.257 Roberts Ackley Improved
- Thread starter centershot
- Start date
Kurz
Silver $$ Contributor
I suggested renting this reamer in the first place, so someone isn't reading...
As far as having enough time to use a rented reamer, before even contacting them you need to have your decks cleared and ready to roll on this project when the reamer comes in through the door. Your schedule is to get this build done to the point where you can test shoot, make any changes necessary (shouldn't need anything), shoot it again then return the reamer.
Starting first thing in the morning:
Thread, chamber (polish), cut, crown, thread the muzzle = 1.5 hours.
Assemble, check details.
Apply release agent (shoe polish) dry and buff lightly.
Have lunch
Mix bedding compound, bed, clean up excess compound.
Put it in the rack to dry overnight.
First thing:
Pull from bedding.
Check carefully fix small blems if necessary.
Mill the clearances, clean up action and barrel. check fit.
Assemble and fit scope base and rings, mount and center scope.
Test fire, work up a decent load and shoot a couple of groups.
Clean barrel, check chamber, pack up reamer to return.
Two days, three if you loaf a little...
Embrace the process!
As far as having enough time to use a rented reamer, before even contacting them you need to have your decks cleared and ready to roll on this project when the reamer comes in through the door. Your schedule is to get this build done to the point where you can test shoot, make any changes necessary (shouldn't need anything), shoot it again then return the reamer.
Starting first thing in the morning:
Thread, chamber (polish), cut, crown, thread the muzzle = 1.5 hours.
Assemble, check details.
Apply release agent (shoe polish) dry and buff lightly.
Have lunch
Mix bedding compound, bed, clean up excess compound.
Put it in the rack to dry overnight.
First thing:
Pull from bedding.
Check carefully fix small blems if necessary.
Mill the clearances, clean up action and barrel. check fit.
Assemble and fit scope base and rings, mount and center scope.
Test fire, work up a decent load and shoot a couple of groups.
Clean barrel, check chamber, pack up reamer to return.
Two days, three if you loaf a little...
Embrace the process!
To me if youre going to rebarrel anyway. Go for the Ackley. If u don't feel like messing with it, u can shoot perfectly fine with factory ammo. And you already have the dies for the factory ammo chambering.
To me having the Ackley chamber just gives you that many more options. The only frustrating thing is when u find out ur fireforming loads out shoot your Ackley loads
To me having the Ackley chamber just gives you that many more options. The only frustrating thing is when u find out ur fireforming loads out shoot your Ackley loads
Once you have the 257 Ack Imp reamer, simply indicate the seater sleeve ("sliding tube") and re-chamber it with the chamber reamer - perfect 'seater die' - won't bore you with, "how I know" . . .
Then, send them a reamer print (actually, before you obtain the reamer, so you have the FL die in hand when the reamer arrives) & have the folks at Forster make you a honed neck, FL die , which will provide 0.003" to 0.004" neck-tension. Relatively low cost and excellent/straight ammo!
Dare to be different - and do what you want to do - I like your, "from the heart" response.The real reason the 257 Roberts was killed off, was the anemic loaded ammo, and the redundant reloading DATA - measly 45K PSI stuff, along with the distorted press coverage. With RL-17 and 110 gr bullets, 3300+fps is easily and safely obtained. Unless you are going to shoot registered bench-rest competition, there are plenty of very good bullets available. My sole gripe with the cases based upon the 7x57, is that, if you desire magazine feeding, the length is best suited for use in a standard (long) action. Since my first .257 Ack. Imp., in 1976, I've shot my old 700short actions single shot and never regretted a shot!
For typical .257 Ack. Imp. & .25/06 type performance, check out the short video clip on the photos page on my web site < https://wordpress.com/view/bibullets.com > Everything I've shot, with the .257 Ack. Imp., from 35yd to 674yd, has been DRT. RGcentershot
Silver $$ Contributor
I would rent the reamer if I were doing the smithing. The smith that I have is not a personal friend, so I do not think that the 7 day rental period would work. Everything with a rifle project takes time. JGS says 8 weeks for a reamer and they are $220. I bought one from PTG and had to send it back because the angle of the reamer flutes was off and it would not cut. I appreciate all of the input and it will help with the project. I do believe that I will do it, just want to get all of the I's dotted.
Why be worried about fire forming?
The whole point of the Ackley Improved line was/and is that you can shoot the parent standard cartridge also.
Sure, it may be 100 fps slower, but can still be wonderfully accurate, especially for a hunting rig.
And it doesn't kill anything less dead.
Besides, i always looked at fireforming as valuable trigger time!
The whole point of the Ackley Improved line was/and is that you can shoot the parent standard cartridge also.
Sure, it may be 100 fps slower, but can still be wonderfully accurate, especially for a hunting rig.
And it doesn't kill anything less dead.
Besides, i always looked at fireforming as valuable trigger time!
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
117g sierra btsp kills deer like they have been hit by a lightening bolt at 3000 fps mv, so does the 120g Speer.
Very slightly deflecting the topic from the .257 Ack. Imp., to recent results, in a IBS 600yd Registered 'Points Shoot', where a well known F-open competitor attended his initial bench-rest tournament, toting a rifle sporting a barrel chambered for 25x47 Lapua 35* Imp. and lobbing some 110 gr .25 Cal. bullets propelled by Varget, to somewhere near 3100fps. First set of targets 5.4xx" (4 target AGG), he finished 10th out of 16 - had horizontal, but all four target held x-ring vertical. Second set 2.6xx" - group winner, third score, Over All HG winner . . . not too shabby for something, "that'll never work", by an individual attending his initial tournament, and getting comfortable with the new "feel". 25 Caliber rifles leave nothing on the table.RG
P.S. I have not secured permission to use his name - you can look it up: 5/10/20, Elbow Lake, Min.
25 Caliber rifles leave nothing on the table.RGP.S. I have not secured permission to use his name - you can look it up: 5/10/20, Elbow Lake, Min.
20VarTarg
Silver $$ Contributor
I picked up a very very nice Cooper Model 22 chambered in 250-3000 AI last year. I bought it because it was a Cooper. Not because of the caliber but let me tell you something. It will certainly not be my last Ackley. It is probably the most consistently accurate rifle in my safe. And the guy I purchased it from(off this site) said it liked the 110 and 115 grain bullets. I have shot everything from 75-120 and it shoots everything equally as well. I've read that the 250-3000 has the greatest gains of any Ackley cartridge and I believe it. Like someone said earlier in this post, at times fire forming loads will out perform the loads already formed. I am a believer in the Ackley stuff. Oh and they just look good!!!!
centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
Just to update, I pulled the trigger on this project. Local gunsmith is doing it with a Brux barrel, #3 contour in stainless. I have a Forster bench rest seating die and the full length die coming sometime in the near future. The rifle will take about 4 months with the ordering of the reamer and the barrel. This is my third Ackley. Love the concept. There is one other that I may do in the near future.
Brians356
Gold $$ Contributor
Looks good, yes (I have a 250 AI myself!) but what common cartridges does it look very much like (necked up or down)?
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20VarTarg
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm stumped!!!!!
Brians356
Gold $$ Contributor
The 250 AI (30-deg) is essentially a "25 Creedmoor". I can take a fired 6.5 Creedmoor case, run it through my Redding 250 Ackley Improved FL die, load and fire it in my 250 AI rifle. The neck is long (should be trimmed) but still fits in the 250 AI chamber.
L to R: 6.5 Creedmoor; 6.5 CM after FL sizing "250 AI 40°"; 250-3000 AI 40° case
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Dusty, I have a 7x57 Ack. Imp. ready to try with my [relatively] new 7mm bullets: it's just an addition to my various Ackley Imp. cartridges - .220Swift AI; 6mm/250AI; 250/3000AI; etc. - all of which work quite well . . . AND, look great to boot!
These days, there are so may gap filler cartridges, there isn't much incentive to veer off the path . . . That said, ballistics [performance] wise I don't see the 7x57AI being much different than a plane-Jane 7mm/08, or, 7mm/06 . . . it'll take a LOT to pry me away from my 25 Cals.RG
Brians356
Gold $$ Contributor
The quarterbore might just be your quarter horse of cartridges.it'll take a LOT to pry me away from my 25 Cals.
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