Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Mule Deer--270 Ackley Improved?

John, I just had the opportunity to read your piece about the 280 Ackley Improved and I enjoyed it. If the 280 AI is arguably better than the normal 280 Rem. doesn't it also stand to reason that the 270 AI would be equally as much better than the 270 Winchester ? I find it curious that with such a small number of 270 variants that there is not an equal cry for the 270 AI as has developed for the 280 Rem.

While I'm not Mule Deer, I have looked at this too.

I agree that there is probably some similarly 'unlocked potential' in having a 270AI like there is for a 280AI.

From what I've read, people who've made the switch are getting 75fps more, all else being equal. That takes a 270, 140gr. bullet to 3100+fps or a 110tsx to over 3350fps!!

Here is one poster here that has one:
There are others on the long-range forums that have made the switch.

I think that the 270AI may gain in popularity as both bullets and powders make it more versatile from everything from coyotes to trophy deer to Elk and Moose; only better than the original 270Win.

I'd also stand in line to pay for an article with 270AI load data!!

Dude,

They already make a 270 improved,it's called the 280 Remington.

Britt

One of the reasons the .280 Improved got such a great reputation is that the original factory ballistics for the .280 itself were pretty wimpy. Thus increasing case capacity in the AI AND loading to higher pressure combined to make what manyh people consider a signficant increase in muzzle velocity.

The .270, on the other hand, has almost always been pretty well loaded to top practical pressures by the factories. Thus an AI version wouldn't show much increase in muzzle velocity.

Rolly,

I agree with you thought process on this and I have a .270 AI build in the works. If nothing else, I want something very unique just so I can hear all the guys say "you are shooting what????"

Mule Deer, I'm just trying to understand.... why is it then that people who have them are getting 75fps more velocity without much effort? Or in the case of the poster that I quoted, 150fps more?

Honestly, what would you think would be a realistic velocity gain based on your experience? If getting 3150fps with a 130gr bullet, why would it not be entirely possible to get at least 3225fps?

Is there a software program or can you guess at what the powder increase would be from doing a 270AI? This would corroborate for us what are the real world velocities...

I'm just really curious....seems that there is a cult following of the 280AI, yet, with smaller bore diameter and an increase in case capacity that it's entirely possible to wring out as meaningful a velocity increase (75fps or so) from our lovely 270 Win by going to 270 Ackley Improved.

Thank you.

Saeed had a custom one built:



One top load from him claims to be:


So, with a 22" barrel, I can only get about 2970fps with 140gr bullets. Even adding about 30fps/inch for his 25" barrel, his 270 ACKLEY IMPROVEDvelocities exceed the standard 270 win. load by over 100fps!??

Some one explain this to me....but it seems that the 270AI has the same or better performance increase that a 280AI has over a handloaded 280rem ?! If so, why aren't more people doing it?

Brooksrange

You will gain less than 5% in case capacity improving the .270 Win. Feeling free to jump from 58 grains of RL 22 (Nosler #6 max) to 66 grains of RL 22 with a 130 is a perfect example of why some people should not be allowed to own or use an improved cartridge. Should not be allowed to handload or handle sharp objects for that matter.

Brooksrange,
I have looked through some of the loads on the AR forum and was pretty impressed with their velocities. But upon closer reading, realized that their loads are pretty warm. I don't think I would run some of their loads in my guns. For instance, they show a load of 83.5 grains of RL22 for a 165 grain Ballistic tip in a 300 Winchester Mag. Nosler shows a max load of 79 grains of the same powder with the same bullet. I've run the Nosler load in my rifle and was getting pressure signs.

The reason I went with a 280AI, other than improved velocity, was bullet selection. There is very little difference between the 270's and the 280's except for the greater selection of .284 bullets.

I would like to see a 270-284! I know there is not much difference between .277 and .284 but I just like the 270!

How do you improve on perfection?

.270 WSM boys and girls it is everything you are looking to get from the .270AI and another 25-50 fps to boot.

I had a .458 Win. Mag Ackleyrized once, once. Looking back it doesn't seem worth the bother.

"Honestly, what would you think would be a realistic velocity gain based on your experience? If getting 3150fps with a 130gr bullet, why would it not be entirely possible to get at least 3225fps?"

I'm not Mule Deer, but claiming to get 3150 FPS from a 130 grain bullet and actually getting it might be two different things.

My experence with a .270 is entirely different. Try reducing that velocity by 200 FPS and you might be in the realistic range.

3150 is no sweat in a .270 with 24" barrel. Been that way for 80+ years now.

Lou

If your going for a wildcat, wouldn't Rocky Gibbs 270 give you a little more case capacity and performance over the Ackley? If I remember right, Rock's goal was to achieve the most FPS the 270 case was capable of.

Doc

Mule Deer and fellow rifle loonies,

There seems to be evidence of a GREATER gain in Velocity of a 270 ACKLEY IMPROVED over the 257 Roberts Improved!!

Velocity gains of at least 100-150fps!!

Se below quote from another forum:



This was a big AHA moment...seems to me there is enough of a gain for the 270 ACKLEY IMPROVED to be worthwhile.

Is this your take on all this information? Seems to be more momentum of facts supporting a 75fps to 100fps velocity gain at a min.

I'd love to up the performance level of my 270 Win. Imagine shooting 110gr TSX at 3350-3400fps or 130 gr Noslers at 3225FPS or 150 GR TSX for Elk at 3050 FPS!!! Talk about a coyote to Deer to Elk rig at a moments notice!

I agree with Lou tht if you want more velocity out of a 270 put a 24" bbl on it. My Rem 700 gets 3180 consistently w/ 130 Accubonds and sub MOA (61 gr. H4831) Granted, it's a warm load but I don't have to AI.
All that said, I'm in the middle of building a 280AI sheep rifle. Seems like an ideal balance of rifle weight, shootability,
velocity etc.
just my .02.
sbsmith