Well actually, let's see, $100 for the barrel, $50 for the barrel vise, $35 for the action wrench, $40 for the go and no go guages, $25 for the barrel nut wrenchand unless this gun has an accutrigger on it figure another $75 for a better trigger. So let's total this up $250-300 plus shipping in parts from Midway and about an hour of work. Couldn't even begin to guess what a smith would charge you to do it. If you go for the AI you will have to fireform brass and basically come up with your own load data as there is not much available for the 223AI. I agree I think you'd be better off getting a 22-250 or 243.