30-06 AI Worth It??....

[dak47]

Apologies if this has been beat to death, I used the search but didn't come up with much..... Gonna strip down my old boat paddle 77 for bead blasting and a Timmney trigger, then mission creep started to set in

What is the verdict on a Ought Six reamed out to AI specs? I see one can pick up 100 FPS with a 200gr slug which ain't all that, but a 200 grainer leaving at a bit better than 2700FPS is some kind of psychological feel good for me..... Any down sides to this mod?

DK

 

[rokoro]

A few years ago I thought I needed an 06 Imp. I had a new 24 inch barrel on a nice 98 action. I worked up some max loads with 150,180 and 200 gr bullets and chronographed them. I then had that barrel re-chambered to the Ackley Improved 40 deg shoulder. Worked up max loads again with the same bullets and powders (IMR 4350,RL19 and RL22). Velocity increase with the 150 gr was less than 50 fps. Increase with the 180 and 200gr was between 100 fps and 130 fps. The best 200 gr load was with RL22 in my rifle, 2700 fps should be easily obtainable with a 24 in barrel and you can get close to 2800fps. A 200 gr bullet in the 2750 to 2800 has close to 3500 ft/lbs of energy and is a pretty serious combination on elk and moose. To realize those velocities you are into 100% reloading for your ammunition although std 06 cartridges can be fired with a slight loss of velocity. Hope that helps.

 

[dan belisle]

I like it, and I would recommend it. You need to be a handloader to wring out its best though. - dan

 

[Mush]

Why don't you go with a 300 Win Mag ?

Seems less trouble imho.

Mush

 

[guntech]

Rifle barrels are individuals. One can get more velocity than another. You won't know just how much until you do it. Test it before and after. I would suggest re barrel it to 338-06. 2700 f/s with a 225 grain is easily obtained in a 22 inch barrel.

 

[Calum]

Why don't you go with a 300 Win Mag ?

Seems less trouble imho.

Mush

Yes exactly.
Now is there a 300AI?

 

[Northman999]

30-06 AI is kind of "much ado about nothing", but then the same can be said about so many chamberings.

If a guy really wants one for personal reasons then do it.

Otherwise either just get a 30-06, or a 300 win mag and spend more time hunting than fiddling with custom chamberings...

 

[Mighty Peace]

I would suggest re barrel it to 338-06. 2700 f/s with a 225 grain is easily obtained in a 22 inch barrel.

I agree with this statement for sure. GO with a 338-06 over the 30-06 if you are thing of AI the 30-06. Sure love my 338-06 (mine is an AI version-mostly to be different).

 

[H4831]

I get just over chronographed 2700 fps with 200 grain bullets in my standard Swede, 30-06, without any excess pressure.

 

[9.3mauser]

Any down sides to this mod?

DK

I think it would trash the resale value. Only another handloader would have any interest in it. If someone offered me an AI chambered rifle (any calibre) I would immediately make a counter offer of $250 less than the asking price in hopes that he would sell it to someone else. And I do handload. I just see AI chamberings in the same light as the milsurp guys view bubba'd Enfields and Mausers.

 

[WhelanLad]

Why not?

I don't get too into the AI but mostly because of the costs involved to build one..

Although..... its your rifle an you can do whatcha want with it if you wana get a few more FPS out of it for those heavies, then I wouldn't see why not?

I think a 30-06 AI would only need a chamber cut? it would be more reasonable to do so than to get a new barrel too? but if you were to get a new barrel, why not look at that 338 06 AI to drive something around 200gr a little better?

let us know what u decide on

id like my 35 Whelen AI but it wont be happening.... cases look noice though.
WL

 

[Boomer]

The downside of the Ackley chamber is that the advantages can only be realized after the second firing of the brass. I loaded some .338 for a pal a week or so ago, he supplied brand new Winchester brass, and the primer pockets were far from tight. So given the quality of our new brass, 5 reloads might be optimistic. That's the downside. I think if I wanted 100-150 fps over a .30/06, I'd be looking hard at a .300 magnum of some flavor. That said, I do have a .280 Ackley in the works . . . but that's different, I can buy .280 Ackley Nosler brass at $2 a piece.

 

[Glockster]

Did a 30 Gibbs several years ago...if you go AI I hope you have better luck than I did. Ruined a perfectly good barrel.

 

[Dogleg]

If you need a .300, get a .300.

 

[brno284]

I did it 2x, once on a factory 22" Rem 700 and the next custom barrelled a pre-64 70 with a Ron Smith Tube, both times no gains over a handloaded standard 30-06. So my experience was a thumbs down. Hard to beat a stout safe load in a factory 06, although the AI stopped brass neck trimming for overall length!