Making Ackley Improved Brass: Lupua or Nosler.

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Styled

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Hello,

Just got my first Ackley Improved (25-06AI) rifle, and want to start reloading for her. My question is whether to use Lupua 30-06 brass, or Nosler .270win brass.

I have heard that it is easier to use .270win brass to neck down to .25 cal, as opposed to 30-06 that may need neck reaming.

I can get Nosler brass easy enough in 270win, and Lupua only in 30-06. I really like the Lupua brass, is Nosler a large step down? Not really interested in 25-06rem brass in Win/or Rem for making the 25-06 AI.

What are you AI shooters using for dies?

Thanks Styled.
 
Because it's the AI version, the gain over the standard is seen by "leaning on it" and I'd be inclined to use Winchester .25-06 brass, new. Why bother work stressing anything else? The gain in the Lapua/Nosler quality could be lost by sizing down. If you're sticking with either of them, use whatever you can find in .270, not .30'06. The .30-06 should probably be necked down in 2 stages, first to .270 then to the .25-06. That's according to P.O. himself.
 
I fireformed 25-06 new factory Win brass for my Cooper, very happy with the results. Use Redding 25-06 AI neck sizer and RCBS Comp seating die. Best group to date shooting SGK 120gr hpbt is .40 with first load I tried with RL22.
Great caliber IMO, what make of rifle is it?
 
The rifle is a Cooper M52 Excaliber with a 26" barrel. I plan on doing a full review once I get a Warne base in for her.

I was leaning toward Lapua brass just because of how it preformed in my .308... lasts forever, and very consistent. All the Winchester brass I have ever bought for other calibers have had inconsistent neck thickness.

I must admit that I didn't think I would have to do a 2 step sizing from 30-06 brass.. complications.. and I only just started reloading the Ackley :D
 
Decided to go with Lapua 30-06 brass, now will have to look for a cheap .270Win sizing die for 2 step sizing.

Have some Berger 115s on order, have some 115 Nosler BTips, and 115 TSX's ready to test out once I'm up and running.

Don't you hate waiting for stuff to arrive in the mail..
 
Ok brass came in good time from Hirsch Precision, always great dealing with Pete. And I always seem to get a smile when I get Lapua brass in the mail..

So I tried sizing a few 30-06 Lapua in a 25-06 Redding F/L die using Imperial sizing wax (love the stuff). Worked like a charm!

I did find that the OAL of the brass once sized was around 2.499 so a little long. I found that triming the brass to 2.480 prior to sizing meant the OAL came out right at 2.494, and this leaving the smallest of unsized neck for a just tight fit in the chamber. I also seated a bullet finding that the necks w/ seated bullet came out at .288 so no neck turning as of yet.

It will be interesting to see how measurements change when I fire form for the AI. So far so good.
 
I'll use a standard load for 25-06 Rem as I'll be doing some type of barrel break in. Likely R22 with some extra Hornady SST's I have laying around. I'm curious to see how much brass flow I will get when fire forming, right now the brass would be perfect for the standard 25-06.

Cummins4x4 have you noticed any "donuts" forming in your brass?
 
This is excess brass build up on the inside of the case at the bottom of the neck, almost like a shelf. Requires an inside neck reamer to get rid of.
 
Keep in mind if you use the Lapua 30-06 brass you will likely have to neck turn with that big of a step down. If you go this route get the K&M turner as the mandrels will also inside ream the donut that will form from this much of a squeeze down in size. With the grief of fireforming I would go lapua.
 
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