250-3000 Ackley Improved......

[20VarTarg]

Hopefully by mid next week I'll have my new (to me) Cooper 22 in 250-3000 Ackley Improved in my hands. I have read online that the Sierra V Edition, I believe it was the Second Print has load data for the 250-3000 Ackley Improved. Would anyone be willing to snap a few pictures of that data and send it to me. Or if you own a rifle share some of your pet loads. Guy that I'm buying it from was shooting a 110 Nosler Accubond with 33 grains of RL-15. I have no idea if this is a light, medium, or heavy load since I have no data for the round. Thanks!!

 

[Riesel]

Here you go.

 

[Kurz]

Here is the Nosler data from their website for the standard cartridge:



When fireforming AI cartridges, you can use the upper end loads as starting loads since the case expands and lowers the initial pressure to well within safety limits. Many of us have using this technique for decades. These loads are well below even 'lawyer proof' loads.

The reason for this is the Savage Model 99 lever action rifles which were not rated as strong as the bolt action rifles. So to prevent incidents of pressure excursions, the standard loads are designed to work with the Savage M99 lever rifles.

 

[20VarTarg]

Thanks for the replys. Can't wait to start playing around with this cartridge.

 

[AlNyhus]

FWIW, I've found the Remington 250 Savage cases to be much better than Winchester. The Lapua and Winchester 22-250 cases are also good to start with. -Al

 

[Brians356]

Which common shoulder angle, 30 or 40?

Consider fireforming "bulletless" with pistol powder. If you use plentiful 22-250 brass, you don't need to scrounge for rare 250 Savage brass (or fireform from limited factory ammo) and you can spank the shoulders into shape, and expand the necks, using minimal powder and no wasted bullets. Use pistol primers, and about 15 grs of Bullseye. No need to use inert case filler or a wax neck plug. Just take the open charged cases in an ammo box (don't tip it over!) outdoors, chamber them with rifle angled upward, point to the sky, and fire. (To safeguard the loads for transport, you can cram little wads of tissue into the case mouths, or wedge foam rubber between the cases and the ammo box lid.)

Consider that Lapua makes beautiful 22-250 brass.

Also consider that I can run fired 6.5 Creedmoor cases through my Redding 250 AI Full Length die, trim necks as required, load and shoot them in my 250 AI rifle. That's right, the Creedmoor is not so "new" after all.
-

 

[DBLNUT]

Hopefully by mid next week I'll have my new (to me) Cooper 22 in 250-3000 Ackley Improved in my hands. I have read online that the Sierra V Edition, I believe it was the Second Print has load data for the 250-3000 Ackley Improved. Would anyone be willing to snap a few pictures of that data and send it to me. Or if you own a rifle share some of your pet loads. Guy that I'm buying it from was shooting a 110 Nosler Accubond with 33 grains of RL-15. I have no idea if this is a light, medium, or heavy load since I have no data for the round. Thanks!!

Hopefully by mid next week I'll have my new (to me) Cooper 22 in 250-3000 Ackley Improved in my hands. I have read online that the Sierra V Edition, I believe it was the Second Print has load data for the 250-3000 Ackley Improved. Would anyone be willing to snap a few pictures of that data and send it to me. Or if you own a rifle share some of your pet loads. Guy that I'm buying it from was shooting a 110 Nosler Accubond with 33 grains of RL-15. I have no idea if this is a light, medium, or heavy load since I have no data for the round. Thanks!!

H4350 should be the powder of choice for 110-120gr.

I load 40.0 of H4350 and a Speer 120 grand Slam for an honest 2800 from a 22' barrel

 

[Kurz]

you don't need to scrounge for rare 250 Savage brass

Grafs has Hornady and Winchester:
https://www.grafs.com/catalog/category/categoryId/671

Cabela's has Remington:
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Remington-reg-Unprimed-Rifle-Brass-Per/1160414.uts

Midsouth has Hornady:
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/reloading/rifle-brass/250-savage

Almost everyone is carrying one brand at least, usually Hornady.

 

[20VarTarg]

Which common shoulder angle, 30 or 40?

Consider fireforming "bulletless" with pistol powder. If you use plentiful 22-250 brass, you don't need to scrounge for rare 250 Savage brass (or fireform from limited factory ammo) and you can spank the shoulders into shape, and expand the necks, using minimal powder and no wasted bullets. Use pistol primers, and about 15 grs of Bullseye. No need to use inert case filler or a wax neck plug. Just take the open charged cases in an ammo box (don't tip it over!) outdoors, chamber them with rifle angled upward, point to the sky, and fire. (To safeguard the loads for transport, you can cram little wads of tissue into the case mouths, or wedge foam rubber between the cases and the ammo box lid.)

Consider that Lapua makes beautiful 22-250 brass.

Also consider that I can run fired 6.5 Creedmoor cases through my Redding 250 AI Full Length die, trim necks as required, load and shoot them in my 250 AI rifle. That's right, the Creedmoor is not so "new" after all.
-

It's a 40 degree shoulder.. I have plenty of 6.5 Creedmoor Brass laying around. That's probably what I will end up going with.

 

[Brians356]

Grafs has Hornady and Winchester:
https://www.grafs.com/catalog/category/categoryId/671

Cabela's has Remington:
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Remington-reg-Unprimed-Rifle-Brass-Per/1160414.uts

Midsouth has Hornady:
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/reloading/rifle-brass/250-savage

Almost everyone is carrying one brand at least, usually Hornady.

I hadn't checked in a year or two. Still, at those prices I'd opt for Lapua 22-250 and never look back.
-

 

[Brians356]

It's a 40 degree shoulder.. I have plenty of 6.5 Creedmoor Brass laying around. That's probably what I will end up going with.

I'd anneal it first, and make sure you like the result. The Creedmoor has that wider gaping extractor groove, and you might give up some case capacity. Also with the 40 deg. shoulder it still needs firing to point the shoulder. I'd still use 22-250, keeps it "in the family".
-

 

[Brians356]

PS Here are photos of (L to R) a fired 6.5 Creedmoor; 6.5 CM after sizing in my Redding 250 AI 40-deg FL die; and a seasoned, fired 250 AI case (formed from 22-250).

Notice how the CM neck started longer than the 250 AI's, and got even longer after squeezing down to 25 cal. So you definitely have a non-trivial neck trimming task, however your chamber may afford room for a longer neck than my AI case shows. Also, note the cavernous CM extractor groove compared to the Savage's. Finally, note how the shoulder of the resized case is not sharply formed. After I fireform 22-250 "bulletless" my cases have a nicely pointed shoulder as shown here.
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[Brians356]

Re: Sierra's 250 AI load data, you can always call Sierra and ask for technician Paul Box, who is "Mister Ackley" and AFAIK has done the load testing for all of the Ackley Improved cartridges published by Sierra. Good man, personable, and he particularly likes the 250 AI. He claims he's never found a better powder for it than RL 15 (illustrated in the load data) but there is at least one fan on this forum of RL 17.
-

 

[Brians356]

... your chamber may afford room for a longer neck than my AI case shows.

Using a Sinclair chamber length gauge, my 250 AI chamber measured 1.918". The 250 AI case (formed from 22-250) measures 1.818". So I have room for necks 0.1" longer. A reformed 6.5 CM will need to be trimmed to chamber, but not much. So using CM cases gains you usable neck length compared to starting with 22-250 (or 250 Savage.)
-

 

[TAJ45]

I like. That longer neck will probably increase throat life.

 

[Kurz]

The 250 AI case (formed from 22-250) measures 1.818". So I have room for necks 0.1" longer.

Have you fired enough of the brass made from the .22-250 to notice any adverse buildup of carbon in the longer neck space?

I've made this same decision with other cases when fireforming and the short neck creates a space for excess carbon to buildup.

 

[Brians356]

Have you fired enough of the brass made from the .22-250 to notice any adverse buildup of carbon in the longer neck space?

I've made this same decision with other cases when fireforming and the short neck creates a space for excess carbon to buildup.

I've never shot enough rounds through it, apparently, as I've never had carbon build up. And the barrel is the easiest to clean I've encountered. FWIW (not relevant to carbon) it's never had a bare jacket through it, only moly-coated, and at reasonable velocities - 87- or 100-gr bullets. I built it for sniping larger varmints and pronghorns, at which it excels.
-

 

[20VarTarg]

Well I got the rifle picked up last Friday. Love love love love it!!!! It sports a 22" Barrel. It's lightweight, shoulders perfectly and the recoil is hardly anything. I loaded up upteen different loads for the rifle and headed to the range. Below are some groups. Keep in mind, this is the first time loading for the cartridge and pulling the trigger on the rifle. I need to get more brass fire-formed because I'm instantly in love with this rifle. The gentleman that I purchased this rifle from said it didn't like the lighter bullets. Well look for yourself at the groups. I'm still mad that I dropped the 3rd shot on the one group. It could have been in the .1's. Oh well, there will be plenty more time spent with this rifle. Enjoy the photo's.

 

[JRanum]

My first post...I had a 250/3000AI built two years ago. I found Sierras load info to be spot on in my rifle, and I never bothered with anything but RL-15 per their advice. Slow twist Pac Nor 25", shooting Sierra 90 HP at 3400 fps and Sierra 75HP at 3600. Been very pleased with it.

 

[20VarTarg]

My first post...I had a 250/3000AI built two years ago. I found Sierras load info to be spot on in my rifle, and I never bothered with anything but RL-15 per their advice. Slow twist Pac Nor 25", shooting Sierra 90 HP at 3400 fps and Sierra 75HP at 3600. Been very pleased with it.

Good to know!!!! I"m still below published data but with this being my first go around with this cartridge I started off low. If you are able to get 3400 out of the 90's I should get there with the 85's and obviously they down right shoot!!! What I like is this rifle shot both the 85 and 110's really well. I am going to keep playing around with loads and then settle on something. Quick Question, I have 100 pcs of NEW WW 250 Savage Brass. How did you go about fire forming them?? I received 48 pcs of Fire Formed brass when I got the rifle but I need at least 150 pcs to keep my OCD in check. I just don't know if I wanna run 100 bullets through the barrel for nothing.