Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ackley Improved = Ain't Improved

The .30 Gibbs was my favorite cartridge for over 20 years.
Many elk, a couple of Shiraz moose, a mountain goat, and a couple of Alaskan caribou found their way into my freezers because of that cartridge.

The gunsmith that chambered my .30 Gibbs used an Ackley reamer and cut it in to the Gibbs depth.

I just got the .30 Gibbs a little over a week ago. It is on a Enfield 1917 action.




The barrel is just under 23" long and the scope is a Weaver K4 with a post and reticle crosshair.

Love my AI, and have for almost 30 years. Never had much use for a “pretty box”.....that falls under different subject matter! memtb

I'm on my first AI cartridge now. Earlier this year I bought a Ruger Ultralight online in .257 Roberts in advertised 'perfect' condition. Alas, the barrel turned out to have corrosion in half a dozen places. The perils of buying sight unseen. I knew my gunsmith had a .257 AI reamer so rebarreled to that. I already had two standard .257 Roberts' so thought I'd try something different. I wasn't really concerned with case life or extra speed but it was an opportunity to try a new cartridge that I haven't played with before. It was fun fireforming the brass too.

My 280ai fresh of the press.

I have a .280 that is almost an AI. It is a .280 RCBS. miles

That's a good one too!

Correct Boatanchor.[/quote]


The gunsmith that chambered my .30 Gibbs used an Ackley reamer and cut it in to the Gibbs depth.[/quote]

Rocky Gibbs would call that a B**tard Gibbs, The Gibbs had a 27 degree shoulder but every time Mr. Gibbs mentioned it he would give out a different angle to throw off other gunsmiths. Sounds like an interesting character.

The best thing about the improved cartridges is more shooting time and more tinkering for me. But the 280 AI does seem to hit a sweet spot for the 7mm bore.

I've been bitten by both the loony and classifieds bug. Putting a 35WHL-AI together now, have a 223AI reamer and dies to go with a Savage Axis.

Only down side for me is the cost of dies. But the 223 set came as a wash.

Kinda fond of the Ackley Improved concept myself, but don't believe he was the originator of the concept. We can blame Lyle Kilbourn for that and I like me K-Hornet a lot. It's an old beat to crap Winchester that he chambered his own self and while I'll say I've not wrung this thing out as of yet it has potential.

Wow, Dan!

Sako AV, 280 AI, Top


ya!


GWB

223 AI







yup!



GWB

I've long thought pigs didn't have much between the ears. Thanks for the insightful photo.

Looks like 10.6 lil gun and Speer or Sierra.

Sweet!

Holy mother of bad ass rifles. Thanks for posting.

What he said!

So... no 270AI? Seriously the 280AI is holy grail of Ackley improved but 270AI is inefficient ?

Speaking of Hornets!





Cooper Model 38's in 17 Ackley Hornet, 19 Calhoon and 22 Hornet


and Kowabunga dude.......



the long and short of it. CZ 17 Hornady hornet and Cooper 22 Hornet.





17 Hornady Hornet, 17 Ackley Hornet, 19 Calhoon, 22 Hornet.


ya!


GWB

Cool guns Gee!!!! I think you might have Shrap and Varmint Guy beat!!