243 Ackley vs 257 Ackley

Dmay

Dmay

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Putting together a "Walk-About" rifle on Rem 308-length action. Thinking of 243 Ackley Improved or 257(Roberts)Ackley Improved. Any experience with these rounds?
 
The 308 based cartridges (like the 243) don't gain much in the Improved versions (Ackley or otherwise). The reason for this is that they are relatively modern cartrdige designs, with not a whole lot of case taper or sloped shoulders. The x57 cases (6x57, 6mm Rem, 257 Roberts, 6.5x57, 7x57, 8x57, 9x57, 9.3x57), on the other hand, have a fair amount of taper and shoulder slope, so gain a higher percentage of case capacity when improved. This allows larger charges (safely) of propellant, which in turn gives you larger velocity increases when compared to the 308 based cases. I would go with the "Bob". - dan
 
What about the 25 Souper (25/08). It would work better in a shot action.

Also, the RCBS, Group D dies for 257AI are about $66 here in Canada and the other custom dies (243AI) would be about twice that amount.



SC.........................
 
I got a 25-284 (thanks Rembo) and it will equal the 25-06's ballistics out of a short action. Brass isnt difficult to make from 284 cases, and can be done with the FL sizer. Has good capacity, able to push a 100 gr. @ 3300 fps, and my favorite load, a 110 gr. Accubond @ 3175 fps.

25 Souper would be another good pick, as would the 257 AI (not sure how well this would work in a 2.8" short action? :confused:)

I prefer the 25's to the 6mms for anything bigger than coyotes/wolves.

And of course there is my personal favorite, the 260 Remington. :cool: Very nice ballistics, 95 gr. @ 3250 fps, 120 gr. @ 2950 fps, and 140's @ 2750 fps. Excellent downrange ballistics due to the high Ballistic CoEfficients of the 6.5mm bullets.
​
 
Dmay said:
Putting together a "Walk-About" rifle on Rem 308-length action. Thinking of 243 Ackley Improved or 257(Roberts)Ackley Improved. Any experience with these rounds?
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The 257 is too long to work properly in the short action, go with the 243 Ackley. I had one on a short remie action and it works well. If you build it for long range shooting I would specify a 1:8 twist barrel to take advantage of the long range bullets available, 26"bbl minimum. Stay with the stock remie extractor, do not put on a sako extractor.
my .02
bigbull
 
The 243 AI is a waste of money, you could go 6mm Rem and gain the same advantages without the downsides of cost of dies and hassle of making ammo.
The 257 AI however IS worth the hassle, but unless you want a single shot rifle, the cartridge is too long to feed well in a short action, they work well in a longer action. EXTREMELY accurate and every bit as fast as 25-06.
I have a 257 AI and will be doing another this spring, very mild to shoot, and everything a 25-06 does the 257AI will do and possibly better
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
The 243 AI is a waste of money, you could go 6mm Rem and gain the same advantages without the downsides of cost of dies and hassle of making ammo.
The 257 AI however IS worth the hassle, but unless you want a single shot rifle, the cartridge is too long to feed well in a short action, they work well in a longer action. EXTREMELY accurate and every bit as fast as 25-06.
I have a 257 AI and will be doing another this spring, very mild to shoot, and everything a 25-06 does the 257AI will do and possibly better
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Unless you know something we don't know. Can you explain how the 6mm Rem. can be made to work in a short action and the 257 Ack. cannot since they are both the exact same case. The poster Dmay stated that he has a short action 308 Rem. action, there is no use recommending cartridges that are not suitable for his action like the 6mm Rem.:eek:
The 243 Ackley WILL work in a short action and give him all kinds of speed for his walkabout rifle. The 243 is capable of generating over 3300 fps with a 100gr bullet in a 26"bbl, I hardly think this is a waste of money.
bigbull
 
I rather like the .257's over the .243's and I really like the short and efficient versions like the 257 AI the 25-284 and the 25WSSM. I will be shooting and loading for both a .257 AI and a 25WSSM this weekend.... 85 B/T's and 110accubonds for coyotes.
 
dan belisle said:
Rem short actions are relatively easily modified to use COL's in the 3-3.1" range, so using a 6mm Rem or 257 in either is perfectly rational. The Ai versions of both have more to gain then an AI version of the 243. FWIW - dan
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"cccan"'s 284 Winny on a short 700 has a 3.25" mag box....that should be long enough for a Roberts! It's not hard to do.
 
I'd build a 25/284 like Tod advised and avoid mucking with the action.
7x57 length cases are best in standard actions.
You'll limit yourself in OAL when you use long heavy bullets if you go the 257 Ackley.
It's a great cartridge but unless you can trade your action for a standard action the 25/284 is your best bet.
 
I shoot 2 257AI`s, one in a Sako the other a Mark X Interarms. Both deadly accurate. That would be my choice.
If you were to buy a 257 WBY Mag you`d blow both the AI and the 25-06 away..lol

Garnet
 
I had a 257 Roberts imp. in a Win short action. Fortunately the win. short action mag. is just a modified long action one. Once the spacer is removed it facilitates the longer desirable lengths for the 257 roberts AI.

My remington mags only facilitate OAL's of just over 2.8".
 
My thanks for all the informative comments.
Action length is definately a problem with some of these rounds, as several have pointed out, causing limits on seating heavier bullets.
As well, I wish to limit barrel length, so the ballistic advantages of many of these rounds would be wasted.
With this in mind, I think I'll go to 250-3000 Improved, or possibly 260 Rem. and stick to a 22 inch tube. I have several long barrelled screamers, have to keep in mind that the theme of this project is a handy, carry-around rifle.


Cheers.
 
Dmay said:
have to keep in mind that the theme of this project is a handy, carry-around rifle.


Cheers.
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pick up a new Model Seven in 243.....done:) ...but I know...that's no fun;)
You could get it rechambered to 6-284...how about that in a 20" tube:D
 
Dmay said:
My thanks for all the informative comments.
Action length is definately a problem with some of these rounds, as several have pointed out, causing limits on seating heavier bullets.
As well, I wish to limit barrel length, so the ballistic advantages of many of these rounds would be wasted.
With this in mind, I think I'll go to 250-3000 Improved, or possibly 260 Rem. and stick to a 22 inch tube. I have several long barrelled screamers, have to keep in mind that the theme of this project is a handy, carry-around rifle.


Cheers.
Click to expand...
Go the 250 Savage AI.;)
The old Savage is a sadly underated and seldom seen beastie in todays hunting scene.:(
 
One of my all time favorite gun/hunting author's was John Wooters.

He wrote an article years ago on how the women and younger people in his hunting group all used 243 Win and how often they would make a shot on game and have to trail the animal even after a well placed shot.

They started using the 257 Roberts and where totally amazed at how it dropped animals far more reliably than the 243.

I have had a 243 Win for years and never seemed to take it with me when I went out hunting and it became a total safe queen. I rechambered it to a 6mm-284 which made it far better with 300fps velocity gains over the 243 with any given bullet weight. It reaches out and drops deer and coyotes with amazing authority but I would use it far more if it was a .257 diameter caliber.

If I was going to put together a walk about rifle it would be chambered to the .257 caliber.

Cam
 
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