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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Member
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OP
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Particularly interested in Mule Deer's opinion, as I know he is a quarterbore fan. I have a Rem 700 CDL Stainless Fluted with a 24 inch barrel that I was thinking of rechambering for the Ackley version. Thoughts??
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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My first custom was a 257AI and I love it. I get 25-06ish numbers (3330 fps w/ 100s) and long, long case life w/ no stretching in 7 firings.
That having been said, when I had the chance to build another custom on which I intended to correct the issues I had with that 1st I went with the Standard Bob. Same with a first deer rifle for my son; standard Bob.
If you just like something a little different with less trimming AI is cool, but in the long run it really is hard to beat the original Bob. I wouldn't punch it knowing what I know.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
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In my experience, no, but others will no doubt feel differently. I could see some difference on the chronograph but not in the field.
You don't have to trim the brass with the .257 AI, but since I generally load big game rounds 50 at a time, and a 50-round box will last a few seasons, I don't find trimming them every 3-4 shots a big deal.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Campfire Kahuna Emeritus & Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Kahuna Emeritus & Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2003
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I've used the .257 Ackley and it's a decent round. In later years, I found that if I wanted a little stronger medicine than the .257 Roberts, I simply defaulted to the .25-'06.
During the last ten years that I was able to hunt, I used the standard .25-'06 with 100-grain bullets quite a lot and I never found it lacking ... even for bull elk. And for antelope & mules/whitetail, the .25-'06 is absolutely superb.
In retrospect, I was way too slow to appreciate the .25-'06.
Blessings,
Steve
"God Loves Each Of Us As If There Were Only One Of Us" Saint Augustine of Hippo - AD 397
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
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Probably not worth it. 257AI is fun to play with if you want something different. But for all practical purposes, including effectiveness on game, it's probably not worth it. Now the 250AI.................oh......never mind. Here's a pic of several 1/4 bores that I shoot. 2nd from right is 257AI between std Rbts and 257 Bee. Not sure why I didn't include 25-06. Just forgot.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
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I built a 257AI for my late Wife and we both liked it alot. That being said if I had a Bob already I would not think it worth the effort/expense to make the change. Building from scratch now that is different.
Bear
Life is what happens to you as you are making other plans.
NRA Patron Member
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Now the 250AI.................oh......never mind.
NOW you're talking , That's my next.......
Have Dog
Will Travel
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Campfire Regular
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I would agree, I just had the reamer. I still love it as I am a big fan of P O Ackley. I spent my youth reading his 2 volume manuals and just thinking how much better his cartridges kill better. Just like a lot of things in life, after you get what you want it's not everything you thought it would be!
Semper Fi USMC/0331
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Campfire Kahuna Emeritus & Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Kahuna Emeritus & Campfire Outfitter
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Karen's .250 Ackley is nothing short of superb. If I took it away from her and sold it, that would be the end of a 49-year marriage.
In recent years, the quality of .250 Savage ammo and .250 Savage brass has become really awful. Because of this, I neck-up Winchester brand .22-250 cases in a Redding .250 Savage die with a loooooong Redding tapered expander. It helps to use a VLD inside neck chamfering tool and just a touch of lube inside the necks.
Then, of course, the cases are fireformed, as normal
The .22-250 cases converted to .250 Ackley are nothing short of superb.
Blessings,
Steve
"God Loves Each Of Us As If There Were Only One Of Us" Saint Augustine of Hippo - AD 397
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Noted. Thanks for the good info.
Have Dog
Will Travel
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
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Ditto. I was getting expanded primer pockets within two or three firings with .250 Savage brass, this with very moderate loads.
I fireformed Winchester .22-250 brass to .250 AI and it's still going strong after five firings.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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John, I had my son's 257 Roberts re-chambered to AI the first year Ruger offered the round in the 77. His wouldn't shoot any standard load recipe I tried, and there were a great many. I sent it to Bob Dunlap, and he said "why not try an AI re-chamber?". He did it as a favor to me. Groups shrunk to about 1/3 the size for whatever reason. We also got about 100-140 fps increased velocity, given the same relatively pressure signs. Back then there was no +P ammo for it, also, and the Bob was loaded pretty mild in factory ammo.
Hunt with Class and Classics
Religion: A founder of The Church of Spray and Pray
Acquit v. t. To render a judgment in a murder case in San Francisco... EQUAL, adj. As bad as something else. Ambrose Bierce “The Devil's Dictionary”
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Most likely an off chamber? I remember hearing similar stories when the rechambered to STW from RM were en vogue... Had to figure some factory chambers were a little off?
I love the AI and if I had a Bob giving me trouble I'd do that before retubin'!
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
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Steve,
It also took me too damn long to "discover" the .25-06. It happened on a cull deer hunt in Ireland, of all places, using a Heym straight-pull bolt action with a 3-12x Schmidt & Bender scope! Now I have two .25-06's of my own, both very accurate.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Actually, there's no such thing as the wrong .25. No .25/35 or .257 Wby (yet), but plenty of others in between.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
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I have 13 rifle chambered in 257 and the 700 CDL-SF parts gun is my favorite. Rather than spending $$ to have your chamber recut and buy a set of 257AI dies, I think that you would get more value by using that $$ to have your barreled action bedded in a McM stock in your favorite style. My 700 CDL-SF is bedded in the McM McM Hunter style and changing the stock has made a "night & day" difference in how well it handles.
In addition to the 13 257s, I have a few 257AIs and 25-284s. While both the 257AI and 25-284 are faster, I don't think that either is enough faster to make a meaningful difference, because of the slightly flatter trajectory, in the field.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Steve,
It also took me too damn long to "discover" the .25-06. It happened on a cull deer hunt in Ireland, of all places, using a Heym straight-pull bolt action with a 3-12x Schmidt & Bender scope! Now I have two .25-06's of my own, both very accurate.
I read the article on this hunt. Great read.
I don't eat anything that didn't have a mother.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
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Thoughts....AI a Roberts.... Don't be silly.
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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... During the last ten years that I was able to hunt, I used the standard .25-'06 with 100-grain bullets quite a lot and I never found it lacking ... even for bull elk. And for antelope & mules/whitetail, the .25-'06 is absolutely superb.
In retrospect, I was way too slow to appreciate the .25-'06.
Blessings,
Steve Please do tell me that you are still blessed to go out, even for a small walk and hunt a little still? Bless you. John.
"The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization"-- Emerson
Support outdoor sports and our hunting-conservationist heritage; hunt with high morals and ethical standards
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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After having several 250s and 257s on short actions, I think I'd be more likely to do the 250AI instead of the 257AI. I doubt I will ever build another 257 on a 2.8in action. Maybe in a 3inch action, but still doubt I'd go the AI. A 25-06 would just be too easy to get and do the same thing.
Don't just be a survivor, be a competitor.
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