I dunno, guys... I guess the Ackley improvements might have been useful back in the early days of Winchester and Peters (etc.) .348 bullets... but more recent advances in bullet design and construction over the years -- like bonding, partitioning, jacket engineering, skiving, etc. -- all seem to me to make the original .348 case shape good enough.
Another few FPS doesn't seem all that important to me, these days. (That's pretty much across the board, not just an M71 thing; if I NEED more FPS, maybe I need a bigger rifle.)
-Chris
For many, the AI is as much about brass life and reduced bolt thrust, as it is about the 150 - 200 fps.
I am pretty sure 90% of my loads in AI brass will be no faster than full standard 348 velocity. But 100% of them will have less bolt thrust due to the reduced taper of the case...and that will be good for the rifle.
Is it worth all the extra cost for 'smithing and dies? Probably not!! But rifle cranks will be rifle cranks.
