Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Dogzappers 22-250 AI article?

Would anyone have a copy of Steve Timm's article from July 2004 Varmint Hunter magazine they could scan and email to me? I'm putting together a rifle in ... you guessed it, 22-250 Ackley. Thanks.

Had a buddy check his stash. Found July. No article.....

W

Hmmmmm, thanks. I saw an old post by Steve that said the article was in that issue.

I think it's somewhere close to that!

Nope, I never wrote the .22-250 Ackley Improved article for Varmint Hunter Magazine.

I had a special rifle built by Gordy Gritters and it was an incredible shooter. Remington 700 blueprinted and bushed, Krieger barrel, McSwirley pillared and skim bedded. I worked up the data, took the photos and was just starting to write it .....

Then, things got so beastly at the VHA that I simply walked away in total disgust.

I DID write the lead-in for the .22-250 Ackley Improved in the Nosler Number Six Reloading Manual. I double checked all of Nosler's data and it's excellent.

Blessings,

Steve

I also remember you writing one on the .250-3000 AI. I think it was prior to 2004 though.

Yep, that was the rifle that KAREN STOLE FROM ME!!!

And she loaned it back to me just long enough to develop the handloading data and take a few photos for the article. Then, she took it back.

Seriously, the gal has killed a great number of mule deer, lots of antelope several elk with the rifle.

Karen has two rifles; one small and one big. Prairie dogs, coyotes and such she clobbers with her .223 Ackley. Her Big Rifle rifle is the .250 Ackley and she uses it to kill critters of antelope size and bigger ... and that absolutely includes big elk.

Literally, whenever I hear Karen shoot that single shot, I grab my butcher bag and head towards her. Whenever she shoots, I simply know that another critter has bit the dust.

Blessings,

Steve


Below is a photo of Karen with her .250 Ackley and a decent buck antelope. We were hunting with our pal, Pat Sinclair, and we both killed excellent goats on the hunt.

Just for kicks, I'll also post a photo of the goat I shot on the same hunt.

In case you think these critters look large; they are. These antelope are of the Saskatchewan sub-species. Beautiful animals, for sure.

Thanks for the reply Steve, it's nice to see you posting.

Re the 22-250 Ackley, I have been going more and more to moderate cases. With laser rangefinders coupled with turrets or ranging reticles, speed isn't as necessary as it used to be. BUT, it seems I want a walking varminter again for doggies and deer sized game - one that if you miss close causes their hair to catch on fire! Everyone needs a reactionary rifle huh?

Nice animals!

Steve, is that the one that cost you your shoulder?

Brother Steve,

Love the heart shaped horns on your pronghorn. That's a great goat!

Marty

Yeah, Kimber, I love him too ... still do. I've killed bigger, but not any prettier.

Pat and I had to belly-crawl through over 100-yards of prickly pear cactus in order to get the shot. We were pulling cactus needles from our hides for the next several days.

Below is a photograph that my lilly-livered editor WOULD NOT publish. Gee, I wonder why



Friend Rick,

Nope, the TWO that cost me my right shoulder were about eight or ten years later.

By the way, I dicked-up my rotator cuff (suprespinatus tendon) again on May 1 of this year. It was while Karen was falling and falling and falling and I had to lift her up so many times. Totally pulled the bugger loose and probably will not have it repaired again. Man, that right arm is DICKED.

Blessings,

Steve

It was one of Dogzappers earlier articles in Varmint Hunter that got me addicted to the "AI" was the 6mmAI. I had his gunsmith at the time(Darrel Holland)build me one.

Over the years since I have built more 22-250AI's than any other chambering I have, a few words of advice. Use Lapua brass it is worth the extra money. I will never build another 22-250AI that is not a 1-8" twist, 5 and 6 groove barrels work the best. check with your gunsmith about the dimensions of his reamer. most are way oversize in the web area, if this is the case order your own reamer to fit the Lapua brass.
good luck,B

I would agree to all the above...

The 6Ackley had an interesting barrel. It was fast-twist and made for loooong VLDs.

Of course, all barrels are FEMALE and it steadfastly refused to shoot heavy bullets. But it loved the 70-grain Ballistic Tips and I shot some amazing groups with it at 200, 300 and 500 yards.

This barrel taught me that you should listen to the barrel and pay attention to what it wants. If you listen carefully, you can have a happy life together ... and if not, you'll end up with yet another expensive metal fence post.

I absolutely agree about Lapua brass and having a fine reamer made especially for it.

Blessings,

Steve

Hah, I remember those pictures....that was a good article. My thoughts are with you two for better health ahead.

Have been around dozens of rifles,so chambered. 1-8" is where it's at,but I've got or shot 'em in 1-7",7.7",8",9",10",12",14" and unfortunately 16".

Throating arrangements are rather forgiving,given a typical S/A .473's COAL latitude(2.800" or better),as a default. If you aren't flinging 75 'Max,you are pissing up alotta ropes. Have gunned 'em from 20" to 26" and 22" or 23" is plenty.

A .473" S/A Montucky rebarreled in a contour/length dupe at 1-8",is THE Grail...but I've gunned 'em in 600,Seven,721,700,Sako 579,Weatherby 6-lug,Ruger MKI and MKII's,as well as 70's in both pre-post CRF and transitonal PF's.

That includes OEM setback/punches and Douglas,Shilen,Hart,Brux,Rock,Broughton,Lilja,PacNor,Krieger,Wilson,McGowen...offa the top of my head. 3,5 and 6-groovers,with the Triple being the pick of the vast litter.

Pass the Montucky build in a 1-8" 3-grooved PN.

Hint.................

40+ Years of Handloader Magazine on DVD 1966-2013
Wolfe Publishing Co - A friend of mine years ago did a small article with a whole page of loads on the Ackley 22-250 with a 12" twist, his name is Curtis L. Smith. I think this DVD set replaced this very large book that they used to publish because I dont see it on the web site.

Thanks for the input guys.

Larry, the finished product will seem very familiar to you. I already have the parts. I lucked into the barreled action, already built by a gunsmith I trust. An old B series M700 action with a new Benchmark in M700 varmint weight contour. A 1:8 twist, five groove barrel.

It gets an old 40X trigger which breaks at just over a pound.

The barrel will get chopped to 23 inches and turned down, then put into a McMillan standard fill 29 oz Classic stock I have. It will be a Douglas type contour, nice and slim in the middle with about a .625" muzzle.

On top it will wear a 10-year-old Leupold matte 3.5-10X40 tactical with turrets and low D/D rings.

Say it real fast and it comes out "sporty spice".

I have done that recipe too more than once, and it just fits me better than the Montana.

It will be fed a steady diet of 75 grain A-Maxes in Lapua brass.

The only question left is bottom metal. It is a BDL stock and I hate factory POS floorplates. Since swapping the stock for an ADL is unfortunately too much hassle, it will probably end up with PT&G Stealth DBM.

Sounds very much like my 1-7.7" 23.3" Krieger 22-250AI,in it's GAP Camo Classic.

Sporty Spice is 21" and 1-8" 223AI(now wearing 6x MQ Fixed Fhuqker,but MK4 M3 6x shown here).



It(Krieger 22-250AI) wore HS DBM for a goodly while,but the Atlas DBM upgrade was very wellfounded. The OEM Ruger Scout poly mags sounded like a good idea and that has proven to be the case. I tend to trim DBM releases trite and very often respring to boot,in order to ascertain the most POSITIVE of retention means.




The PTG Stealth is a Skookum mousetrap and you'll quickly find yourself doting on DBM's.




It were a Montucky Day today,which likely isn't too "surprising". Had an OEM Ascent 308 squirting 155 Skinners,7 Whizzum 1-9" PN contour/length dupe with 162 'Max,1-8" Brux no-turn 6BR contour duped 20" with 105 A-Max and a 223AI contour/length duped 1-8" Hart fireforming 75's at 2940fps.



Let a pard hook himself on the Baby BR and he gunned it out to the 1350yd line and blew his own mind. I told him that it would happen and he was the only who didn't see it coming.(grin)

He was an ardent Krunchenticker Hater and was bragging up his Mini-14...until I dialed a 600yd CBS poke right outta the gate,with the newly landed BHW MK12 SPR Wylde and a 75 Hornie HPBT.

Which reminds me,my gasblock for the BHW Wylde 18" Middie arrived today and needs installed...................

Keep shooting all those Montuckys and I'm going to start thinking you like'em or sumthin!

I remembered Sporty Spice was a 223AI, forgot the 21" barrel. That GAP Krieger is close!

How does the PT&G short mag Stealth in 308Win feed the Ackleyfied 22-250 case?

Haven't really gonna CRAZY on mag testing it(22-250AI),but thus far I cain't make it bobble. That's with Alpha's,AmericanMag,AICS,OEM Ruger Scouts(poly and steel) and MagPul.

I'd go take a pic,but I'm goin' crazy with the Krunchentickers. The Troy gasblock simmered the 18" BHW Middie right THE fhuqk down and it'll hang Stoner magfed 75 A-Max under 3/4" at 2770fps. Got the ambient temp to bump and run,so will and 2800fps will come easily(because it did with 75 Hornie BTHP's). GOTTA love 2.345" COAL latitude in a S/S coated mag of modest profile!




FINALLY caught a break in the weather and it's 'bout time to skin up a mountain and scour for a Booner..................