243AI question

[varmint917v]

I have had a thought about making a 243AI just to have something a little different. I now have a 243 barrel on the way to me and am trying to research what all needs to be done to make an AI barrel out of it. I know you guys know more about these handis then anyone around so I have a few questions.

1. Is the 243 AI a safe load in a handi?
2. What is gained with the AI over the standard 243 as far as ballistics?
     (I know that the AI is going to be harder on the barrel since it will burn more powder and it will be faster)


Thanks

[quickdtoo]

You won't be able to make a true Ackley Improved out of it due to the fact that factory ammo won't be able to used in it, but it can be rechambered to an Improved version which would require handloaded ammo. The normal procedure for a rechamber of a bolt action threaded barrel, is the barrel is screwed into the receiver one thread, then the chamber is cut to Ackley specs. Since the barrel on a Handi isn't threaded, that procedure won't work, so the result is an improved chamber that has way too much headspace to shoot factory ammo.

Whether you'll be able to push the envelope much over standard .243 Winchester performance in a Handi with the improved version remains to be seen. I have a .280 Remington Handi that's been rechambered to Improved, but haven't been to the range for anything more than fire forming brass so far, so performance improvements have yet to be assessed.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,97534.msg1098247046.html#msg1098247046

[safetysheriff]

i would consider the option of turning your .243 Win' into a 6mm Rem' AI.    talk to a 'smith who knows about the 'crush' factor involved in a true 'AI' and the ability to use factory ammo' safely.    i think you'll also find that if the .243 is hard on barrels now.......partly because of the swirling/combusting propellant moving through such a short neck on that brass.....the .243 AI will probably erode the throating even faster in that barrel.    the 40 degree shoulder helps with that perhaps, but the over-bore condition is genuine.

there is evidence to show that the longer neck will slow down bore erosion.    maybe that was part of the reason for the .30-06 having such a neck with its use in machine guns years ago.   

a very good article about P.O. Ackley's Improved cartridges is found in the Gun Digest of 1996.

take care,

ss' 

[varmint917v]

i will take a look at the 6mm rem ai and see what its got to offer anyone else have any ideas on the 6mm AI

[quickdtoo]

Here's a previous thread on the 6mmAI.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,107088.msg1098308522.html#msg1098308522

[varmint917v]

im thinking that the 243 might just stay what it is. ive got a lot of reading to do now though and try to talk myself into it.