257 Ackley, who has one?

I

ILoveBigRacks

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Am thinking of selling my .223 (Tikka T3 Varmint) and going into more of a combo deer/varmint gun and then picking up a smaller varmint rifle for small guys and close work.

I was seriously contemplating a .243 but decided I wanted something with just a little more poop in the event of a decent buck. .243 would do the job but I'd like a little more wiggle room. Was thinking maybe .260 Rem or a 6.5 Swede but then decided on something in .25 cal in a short action. Buddy has a .257 Roberts which he likes - but it's boring to hunt with the same gun as your hunting partner. So, am leaning towards a .257 AI for something a little different. Anyone own one? Happy with it? I'm really liking the look of the Cooper Phoenix. I'm quite happy with the groupings I'm getting with my Excaliber in .280 Rem and the rifle in general. Biggest downfall for me with the Phoenix is that Coopers' M22's are all single shots and I'm a fan of repeaters in a hunting rig. Might overlook this for the sake of the rifle and the calibre but would take a bit of getting used to.

Haven't decided yet on the smaller varmint rifle. Can't decide between a rimfire (17 HMR) or a smaller centerfire (17 Rem, 22 Hornet, etc...). Leaning towards Savage for the value.
 
I did read John Barsness' articles on the .257 Roberts. He stated that he used the AI extensively but then decided that the extra one per cent velocity (about 30 fps) wasn't worth fireforming cases for.
Not that that should stop you; you want something different. I think the .257AI would be a great choice.
 
ILoveBigRacks said:
then decided on something in .25 cal in a short action. Buddy has a .257 Roberts which he likes - but it's boring to hunt with the same gun as your hunting partner. So, am leaning towards a .257 AI for something a little different.
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Different and any but boring

I have a 6.5x257....thinking about getting it rechambered to the AI version . Ive been necking down 7x57 brass....works well.

I think PO Ackley said the 257 AI was one of the most worthwhile conversions...but Id have to check my book again.
 
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I have one.257 Roberts AI,Remington ss short action trued by guntec.Gaillard barrel.Some of the best groups were fire forming factory ammo for the brass.I have yet to crony any rounds but very happy with way it shoots.
I also have a 250 savage AI,PO Ackley's book says that is the best round.
Gord.
 
what about the 25 savage AI? That was the one with a 17 percent increase. That is the one that I would like. Also not to hijack but have you looked at Coopers new model? they finally came out with a short action repeater.
 
I've had two different 257AI's. It's a nice cartridge, but not one I'll do again. As Barsness said in his article, there's just not much difference in them. You have to step real hard on the gas pedal to get an extra 75 fps; just not worth it to me.
 
I had one, my wife used to use it. I just can't see it being worth the bother when the 25-06 is no bother at all. I'm slowly starting to resist the urge to do things the hard way.
 
RickF said:
I've had two different 257AI's. It's a nice cartridge, but not one I'll do again. As Barsness said in his article, there's just not much difference in them. You have to step real hard on the gas pedal to get an extra 75 fps; just not worth it to me.
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I have had both of RickF's .257ai's and I still have the second one. I got the first one because it was a nice rifle and an interesting cartridge. Then I sold it to a neighbor to fund the second one because it is an exceptional rifle in an interesting and somewhat unusual cartridge.

It's not a barn burner but it's a pleasant round to shoot. If I didn't like forming brass and playing with loads I wouldn't go for it. I also like shooting the odd cartridge in hunting camp. My safe is full of them.

IMHO there is only so far you can go with the .25 before it's overbore. I think the .25-06 is probably there. I like the idea of .25-06 AI to get the steeper shoulder for headspacing and brass life. You can get the Cooper repeater in a .25-06 or .25-06AI. If your looking at coopers, consider the jackson models. I own several coopers and really like that design.
 
Far from the leading authority on AI'd rounds but I wouldn't bother again. I have a 257 AI and I would either go 25-06, next time or 243. The fire forming and the minute gains in velocity are not woth it. Another "shortcoming" was the shrinking case length after fire forming. I don't know if there is a cure here but the cases always ended up way short of trim to length and took forever to reach a point where they could be trimmed square. I think this big gap between case mouth and chamber whatchamacallit hurt accuracy and caused large amounts of copper fouling.

I don't understand why certain cartridges are "boring" to shoot? An accurate rifle that feeds and functions correctly is a "pleasure" to shoot. "###y" is something I reserve for women. Next time you think you're around a "boring" cartridge try standing behind the target or lay under the muzzle.
 
Finger Toes said:
I don't understand why certain cartridges are "boring" to shoot? An accurate rifle that feeds and functions correctly is a "pleasure" to shoot. "###y" is something I reserve for women. Next time you think you're around a "boring" cartridge try standing behind the target or lay under the muzzle.
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If everyone thought like this they would have stopped product developement after they created the .30-06! I suppose wildcatters are are like another breed of adventure seeking thrill seekers who are not content with the status quo.
 
Thanks for all the input so far, much appreciated. I was seriously considering the .25-06 but was thinking a bit more tame for the amount I'm hoping to shoot it. Then again, any long varmint shoosting sessions would most likely be handled by the smaller rifle I plan on adding to the safe. Anything I'm overlooking aside from the obvious? Thinking .25-06 as top end but leaning smaller, 260 rem or 6.5 swede or 257AI or ???. If I did drop down into a 6mm, it would have to have more giddy up than a .243 and I'm not sold on the WSSM... maybe a .240 by Roy :) ?
 
I took a look at the .257AI but ended up going to the .25-06AI.I'm just working up loads now but it should scoot the Barnes 100gr TTSX right along.I had it built for an antelope hunt this fall so it'll be put to good use. Mur
 
ILoveBigRacks said:
Thanks for all the input so far, much appreciated. I was seriously considering the .25-06 but was thinking a bit more tame for the amount I'm hoping to shoot it. Then again, any long varmint shoosting sessions would most likely be handled by the smaller rifle I plan on adding to the safe. Anything I'm overlooking aside from the obvious? Thinking .25-06 as top end but leaning smaller, 260 rem or 6.5 swede or 257AI or ???. If I did drop down into a 6mm, it would have to have more giddy up than a .243 and I'm not sold on the WSSM... maybe a .240 by Roy :) ?
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I have a new Cooper short action repeater in the .260. Darn nice rifle, In think you would be quite happy with the .260. Pretty well 6.5 swede performance. You may want to consider a 6.5-06 as well AND Cooper makes them as well. The more I think about your posts the more I think the the .25-06AI or the 6.5-06 would be perfect, probably the 6.5-06.

I stay away from the wssm's. I like the wsm's and the wssm's look good on paper but the case looks so weird! I don't know they feed but it can't be like butter. .240wby is a cool one too but they're hard to find and brass is terrible to get and pay for. The cartridge is severly overbore, and like you said, you have another varmint gun anyway.

If you still looking at Coopers have a long look at the .25-06 (with or without the AI) or the 6.5-06 (my vote!). Now a 6.5-06AI or Gibbs would relly make my sticker peck up!
 
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