my current .223ai worked over this winter with a new McMillan and a 1-8 twist #2 shilen SS super match.
Back to the 22-250AI vs the 220 swift. I don't really care for the semi rim on the swift or havin to stagger the rounds in the mag. Lapua makes 22-250 brass and there are lots of cheap/premium factory loads if your ever in need. I think in the end the 22-250AI would be more user friendly than any thing on the swift case. Twist it 1-8" out of the gate to take advantage of all the .224 pills.
Back to the 22-250AI vs the 220 swift. I don't really care for the semi rim on the swift or havin to stagger the rounds in the mag. Lapua makes 22-250 brass and there are lots of cheap/premium factory loads if your ever in need. I think in the end the 22-250AI would be more user friendly than any thing on the swift case. Twist it 1-8" out of the gate to take advantage of all the .224 pills.
Actually no difference 22-243 AI than 220 Swt AI. I always run my new cases through the sizer first before loading to round out necks etc so it is exactly the same process, or at least it would be for me.
Swift does have the advantage of fireforming factory ammo, however there is significant blow out with the swift which MAY split some cases if not preannealed.
Ive been hearing about the 223AI lately. Luftmech where did you get yours done?
Sorry Cleftwynd for the little derail.
There's at least 2 good gunsmiths here in Saskatchewan (Ted Gaillard and Craige Douglas). Gaillard (St.Brieux) built my .223AI 8 twist, it shoots silly little groups all day long.
Check out the 220 Weatherby Rocket. It was a factory round in the fifties. It is an improved Swift but you can order dies and reamers for it. I built several years ago and a 22-243 Middlestead. They both had the same water capacity and gave the same velocity. The Rocket will shoot a 55 grain bullet at the same velocity as a Swift will shoot a 50 grain bullet.
There are no issues fireforming Swifts to Rockets. Chamber a full pressure Swift and fire. Out comes a Rocket. It is also extremely accurate fireforming. I never lost a case doing this.
The 22-243 Mid is a royal pain to make the cases. That is why I quit building this caliber. Since it gave the same velocity as the Rocket it was a no brainer.
The Swift case is a stronger case also and you don't lose many if you want to jack up the pressures.
Steve
There are no issues fireforming Swifts to Rockets. Chamber a full pressure Swift and fire. Out comes a Rocket. It is also extremely accurate fireforming. I never lost a case doing this.
The 22-243 Mid is a royal pain to make the cases. That is why I quit building this caliber. Since it gave the same velocity as the Rocket it was a no brainer.
The Swift case is a stronger case also and you don't lose many if you want to jack up the pressures.
Steve
When I called Ted he would supply the barrel but did not want to install it, Craig was not familiar with my Rifle brand and was not comfortable in doing the work. I respected that he said that up front instead of trying to work on it and finding out later that is was not right. They were both my first calls, there is another guy by Kerrobert or someplace that PR uses for their work but his turnaround time is around the 12 mos. area when I called him.
Wow, I hope you can bring us video on that!!! That would be a blast! They sure can be amazing destructive.
