TrevorMack
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
I see a lot of people are chambering rifles or buying them chambered in something Ackley improved. Can anyone explain what exactly Ackley improved is and what the benefits are of doing this.
Ackley improved can someone explain it
- Thread starter TrevorMack
- Start date
Short answer is that it means reboring a chamber to reduce case taper, usually culminating in a 40 degree shoulder. Buys you maybe 10% case capacity, and reduces how often you need to trim brass. Properly done, you can fire parent cases in the rifle with good accuracy.
This.
Ackeley improving is a process in which the gunsmith makes money, the reamer manufacturer makes money, powder and bullet makers make money ( which you need to burn in order to form cases) while the shooter foots the bill and trashes the resale value of his rifle for minimal gains in velocity.
No question, if you're the type that does this and then flips the rifle next month? The buyers market is much less. Improved dies cost more.
If you're the type that shoots and doesn't worry about selling next month? It's worth considering.
If you're the type that worries about buying powder to form cases? You're not a shooter, most gun owners are not. Be honest with yourself. If that's the case, stick with the factory cartridges.
If you're the type that expects to wear out the barrel, and then order the next barrel instead of the next rifle? It's worth considering.
If you're the type that shoots and doesn't worry about selling next month? It's worth considering.
If you're the type that worries about buying powder to form cases? You're not a shooter, most gun owners are not. Be honest with yourself. If that's the case, stick with the factory cartridges.
If you're the type that expects to wear out the barrel, and then order the next barrel instead of the next rifle? It's worth considering.
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Collecting guns is not often a way to make money. 1/2 dozen firearms do what almost anyone needs. Any more is as much a waste of money as an AI chambering. Most guns additionally purchased by those who already own some are ballistic or collection self pleasure. Let's be honest; does anyone really NEED a 300WM over a 30-06 in any but the most rarified competitive circles? About the "cost"; we live in the land of $70K pickups on every street. $500-$1k into a personally desirable modified rifle isn't some great irresponsibility.
I fireform my 260AI cases with a load of 7g of Titegroup and the rest of the case filled with cornmeal with a bit of paper towel holding it all together. Cases come out about 95% and no bullets used or wear on barrel. Barrel came chambered from Shilen, so my gunsmith only made money from screwing it on and head spacing it 
Says the guy that is too cheap to try an Ackley, I built a 257 Roberts AI on a Savage action with a prechambered Shilen Select Match barrel and all I had to buy was a headspace gauge to set the barrel. As to burning out the barrel forming brass, I enjoy shooting and forming brass with full power loads is shooting and the Ackley was designed to be able to shoot factory standard rounds in it's chamber. The life on the barrel after fireforming a couple hundred brass is still more than most will shoot in a lifetime unless it is your only rifle.
I am not too cheap and have done many improved chambers... and I agree with "9.3"... it is just "circle jerking/tail chasing..." not worth it. Not many new things out there and the ones that are new are mostly redundant... just choose an existing greater cartridge. JMO.
Ackeley improving is a process in which the gunsmith makes money, the reamer manufacturer makes money, powder and bullet makers make money ( which you need to burn in order to form cases) while the shooter foots the bill and trashes the resale value of his rifle for minimal gains in velocity.
Too funny.
Do you even AI, bro?
R.
Says the guy that is too cheap to try an Ackley...
I have to agree with 9.3 too for the most part, certainly for hunting applications. The only AI's I have right now are the 30-30 AI and a 458 Win Mag Improved, but I went ahead and did them knowing that there was certainly no business case for it - I just thought it was cool to do.
Honestly, for almost all Improved cartridges you'll only get 50-100 fps higher MV tops, unless you crank up the pressure which is the norm.
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It's these sorts of replies that just nail the question. If only we have a political party that had such clarity.
Outstanding answer.
Candocad.
Comedy
- Location
- kingston Ontario
I wanted a model 70 in 257 roberts .. One came up for sale in featherweight 257 A.I. // I bought it but already had the regular roberts dies and the gun came with the A.I. dies .. I pulled off the pretty featherweight stock and put on a fiberglass stock off a stainless Classic and had it bedded and free floated I shoot too work up loads ;and hunt with full 257 roberts loads when fireforming brass .. No wasted powder or bullets .. .. But one drawback of A.I is a person needs the two sets of dies ,, one too load the virgin brass and one too load the fired brass .. Unless you are willing too buy the store bought shells .... so you are still shooting full loads either way and end up with A.I brass ... and another drawback is that one A.I. bunch of brass may not work in a different A.I. rifle.. This was the case when I bought this one .. he had two 257 roberts .. Both A.I // the winchester shot brass would not work in the remington .. but the brass shot out of the Remington would chamber in the Winchester.. So I got a pile of fireformed brass with the Winchester rifle as it was no good too him too use in the remington gun ... I like the gun a lot and it is accurate ,, Most likely I would not have A.I ed the gun myself as I load the gun too regular roberts loads anyway .. even with the A.I ed brass .. but I am not disappointed in the results ... I have a lot of other guns that are bigger if needed so no need too push the roberts .. But I have been told you get more uses out of the A.I. brass though .. But I have so much 257 brass around here I doubt I will EVER have too worry
Deltasilver
Regular
- Location
- Right behind you...
My last build was in 260 AI.
Did it because none of my other shooting friends have one. Fun play cartridge that gets single fed because the OAL is too long for the magazine. Cases don't stretch but you need to be set up to anneal if you really want the benefits.
I fireform shooting gophers, no extra steps that way. 300fps faster than the 6.5x47 or 6.5CM but the only way you'd know is over the chrony. Not like the gophers or steel plates know the difference
Don't think I'll do it again.
Did it because none of my other shooting friends have one. Fun play cartridge that gets single fed because the OAL is too long for the magazine. Cases don't stretch but you need to be set up to anneal if you really want the benefits.
I fireform shooting gophers, no extra steps that way. 300fps faster than the 6.5x47 or 6.5CM but the only way you'd know is over the chrony. Not like the gophers or steel plates know the difference
Don't think I'll do it again.
Or, one could buy a Weatherby and be done with it, cause everyone knows Nothing Shoots Flatter , Hits Harder or is more Accurate ...
Inspiring the dreams of hunters shooters since 1945 and making America Great
Tight Groups,
Rob
