Ackley cartridge fans

[Trakker]

How many are shooting an improved version of the standard cases out there?

I have a set of dies for 260 already. Just wondering should I make a jump and reload for the ackley sized case. I know the potential benefits but wondering if anyone has regrets?


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[toby]

You gain up to 200 fps depending on cartridge most are 100-150 fps faster, Brass lasts a bit longer for most cases you can use both factory standard loads or the fire formed version when ever desired. All of my Ackleys have shot almost as well/accurate fire forming as they do after the fact. They have lot's of cool factor and history. Do they do anything the standard version won't do? all depends on what you are looking for. Just be ready for all of the you're going to create a barrel burner replies and ignore them.

[LynnJr]

6 Dasher 300 Ackley 257 Roberts Ackley Improved 30-06 Ackley Improved 243 Ackley Improved.
Same brass bullet primer no case trimming what's not to like.
I have a friend who collects cartridges and he has 350 cartridges on the 6 mm bullet alone.
Very little out there that hasn't already been done.

[eric n]

Have had 3. 12tw and 8tw .223, and a 243.
No regrets at all. My 223 8twist would be the last rifle to go if I had to get rid of them

[RNE228]

30-06AI. Moves 180gr Nosler partitions along nicely

[Fjold]

The modern cartridges lack the amount of taper in them to benefit as much from "Ackleying". PO Ackley considered his 250 Savage AI as the best cartridge he ever developed because the tapered case when blown out resulted in a greater increase in performance than just about any other cartridge that he converted.

Try a cartridge like the 22.250 or the 30/30 to get the most out of an AI cartridge.

[bsumoba]

The benefits are more speed, or equivalent speed with increased brass life.

You like the 6mm, go with Dasher or 243AI
You like 6.5mm, go with the 260AI
You like 7mm, you can go 7mm Walker
You like 30cal, you can go 300 Ackley

Lots of choices and I believe most dies are either readily available or they already have a print for and can make one based on what others have ordered in the past (I'm talking about Redding or Whidden). Of course, the ultimate answer might be custom dies, but that's talking a whole 'nother level.

Another option is to look at the magnums, specifically the 6.5 SAUM, 7 RSAUM, or 300 SAUM. You get the fat cartridge that is good for packing powder in for speed, or like I mentioned earlier, you can run the loads at "normal" speeds and get increased brass life.

If you are going to shoot F-Class, then I would suggest the 284 Shehane, 284 Walker (an AI version of the 284 Shehane), Straight 284 Win, 6 Dasher, 6 BRX, 7 RSAUM, or 300 SAUM. No need to necessarily go to an AI case IMO.

[JMP]

How many are shooting and improved version of the standard cases out there?

I have a set of dies for 260 already. Just wondering should I make a jump and reload for the ackley sized case. I know the potential benefits but wondering if anyone has regrets?

If I were a new 6.5 shooter and went for a 6.5 short action, the 260 AI is the cartridge I'd get. I have a 6.5 Creedmoor, and in principle, it gets you partially towards and AI case, but why not just go all the way?

Your neck and seating die from the regular 260 should be compatible with a 260 AI, you just may need to have it modified and opened up with your reamer. In the case of Redding Comp dies, which are most common, the neck die and seating die index from a spring loaded tapered sleeve. You do not need to buy new dies, you just need the sleeve opened up with your reamer. You WILL NEED a new FL/shoulder die to get it fit properly.

However, dies in 260 AI are commonplace.

For just the body, which may be all you need:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/757867/redding-body-die-260-remington-ackley-improved-40-degree-shoulder?cm_vc=ProductFinding

FL+Neck:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/278594/redding-type-s-bushing-full-length-sizer-die-260-remington-ackley-improved-40-degree-shoulder?cm_vc=ProductFinding

A benefit of going to a proper Ackley chamber is that form firing brass for it is very easy. The neck/shoulder junction is set back about 0.004" so this gives you the right amount of contact to shoot regular ammo once through and achieve the same performance of the non-Ackley case, and you end up with a fire-formed brass. You do not need to go through the effort of creating a false shoulder. Thus, it is good for novice reloaders.

For 260 Rem, it is an absolute no-brainer to use Lapua brass as you want good strength when you stretch it. The Lapua is readily available.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/420958/lapua-reloading-brass-260-remington-box-of-100

I'd not even touch the weak Remington or other stuff.

[toby]

I have had good luck with Winchester brass should you not want to get the pricier Lapua I actually use both kinds with my 25-284 it's not an Ackley but close.

[JMP]

I have had good luck with Winchester brass should you not want to get the pricier Lapua.

Lots of brass labels will work just fine. However, whenever I have bought a set of brass, I generally find that Lapua is the cheapest you can get when you normalize the price with the practical lifetime of the cartridge. The reason to not get Lapua is if you need the added capacity from thinner brass. I generally use Lapua as a measure to reduce cost, not increase cost. If you shoot the brass once after forming, then throw it away, Lapua is generally not the way to go as it tends to cost more per unit. If you shoot the brass until it can no longer hold a primer, Lapua USUALLY is the cheapest.

[brando]

Yup, it's not just more uniformity out of the box, but overall quality of the brass that makes Lapua brass so good. I have some big .338LM loads with Lapua brass that's on the 12th firing. So you may balk at the price, but the long term price is actually cheaper, especially if you anneal every third loadings or so.

[toby]

The one thing is people toss once fired Winchester brass and other standard brands all over the place, so if you don't mind using it then that's about as cheap as it gets. Some people just have a phobia about buying the Lapua brass at roughly $100+ per box. It took me many years to finally break down and do so.

[ar15barrels]

How many are shooting and improved version of the standard cases out there?

I have a set of dies for 260 already. Just wondering should I make a jump and reload for the ackley sized case. I know the potential benefits but wondering if anyone has regrets?

All of the short action 6.5's tend to shoot best between 2800fps and 2850fps with 140's.
I am talking about 260, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x47 Lapua.
The larger case of the 260 does not really help as you end up downloading it to the same speed as the smaller cartridges because that's where they shoot the best.

I would expect similar results with the larger 260AI case.
The 260AI is likely not ENOUGH bigger to get up to the next velocity node where you will get good accuracy again, but with more velocity.
I think the next node is going to be around 2975fps to 3025fps with 140's.

[bsumoba]

All of the short action 6.5's tend to shoot best between 2800fps and 2850fps with 140's.
I am talking about 260, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x47 Lapua.
The larger case of the 260 does not really help as you end up downloading it to the same speed as the smaller cartridges because that's where they shoot the best.

I would expect similar results with the larger 260AI case.
The 260AI is likely not ENOUGH bigger to get up to the next velocity node where you will get good accuracy again, but with more velocity.
I think the next node is going to be around 2975fps to 3025fps with 140's.

I know someone shooting the 140s around 2925-2950 and it is a hammer. He's won quite a few f-class matches with his rifle. The 6.5x284 seems to do well around 2950 as well, but it is a barrel burner.

[ar15barrels]

I know someone shooting the 140s around 2925-2950 and it is a hammer. He's won quite a few f-class matches with his rifle. The 6.5x284 seems to do well around 2950 as well, but it is a barrel burner.

That's the low node on a 6.5x284.