Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats .338-06 Ackley

I have a Weatherby Super Big Game Master in .338-06 that I really like. Relatively light, shoots well and is my lucky pig gun. I primarily use 210gr Nosler Partitions. I am re-reading P.O. Ackley's Handbook (after I left a goofy comment about Ackley's motivation for his improvement) and am interested in AI the chamber. Does anyone have any experience with this round? What kind of velocity increase have you experienced? Who cut the new chamber for you? Thanks.

A few guys on here have the AI version.

From what I read on most of the threads that pop up regarding it, it is one of those rounds that gains little from being "improved". If you want to do it for looks and cool factor, go ahead, but don't expect a lot of real-life meaningful gain.

FWIW, I had mine chambered "standard" 338-06 when I had it built.

I bought a custom built 338-06 and it shoots great, why risk the accuracy it has as is by rechambering for an extra 25-50 fps? Go buy a 338 Mag or a 340 if you want more recoil and velocity. I am sure those pigs won't get any deader. Magnum Man

I have one, but it was built as such. The way I figure it, if you're building one why not. Its not like "standard" brass is any easier to make than AI brass.

I've a couple AI rifles, don't really notice much difference in brass life between them and standard chambers.

I don't think its really worth going to the AI version if you already have the standard chamber. The gain you'll see vs the cost really wouldn't be worth it IMO. If you're dead set on changing it I'd go with something different like the Scovill or Hawk. The increase in velocity is just a touch more, but you'll get all you can out of the '06 case.

I have an Ackley in that. If you have the original, do not bother making it an Improved.

Can anyone state what the gain in brass volume is going to the AI?

I have been a follower of P.O.Ackley since my Dad had the 2 volume set laying around his gun shop when I was just a kid. I would read about how he tested different rifles to the strength of each particular action and and loads of his cartridges. I shoot the 338-06AI on a SAKO L61R action with a 24" Shilen barrel. I load what I feel are responsible loads for it. I learned from someone on this forum about before firing measurements and after firing measurements at the case head to tell what is happing with your cases and pressure signs when loading for AI'ed cartridges. It has worked for me in the past and I still use it. If after firing a cartridge in an Ackley chamber and the base grows more than .0015 your are at the most pressure you want to shoot in that particular rifle and case you have fire formed for your individual rifle. I have shot R-P 30-06 brass since I started and still just use them. IMR 4350 62.0 grs. Nosler Part. 210 bullet @ 2895 fps. Kills anything I ever shot with it with one shot. Still hoping to shoot my moose one day, but hogs, deer, cow elk, DOA right where it stood!
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Keep reloading, you can shoot them faster than you can load'm!

Thanks for the info. I'm going to skip AI'ing this gun. I have a beater .257 Roberts and a tang-safety Ruger .250 Savage that are prime candidate's for this change. Ackley really liked his improvement in the .250 Savage and .257, and he believed that the .257 AI was the most efficient case size for the .25 caliber (IIRC).

I do agree with you on the 257 Roberts AI, truly a wonderful cartridge! Mine loves 117 grain bullets the most.

Otis my Grandmother used to have an 80 acre farm there in Hatfield. We use to go there on vacation each summer. See used to live right down the road from the Oglesby's. There was another couple further down the road...I think their name were Frank and Ruby, I can't remember their last names. That country is beautiful, we could sit on her back porch and on a clear day see the foot of the Ozarks. Great memories! powdr

x2. I did mine in the AI more to be DIFFERENT than anyone else around me.