Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What's your favorite Ackley caliber and why.

I am sure this will surprise many of you. I have built and tested 6mm Rem, 257 Roberts, 6.5-'06, 7mm Mauser, 30-'06 and 338-'06. And, drum roll.....my favorite is the 30-'06 Ackley.

Here's why. The old '06 is a bit overbore(915.4} for starters but still has issues with the new powders and extremely long high BC bullets. Once Acklied there are no more issues. 150 grain for deer to 200 grain Accubond for Elk(BC.588). The extra 150'/sec equals a combination that is very flat and packs over 2000'lbs of E out to 450 yards without beating you to death.

What's yours? Regards, Rick.

What kind of speed are you seeing with the 200gr ab from your 06?

.22-250AI cause it's the one I have now and hate trimming brass

No mention of the 280 3 posts in.. You guys are slipping....

W

Trimming brass is a reason.

The speed diff in a non-AI can be offset w/a few clicks...and if one is shooting far, you need to click anyway when you get far out there...

I'd happily run a 243 8 twist, 280/162s, or '06 w/heavies and not worry about MV so much, yes it matters but I don't worry about 100-200 fps myself.

I guess for some depending on how far and how much wind, it does.

250 AI is one I'd like to try...alot of AI's I have concerns w/feeding, and for a hunting rifle, I'd rather POSITIVE 100% slick feeding vs. extra speed.

Shoulder angle, and many other factors affect feeding.

Factory rounds like 25-06 and 270s and yes the Springfield seem boring and less aesthetically appealing perhaps, but most always will get a job done w/good bullets and a good pilot.

I don't like trimming brass either btw, but I don't like having to form or fireform, to get my end product...extra step, time, components, money, and mostly - time.

Just me, but wildcats can be fun to play if you DO have time/money and willing to spend it. I have played w/a few over the years, mostly TCUs in TCs.

Ditto for me.....

Mine is the .280 AI because it is a SAAMI standard now...jim

.243 AI is my favorite. It generally solves the peculiar internal ballistic propensities of the standard .243 and lets me get the original factory claimed velocities for it safely. You get a full 6mm Remington but can take advantage of all the slippery bullets in 6mm with lots more seating depth latitude.

Should mention that I only have two so far, the .243 AI and .250 AI. Wouldn�t mind playing with an 8 twist .22-250AI some day.

My favorite is the 250AI. Its not the speed, its really just a 257bob speed wise, which is a just fine place to be.

It does what the bob does with long case life, very little trimming. Its modest velocity (compared to the long action 25's) should equate to long barrel life. Mild recoil, mild noise and plenty of power for deer at any normal ranges.

The short overall length gives lots of flexibility for seating bullets all the way from round noses to VLDs in a short action

Have several AI's, 223, 243, 6mm, 6.5-257, 6.5-06, 270, 8mm-6, 8x68S, 35 Whelen, like them all. However, none of these do anymore than their parent cartridges in terms of killing critters. With what little velosity that is achived critters would not know the difference nor be able to step out of the way before a bullet hit home anyway. So gains in this velocity and that velocity, IMO, is not worth discussing with AI's.

Reason #1 Brass life, head space, trimming and sizing ease.

Reason #2 Somthing different and somthing to play with.

Mine is the 25-06 ackley just cause I like to have something different. And my brass lasts forever. Never had a problem feeding in my remington 700 action but maybe im just lucky.

223AI and 250AI. No case trimming is king, plus the 250AI gives you a 257 Roberts that actually does fit skookum in a short action.

Hoping to find one that don't feed one of these days, but it ain't happened.

375-06 AI Very difficult to form cases and therefore keeps the riff-raff (SP) from having one. Ha! Laughing. I would never have another AI of any sort (having had 25-06, 280, 338-06, 375-06, and 375 H&H all AI'd)

I have had a bunch, the best ones are the ones that take a sloped shoulder oldie moldy and REALLY improve it. My 348AI was probably the one that gave the most noteable velocity increase and did make it another animal. 22-250 and 220 Swift are among the better ones to AI as well because in thier non AI trim they grow too long too fast and the velocity gains are significant. I am currently playing with a 6mmAI and expect great things.

Built my 338-06 Ackley for the some of the same reasons....little if any case trimming, bit more velocity. Recomendation by my gunsmith b/c he had a few personally, and to BE DIFFERENT!!!

LOVE IT!!! Built on a Sako m75 Greywolf

17 Ackley Hornet. Most fun I have ever had with a rifle, they are just plain fun to shoot. I do have a pretty strong 250AI itch that I am about to scratch.

257 Roberts Ackley Improved.

I've got a barrel for my "new" 338-06 AI waiting to be finished, but I doubt it'll be as awesome as the .257 AI.

That having been said, I don't have experience w/ other cartridges so I have no basis upon which to say it is the "best," just my favorite.

I'd love to try out a handi little 20" barreled 250-3000 AI on a short action someday...

Average with IMR 4064 is 2770 and can be bumped up a bit. I want to work up some loads with the RL22 some day.....that 200 grain AB is a mean dude. Regards, Rick.

I've Got Several And Like Them All. 20 Tactical, 223AI, 22BR, 22 Dasher, 6.5-250AI.6.5-284. 7x57AI. All Have Their Place, and Really Do Nothing Better Than a Standard Cartridge..But I Do Like Having Something a Little Different