tykempster

What would it take to possibly change a .223 Savage model 12? I've been thinking about buying one when I get the money, or possibly splitting the cost with my dad for my birthday. I know Ackley Improved guns can shoot normal rounds but do they shoot them as good? I don't reload yet but I know someone who could for me until I start. He suggested this gun as one I could shoot alot for not much moneyand use for anything smaller than deer. Thanks for any replies.

North Texan

I really don't see much advantage in going to a .223 AI. If you want more velocity, go up to a .22-250. With a fast twist in a .223, increasing the velocity very much will cause varmint bullets to fly apart before hitting the target. That's why .22-250's have much slower twists.

thndrchiken

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.

eldeguello

Since the .223 already has pretty nearly the miniumum allowable taper, plus whichit would be difficult to shorten its neck any further and still be able to grip a bullet, "improving" it is pretty much a drill in futility. The standard .223 is so close ballistically to the .222 Rem. Mag., you cannot expect a .223 AI to give you any practical improvement in ballistics! Save your dough!

Roskoe

As a gunsmith who has built a number of .223 AI rifles over the years, I would advise you to do it if you have a 24" or longer barrel. At that barrel length, you should be able to get about 200 fps more than the standard .223 - which will put you at about 3500 fpswith a 55 grain bullet. I have been able to get almost 3600 (AA 2520 compressed load) with a 26" barrel. I don't normally load a 22-250 much over 3700.

Accuracy should be good when fire forming loads - guns usually like the same loads they liked before it was converted to AI. Brass life is a lot better and you don't have to trim cases again once they are fire formed.

You should know that, mostly due to all the misinformation floating around out there - and the fact that not all gunsmiths know how to headspace the AI calibers, the conversion to AI will not add any value to your rifle. It may actually make it harder to sell down the road if that is a possibility.

The fee to do the conversion should be about$75. Good luck. Roskoe

Roskoe

P.S. The $75 fee involves setting back the existing barrel one thread and rechambering for the .223 AI. Headspace needs to be set so that the bolt will close with a little effort on a virgin brass case (or factory round); and not even begin to close on the regular .223 "Go" headspace gauge. Ideal headspace for any AIis about .006 shorter than theparent caliber's"Go" gauge. Fire forming shouldonly be done with virgin brass cases or factory ammo - never with cases that have been fired in a regular .223 chamber. Hope this helps.

tykempster

If this was easy to do, I thought it could be something to get the .223 close to the 22-250. It sounds like it could be more of a hassle than I could deal with. Is a 22-250 worth getting if I want to do alot of shooting, at both targets and small animals? I know it adds a little bit of range, but how much barrel life and extra price does this affect?

North Texan

.223 ammunition is considerably cheaper than .22-250 ammo. Enough it will add up quickly if you do alot of shooting.

biscuit jake

I would let your planned shooting needs choose the cartridge. High velocity will work against a barrel, but so does heat. It helps to time your shooting. Shooting thousands of rounds through a hot barrel will fry anything eventually. (Mistake I learned as a young man.) IMO, where the 22 250 and the 220 Swift come into there own is some extra range due to the bullet staying fast longer to reduce wind drift. Changing the barrel or replacing the rifle some day is the cost of doing business. If you are looking to shoot beyond 300 yards, personally, I would go with the 22 250 or 220 Swift.