24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 91
Campfire Greenhorn
OP Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 91
Does any company make .250 Savage Ackley Improved dies? Have acquired a barrel but haven't had it installed yet. Still working on acquiring brass and dies.

BP-B2

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,714
C
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
C
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,714
Redding makes about anything, last I knew. Check their website.


Mathew 22: 37-39



Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,804
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,804


"Full time night woman? I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart. I packed me a squaw for ten year, Pilgrim. Cheyenne, she were, and the meanest bitch that ever balled for beads."
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,262
B
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
B
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,262
If you’re not exactly sure which Ackley it is, it’s best to send 3 fired cases to Whidden and let them make you a set of dies. Redding wasn’t making custom dies last I tried, but that was about 6 months ago.


Semper Fi
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 77
Campfire Greenhorn
Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 77
CH4D will make you any die you can dream up @ www.ch4d.com. Specializing in wildcat and obsolete calibers. If they don't have or can't get drawings for it then it's up to you to supply them with it.


All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
-Thomas Jefferson
IC B2

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,366
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,366
Originally Posted by OkieShooter
Does any company make .250 Savage Ackley Improved dies? Have acquired a barrel but haven't had it installed yet. Still working on acquiring brass and dies.

Redding makes great dies for the 250 Savage Ackley Improved. Precision Reloading in Mitchell S.D. has them in stock (800-223-0900).....both the standard 2 die set (#80416) and the 3 die Deluxe set which includes neck sizing die (#84416).

https://www.precisionreloading.com/index.php

For brass, you can use both Winchester or Remington 250 Savage brass or simply neck up 22-250 cases, which is what I now use for mine.

A true '250 Savage Ackley Improved' (aka: 250 Savage Ackley or 250 Ackley) will be a 40 degree shoulder. If the barrel is so marked, that's what you should have. There were some versions that were termed simply '250 Savage Improved' which are a 28-30 degree shoulder.

The bottom one is my personal 250 Ackley Improved. I love it. smile -Al

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]


Forbidden Zoner
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,308
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,308
The custom dies I have are mainly CH4D. I also have one set from Redding. I'd check both places - check on availability and cost. If there will be a delay, how long?


I prefer classic.
Semper Fi
I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,900
M
Campfire Kahuna
Online Content
Campfire Kahuna
M
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,900
Originally Posted by OkieShooter
Still working on acquiring brass and dies.

If you prefer .250 headstamped cases to necking up .22-250s, Hornady makes excellent .250 brass, better in my experience than recent Remington and Winchester.

That is, if you can find any....


“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,699
M
Campfire 'Bwana
Online Content
Campfire 'Bwana
M
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,699
Quote
Hornady makes excellent .250 brass, better in my experience than recent Remington and Winchester.

I strongly agree.

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,709
C
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
C
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,709
Don't know what CH4D's current lead time is, but the last time I checked it was not short.


Old Corps

Semper Fi

Get off my lawn.

FJB
IC B3

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,515
T
Campfire 'Bwana
Online Happy
Campfire 'Bwana
T
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,515


T R U M P W O N !

U L T R A M A G A !

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,474
G
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
G
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,474
Dang, really close to the 25 Creedmoor. Dies & cases might be available this week if'n ya look.

Is the barrel already chambered to 250-3000 AI?

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 91
Campfire Greenhorn
OP Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 91
Yes barrel is a shilen .250 Ackley Improved stamped barrel. Originally installed by shilen and shot for 200 rounds then sold to me. I'm gonna put it on a short action 700 I have. No brass or ammo yet so just getting started. First true wildcat I've ever had.

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,366
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,366
I'd highly suggest either doing a Cerrosafe cast of the chamber or using a pin gauge to determine what diameter the chamber neck is. For whatever reason, even supposed 'no-turn' 250 Ackley reamers seem to run the gamut for neck dimension...from .284 to .288. Much of this goes back to the parent brass that was around when the reamers were spec'd. Make sure what you have. Since the barrel is off, it's simple to do. You may want to have the 'smith doing the fitting do this before it gets fitted.

Once you know what the chamber neck is, seat a bullet in the brass you're going to use and check the neck O.D. with a micrometer (not a dial caliper) to determine you've got adequate clearance.

Make sure the 'smith that does the install is experienced with how to headspace an improved cartridge. Traditionally, an 'improved' chamber will result in a new, un-formed case being .002-.004 'tight' when the bolt is closed. This assures positive headspace when the case blows out during f-forming. There are other ways to accomplish this as well...but this is the 'standard practice' method.

An improved case like this is one of the best and easiest to work with. Rather than a true 'wildcat', it's what I like to call a 'domesticat'. wink

For whatever reason, mine likes powders on the faster side of the spectrum. My standard dual-purpose load is the Sierra 87 gr. flat base over H322. That bullet works perfectly on everything from coyotes to white tails to antelope. For mule deer, the Nosler 100 gr. BTip always works. Winchester 760 and Re15 are good powders with the heavier bullets.

Hope this helps...be happy to walk you through anything else you may on this project.

Good shootin' -Al


Forbidden Zoner
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 607
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 607
Regarding Ch4D, They told me it was a 12 month wait last time I spoke with them. Seems like the assembly line and chain supply has finally hit them…

Last edited by RCBS_reloader; 09/22/22.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,793
O
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
O
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,793
Sent you a pm regarding dies. Might have some brass too.


There are 2 rules to success:

1. Never tell everything that you know.
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,933
G
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
G
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,933
I got my set from RCBS.

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 91
Campfire Greenhorn
OP Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 91
Ended up ordering a set of dies from midway. Hope they match up with my barrel. Been working and haven't picked back up on this project.

A chamber cast seems like a good idea for starters. Then get barrel installed and headspaced. Brass gathered. Have powder and bullets. Just a fun project and still figuring out the steps to completion.

Mike

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,900
M
Campfire Kahuna
Online Content
Campfire Kahuna
M
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,900
In my experience both RCBS and Redding AI dies work well, but there's often some variation in AI chambers!


“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
678 members (10ring1, 10gaugemag, 12308300, 007FJ, 10Glocks, 06hunter59, 71 invisible), 2,787 guests, and 1,309 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,634
Posts18,398,904
Members73,817
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.088s Queries: 14 (0.004s) Memory: 0.8785 MB (Peak: 1.0088 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 16:51:26 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS