Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 30-06 ackley improved

My son just got a 30-06 Ackley improved was interested in other people experience with this round and if you may have developed a good load for elk and deer

FIRST POST! And it is a good one!

WELCOME!

To everyone, 5Papi is a good friend of mine. I have been buggin him and his boys to join 24hrcf for some time now. His second youngest son just bought the 1917 Enfeild (Remington Manufacture) that had been nicely sporterized and AI'ed in the classifieds section here. To some degree upon my recommendation.

5Papi's boys are among the finest young men you will ever hope to meet.

I have not loaded for the AI'ed version of the 30/06 cartridge yet, either. So far we have accumulated a good number of Barnes 168gr TSX bullets, but I am curious as well as to where to go the powder charges etc. VS plain vanilla 30/06 loads as well as others experiences.

Welcome to the "Fire". I built a 30-06 AI back in 1995. Used my Rem 700, and a Shilen bbl. The tube is 23.5" #3 contour. I have only shot 180 gr bullets out of it. Tried several powders,Re22, IMR 4350,&4831. IMR 4350 worked out the best for my rifle.
My load is 60.5 gr,with various 180 gr bullets,and CCI 200 primer. It clocks 2934 fps. It's safe in my rifle........
I like the Cartridge. It also shoots 30-06 ammo very well.Not quite a 300 mag,but a bit more than an 06.

Stay with bullets of 180g or better and it will shine. Mine likes the 180 AB with RL-22.

I shot one for many years and really liked it.

The round tends to give more "improvement" with heavier bullets. I believe that you'll find that the .30-'06 starts to shine with 165-grain bullets and that it really gets going when you use 180s and that wonderful 190-grain Hornady SPBT.

I killed lots of elk and a few big mules with mine.

You will especially love the fact that the Improved round seldom needs trimming.

Good luck with the .30-'06 Ackley imp[roved 40�, she's a winner.

Welcome 5papi! The latest Nodler manual has loads for the .30-06AI.AS is mentioned above 200gr. really seems to shine in this case,enjoy! Cheers, Monashee

Have loaded 165 Nosler ABs up this year for elks w/RL22, 180s & 200 in the past. Mine is throated for 180s loaded out so have a bit of freebore with the 165s but very accurate--interestingly the most accurate load so far. Twist, possibly.

Would be a good deer load, too.

I neck size due to the stock AI dies being a touch too tight at the shoulder. Have considered sending the fired brass to Redding and ask them to make a set, though they may be a bit busy...

Whether or not it would make a difference, I like the thought of a 30 cal over the seven for elks and deer in grizzly areas and the case capacity provides a flat enough trajectory for my hunting without recoil becoming obnoxious using a 7.5# rifle.

Started playing with my AI'd '06 back about 2006. Best load was 68.5 gr Rel 25, trickled in with long drop tube and compressed like crazy. Use either 180 gr Accubond or Ballistic Tip. Gets 3000 fps from 26" #1/2 Lilja and 1/2 moa accuracy.

Alan

I just noticed this afternoon that manuals data and story about the 30/06AI. That Manual is on my kitchen table to be taken to church tomorrow and loaned to 5Papi and his boys. Giving them as much info as I can find about the cartridge. I have loaded for a bunch of 30/06's over the years and most of the various 300 Magnums including a few wildcat numbers but this is my first foray into loading for the 30/06AI version.

Thanks for all of the reply's to my friends first post, keep 'em coming if you have any experience or intel!

the heavier the bullet, the better accuracy improved for me.

if 180gr accuracy isnt good enough for you, try the 200's

I've killed about 14 or 15 deer with mine with 150 gr BT's. I recently loaded up some 180 gr moly coated Sierra SBT's. With a Nosler book max charge of RL22 and shot from a 25" barrel it went 2935 fps over the chronograph. Haven't used that bullet on game yet. I fire form with 16 grains of Green Dot powder covered by some packed TP then the rest of the case filled with corn meal and some more TP on top. I use a hodgepodge of primers salvaged from pulled bullets.

Thank you all for your help hope to talk with you again.

I agree with Bend, it truly shines with the heavier bullets, truly shines.

My super-improved '06 likes 150 TTSXs and 4350. It does well with 180s and 200s also.

Have any of you tried just running Nosler .280 AI brass through your .30-06 AI dies? I was looking at the specs and it seems as though this would be a way to save some money and time.

We won't hold that against ya, 5Papi...

Welcome to the Fire...!

DF