Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 338-06 Ackley Improved, any advantage?

I have a military Mauser 98 that has to become a sporter.

I have considered the 338-06, but one of the chambering reamer rental shops has the 338-06 Ackley improved available.

So is there any reason to consider using the Ackley improved round?

Nope as long as you handload. Might not feed quite as well and most Ackley cartridges really don't add all that much anyway.
(Duck, incoming!) Resale (if an issue) will suffer too.

If you want it, you should have it. After all, the Yellowstone Caldera is overdue to blow.

One reason, it could clean up an existing chamber. I did that with a 308 barrel when I turned it into a 30-06 AI. A standard 30-06 won't clean up a 308 without a serious setback and shortening of the barrel.

Some will say it will help prevent excessive case stretch prolonging case life.

It does have a cool factor.

Not much of a volume increase (338-06 AI vs. 338-06), thus, not much velocity increase - assuming equal pressure levels.

One potential problem, if you ever do some big dollar guided hunt, is the name.

By the time you've told your guide what you're shooting - three thir-ty eight ought six ack ley im proved - the record book animal you're looking at has escaped into the next county.

Better make it a two eight-y.

More trouble than it's worth. I had a 338 Scovill (a 338-06 Improved modeled around a 9.3x62 case) built on a M70 one time. I did not get enough additional velocity out of it over a 338-06 to make it worth the hassle in case forming.

Improved cartridges are a nice idea, but after fooling with a couple, if I wanted more punch than a 338-06, I'd go to another cartridge - 338WinMag, 9.3x62, whatever hits your fancy. Spend more time shooting & less time case forming.

Only my thoughts, but they're yours FWIW

Mines not any faster, but does have the cool factor.

No hassles really in fireforming. New brass in any chambering I run through a die to straighten 'em out anyway, so necking up 06 with a tapered expander is no extra effort. Fireforming is good for much needed practice also. Not that big a deal in the overall scheme. I'd do it again.

I went back and forth on the 338-06 and 338-06AI. I wound up going with a standard 338-06 because of the standardized caliber and commercial ammo versus handload only. I do handload but if I ever decided to sell the rifle my target audience would be limited to handloaders.

My 338-06 is currently being made/barreled at Pac-Nor and I hope to have it later this fall.

I have the 338-06 Imp on a model 70 classic. It feeds very smoothly so, at least in my rifle, compromised feeding is not an issue.

The supposed hassel of fireforming is another complete non-issue ... you do practice with your rifle, do you not? Two birds with one stone and all that.

There is probably less case stretching with the improved version but that really is another yawner. If you are too lazy to trim every few firings, you are probably too lazy to handload well.

If you find yourself in a situation where you have to use standard factory 338-06 ammo (good luck finding it) than go ahead and use it. The accuracy in my rifle suffers not at all when fireforming and velocity loss is negligable. The worst that will happen is you will end up with more fireformed brass.

You will realize a velocity gain of maybe 35 to 40 fps if you do not lean on things too hard. This is a negligable gain in the real world but it does seem to fall under the category of "free lunch".

The only issue of consequence is, I believe, having a gunsmith who is competent enough to see that your rifle feeds propery.

Do what ever you want and sleep easy after the fact - there is no wrong choice between the two. In either case you will end up with an easy to load, easy to shoot and extremely potent big game getter.

The fact that an AI cartridges has much lees case groth is a plus IMHO that allows the brass to last much longer. Triming cases after each firing simply means that the case head will soon seperate

Before I commissioned the build I would read Ken Waters' article on the subject. He did an excellent article in the pages of Handloader magazine.

You can thand me later.

The 338-06 Ack is my favorite Elk cartridge. I use the Swift 210 Scirocco with Rel 15 .

I don't see any advantage, and I like AI cartridges. The bigger the diameter of the bullet the less gain there is, except of course the lack of trimming and "cool factor".

I have a 338-06 A-Square and LOVE it. You get near WM performance with less powder, and cases are easy to form. I used old 270 WCF stuff a client had given me.

If you have a hankerin' for an Ackley may I suggest the Better Bob??

I once read that the .250-3000 Sav is the greatest of the AI improvements.

I replaced the .30-06 barrel with a .338-06 A&B on my NIB Sav 111 laminated stock and I wouldn't even think about touching it.

I played with a 338-06AI for a bit and didn't seem to get any noticeable velocity advantage over guys loading the non-AI version, "maybe" 50fps... and hassle with fireforming etc.

Sold it on here a while back - hope "Savorino" has coaxed a few more fps from it-

More trigger time is a real pain in the ass.......

Actualy I've found fire forming to be a great way to enjoy a new rifle. My 257 AI shoots fireforming loads nearly as accurately as full-powered ones.

Only Ackley chambering I have is the .243AI. I agree with previous posters in that any velocity increase you'll see with your .338 will be minimal but case life is extended noticeably. I base that conclusion on the fact that my case trimming has become a non-factor. Fireforming and load development are a pleasure in my experience. Only down side I can see is a hit to it's re-sale value or market appeal. Just not a popular chambering.

Also built a 338-06 AI on a 98 action with A&B short chambered 338-06. Shoots MOA but not much velocity gain. Get 2700 with 210 TSX. Would probably do it again. I use 270 brass but fire form with 12 grains of bullseye under corn meal after trimming to 2.5".

AI in this case,was great idea,just enough extra volume to use H-4350 with a 225.Lower pressure,but the same 2650. Some of the newer mid-range powders such as Big Game,my choice, N-550,and IMR-4007 makes that less of a reason to AI.

R-17 might be real interesting.