Improving things

Stick_man

Stick_man

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I've been a belted magnum fan since I've started shooting. But as I'm in the process of building a rifle (in spring) chambered in 308, it begs the question, should I go ackley improved? What are the benifits/drawbacks?
 
I wouldn't go for the improved chamber... it will cost you a lot for dies, you have the hassle of forming brass, and it will gain very little in performance over a standard .308 Winchester.
 
For the most part just strait up target shooting, informal competitions between myself and my friends. Perhaps varminter.

I'm not going for f-class, or any real competition. Basically just a tool to hone my skills, without burning up my hunting rifle.

And it's to my understanding that the ackley improved just tweaks the shoulder angle and, perhaps a bit on the case body?!?
I assume it's to make the cartridge more efficient? Do you get any gains in velocity or accuracy?

I'd like to hear from some guys who have opted for this chambering, if I could
 
I have had various improved cartridges over 40 years... I wouldn't bother with them again.

The problem with trying to improve the .308 Winchester is it is already an improved cartridge. The shoulder diameter is about maximum... you could blow the shoulder ahead slightly, but the difference in velocity is going to be very, very little... it is not going to increase accuracy.
 
Stick_man said:
Stellar!

Thanks for the feedback!


Are there any chamberings that do benifit vastly from ackley improved?
Click to expand...

Any case that has a lot of taper to the body and a long shoulder angle... you need to blow the shoulder diameter out so the case has about 10 thou taper and increase the shoulder angle to get considerable increase in capacity ...
 
Something you might consider doing, which I've found produces some measurable increase in velocity is to have your lead cut long so that the shank of the longest bullet you shoot doesn't extend below the neck of the case. Yes it does create a bit of jump for short bullets, or minimal contact between the bullet and the neck, but match bullets tend to be long anyway. If my observations and experience hold true in all cases, I believe the increase in velocity you will observe over a standard chamber will match or slightly exceed the velocity you would realize from an AI version of the .308. I'm getting 2600ish from a Matrix 210 VLD over a load of N-550, in a 28" barrel.
 
Stick_man said:
Stellar!

Thanks for the feedback!


Are there any chamberings that do benifit vastly from ackley improved?
Click to expand...

Probably the most common improved cartridge is the 257roberts. It is a great example of a cartridge that does benifitvelocity-wise from improving.
 
I would do it just simply for brass life if it were a plinking gun, especially with a cartridge like 338 lapua or 50bmg... for a 308? nah.
 
I did consider all of the above mentioned calibers, along with others, including 7mm-08.but I wanted something that was stupid easy to find ammo for, even if it is the 150gr fmj ball ammo. I also wanted to have options in the brass category, ie, lapua, nosler custom... And most importantly, its going to be a shooter, and I want to extend barrel life, so I figured the heavier, slower bullet (190-210gr) is going to help prolong that.


being that I'm shooting a 7mm rem mag now, it was hard to accept the BC's of the 30's... but I've made my peace with that
 
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if it is stricly to shoot at paper, and improve your skills reading wind change at long range, have you think about the 6.5x55
it shoots at about 10 000 psi less than a 260 rem for anly about 100 fps loss
barrel life should be interesting
 
.257 really benefits from going the AI route. Not too many make significant gains.
 
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