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.257 Roberts Ackley Improved

centershot

Silver $$ Contributor
Currently have a .257 Roberts on a Remington action. The barrel is about done in and I would like to have it re barreled. I like the idea of an Ackley because it's not common. That may be what is getting me into trouble! My gunsmith does not have the reamer, only a standard one. I can either buy the reamer, 8 week waiting period, or split it with him and he keeps the reamer. I have a nice set of Forster bench rest dies that I would have to replace. Do not know if you can just buy the sliding tube in the seating die or if you can just use it. Does it fit the case that precisely? Loading dies are a bit pricey and no one has them in stock.

Not trying to ask is the Ackley worth it from a velocity standpoint. That has been hashed around before. And no, I do not think the .25/06 is sexy enough. I know there are other Ackley nuts out there. A few of my shooting friends think I am nuts but it just sounds "cool."

Has anyone out there built an Ackley or wish they hadn't?
 
Built a 6mm Rem Ackley and still have my uncles hand me down model 788 in standard 6mm rem. I don't regret building the Ackley at all, easy to load for and great speed as well as case life. As you said its not common and I like that.
 
centershot said:
Currently have a .257 Roberts on a Remington action. The barrel is about done in and I would like to have it re barreled. I like the idea of an Ackley because it's not common. That may be what is getting me into trouble! My gunsmith does not have the reamer, only a standard one. I can either buy the reamer, 8 week waiting period, or split it with him and he keeps the reamer. I have a nice set of Forster bench rest dies that I would have to replace. Do not know if you can just buy the sliding tube in the seating die or if you can just use it. Does it fit the case that precisely? Loading dies are a bit pricey and no one has them in stock.

Not trying to ask is the Ackley worth it from a velocity standpoint. That has been hashed around before. And no, I do not think the .25/06 is sexy enough. I know there are other Ackley nuts out there. A few of my shooting friends think I am nuts but it just sounds "cool."

Has anyone out there built an Ackley or wish they hadn't?
Click to expand...
A friend of mine has had 3 different .257 Roberts, 2 standard and 1 Ackley version. For several years he played with them. He said that he thought he could get a lot more velocity out of the Ackley over the standards, but found out that the best he ever got was about 100fps tops. He said he could almost equal the velocity by bumping up the pressure of the standard cartridge to more modern levels. The only advantage he found was longer case life with the Ackley. At the time of his playing around with the "Bobs", premium bullet selection wasn't near what it is now (it's still not great for 25 caliber bullets) and it was almost impossible to get a barrel with anything but a 1:10 twist. He dropped all his 25s like a bad habit. He surmised that the 25s won't do anything that a good 6MM or a 6.5MM won't do more readily and do it cheaper. The selection of components for either of those two calibers is heads and shoulders above anything offered for quarter bores.
 
The .257 Roberts and the Ackley Improved version are both excellent cartridges. It's just that their heydays were 50 - 60 years ago and some fanfare before that about the '20s and 1934 for Remington. Like many .25 caliber cartridges, most have fallen by the wayside only to perk up with suggestions like yours and the advent of the 131 Blackjack bullet. New bullet designs, except for the 131 BJ are non-existent so Match bullets are limited to the Berger 115 gr. at exorbitant prices while hunting bullets still have a nice variety in the 85 gr. - 117 gr.

113632_bd5bfa551c35689084d10c6981a7098d.jpg


The drawback that I see, especially considering factory Remington chambers, has been that the .257 Roberts is relegated to the short actions where the longer bullets do intrude into the powder space. The original design was for the intermediate length Mauser actions for the parent case, 7x57 Mauser. There you can stretch the OAL to 3.200" and gain some running room for powder.

If dollars are a concern, either save your pennies some more or wait for a more opportune time. You still need the standard dies to reload the cases for fireforming and you will need the Improved version as well. Lee makes a 3-die AI set for about $34.00, the cheapest I found. The others are way too much money because the manufacturers don't have the call for large quantities where they make a ton of money. Popularity does make the cost of reloading a little more bearable these days.:( Some gunsmiths will make dies for your chamber but again, the cost will be higher.

Reamers? What can I say. They cost what they cost so your choice is to own it outright or pay half and your gunsmith owns it. But... maybe look into renting the AI reamer if you think this might be a one and out chamber. The other alternative is to find another gunsmith with this reamer...:(

Any way you look at it, I think it belongs in an intermediate magazine, not short and definitely not long like the current fad. If you're stuck with the Remington and a short magazine, you can make the best if it with some judicious reloading or a magazine conversion for an intermediate length but it costs more money and gunsmithing machine work.

Bang it around some more and see who salutes!:D
 
PO Ackley, in his manuals liked this wildcat. Years ago, I considered building one, but went a different direction. Had a 700 Remington Classic in 257 Roberts, just for the project. Good luck with the project.
 
I had a 25-284 built specifically for the 131 gr. Blackjack bullet (1:7.5 twist) and I have not been disappointed. However, the .257 AI was one that I almost pulled the trigger on. There are several manufacturers that will sell you a barrel with the correct twist for the 131 Blackjack. Of course, you would be relegated to shooting just the 131 bullets and that might cause you some concern. I on the other hand just bought enough bullets to outlast the barrel so no problems. Here's what my rifle can do with the BJ bullets.DSCF1154 (2).JPG
 
nmkid said:
I had a 25-284 built specifically for the 131 gr. Blackjack bullet (1:7.5 twist) and I have not been disappointed. However, the .257 AI was one that I almost pulled the trigger on. There are several manufacturers that will sell you a barrel with the correct twist for the 131 Blackjack. Of course, you would be relegated to shooting just the 131 bullets and that might cause you some concern. I on the other hand just bought enough bullets to outlast the barrel so no problems. Here's what my rifle can do with the BJ bullets.View attachment 1177346
Click to expand...
When sierra stops making them or blackjack decides to stop messing with them itll be like the norma dasher. Hope thats not going to happen but theres always the chance
 
Dusty Stevens said:
When sierra stops making them or blackjack decides to stop messing with them itll be like the norma dasher. Hope thats not going to happen but theres always the chance
Click to expand...

Sometime back I believe I read something about BJ hoping Sierra would buy them out. I hope I'm not starting a rumor but, I'm almost sure that's what I read.
 
Have you given any thought to renting the reamer?

Just my 2 cents, but if i'm just doing one rifle, especially a hunting rifle that i'm hoping the barrel will last for quite a few years, i don't want to pay the $160 to hopefully not have to use it again.

I use 4D Reamer Rental for such projects.
Quick shipping, reamers have always been in good shape & sharp, good customer service.
Gets my job done for $30 ish dollars and i'm not storing another thing that i'm not gonna use again.
 
I have used 4D for odd calibers. By the time you pay shipping both ways with ins., my last one cost almost $55. Not really excessive unless you need it again -- rental is for 7 days and sometimes this is not enough, since you seldom get a chance to get it ready to test fire until the time has expired, depending on how busy you are. Not a bad idea to share the cost of a reamer with your gunsmith and it'll always be there. Also could rechamber your old barrel and use it to fireform your brass, lessening the wear on your new barrel. And you would need a new sleeve in your BR Forster seating die; it is a close fit. And of course you'll need a FL sizing die. Ackley improved cases are great, just have to weigh the cost and hassle of fireforming.,
 
Not a thing wrong with the standard 257 Bob, it is a well balanced cartridge and does a good job on hunting. The Ackley improvement would give you something like 150 or so FPS more. Mainly you gain the advantage of your brass needing trimmed less often. Either way you will enjoy that caliber.
 
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