Ackley Improved question

[kiv-c]

Hello!
I've built a few rifles over the years and have come to really appreciate the Criterion barrels and Remage barrel fitting system. That said, I recently lucked on to a lightly used varmint weight Criterion barrel chambered in .243AI. I obtained a PTG gauge set and have the barrel fitted.

Now before I start with the questions I have to make a confession. In all the years I've been fooling with guns I have never fitted one up with a wildcat or improved chamber. Seemed like too much work and, to be honest, I was always a little bit scared of them. But I figured I should try it at least once in my life, just to say I did it! So here goes with the questions...

1. I dutifully scoured the internet via Google for info on fitting the 243AI; after hours of reading seemingly conflicting info and differences of opinion I decided to come here. So, my question is, if I set the headspace with the Ackley Improved headspace gauge can I then chamber and fire some 3/4 throttle loads in new virgin brass and expect to come out with good reusable fireformed brass? Also, do I need to worry about any potential for blowing myself up by doing this? Would it be better (and/or safer) to use the Cream of Wheat method?

2. I have managed to acquire 100 rounds of virgin Hornady .243 brass (hard to find .243 brass at a reasonable price for some strange reason) and I wonder, has it already been annealed? And if it hasn't, should I anneal it to prevent losing any of the precious cases during the fireforming process?

Kiv

 

[Tim Singleton]

Just use a medium load for a standard .243. Seat the bullet long enough to engage the riflings lands fully and fire. That's it pretty straight forward.
Nothing dangerous about it.

Find a set of 243AI sizing dies. Enjoy your new barrel

 

[Erik Cortina]

Do like Tim suggested, you'll be fine.

 

[shortgrass]

Is your gauge set for the .243 Ackley Improved or the .243 Winchester?

 

[kiv-c]

The gauge set I used is for the Ackley Improved.

 

[Gundoktr]

If you have used the AI go gauge and the standard 243 go as a no-go you should be OK. Ackley designed his improved cartridge to have shorter headspace than the standard by .004".

You can safely shoot a stiff 243 Win load as a forming load in the ackley chamber. No need to use any cream of wheat and definitly don't jam your bullets into the lands, you could create too much pressure. Your new brass should have a slight crush when closing your bolt if your headspace is correct and the cases are not too short.

 

[shortgrass]

If you have used the AI go gauge and the standard 243 go as a no-go you should be OK. Ackley designed his improved cartridge to have shorter headspace than the standard by .004".

You can safely shoot a stiff 243 Win load as a forming load in the ackley chamber. No need to use any cream of wheat and definitly don't jam your bullets into the lands, you could create too much pressure. Your new brass should have a slight crush when closing your bolt if your headspace is correct and the cases are not too short.

+1 for Gundoktrs' post. No need to jam if the chamber is set-up as Ackley advised.

 

[shortgrass]

Here's what Dave Manson has to say about chambering/gauging the A.I. cartidges;

 

[shortgrass]

and, the second page;

 

[shortgrass]

And, what Manson advises is precisely what P.O. Ackley advises in his books. They're called "Ackley Improved" for a reason!

 

[Twisted300WinMAG]

+2 on what gundoktr said. As long as you have a slight crush on your standard 243 brass don't jam the bullets and run a stiff 243 load to get a good form. Too light of a load will not form the shoulder consistantly. Also should note that the fire forming loads generally shoot extremely well. I have a 260AI and fire forming loads are good enough to shoot matches with.
Donald

 

[Tim Singleton]

This talk of not jamming the bullet being dangerous is why some guys hesitate to use an AI chamber. A lot of guys shoot hot loads in their standard chambers day in and day out with the bullet seating depth jammed. Because that's where the gun shoots


No use trying to create a problem where there is none

 

[shortgrass]

I've been shooting and chambering Ackley Improved cartridges for 22yrs. and I've never needed to jam the bullet to fire form a case. Every one of those chambers are set-up according to the instructions Ackley gives in his 2 volume book "Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders". It is, also, the method taught at the gunsmithing schools (I have not had the opportunity to meet graduates from all the schools, but the several I have met set-up an Ackley chamber the same as I was taught,,,, .004" shorter than the "GO" of the parent cartridge). Just recently I've set barrels back a turn and re-set the headspace on several barrels that were chambered "long". Before these rifles are handed down to heirs the current owner wants to make sure that they are safe to be fired with factory spec ammo. As for jamming and using a max load, every barrel has its own "max" and if your barrel is new to you and "max" is unknown, well..............

 

[kiv-c]

Thanks, all of you for the headspacing info, you've set my mind at ease.

Now, does anyone have an opinion about my second question concerning annealing of new brass?

"2. I have managed to acquire 100 rounds of virgin Hornady .243 brass (hard to find .243 brass at a reasonable price for some strange reason) and I wonder, has it already been annealed? And if it hasn't, should I anneal it to prevent losing any of the precious cases during the fireforming process?"

Thanks again for your help/advice!

Kiv

 

[shortgrass]

I've never had to anneal new brass before fire forming. Although, I've never used Hornaday, that I can think of, for an Ackley. I've necked down many of their 6.5 x .284 cases to .25 and 6mm without any problems and I've necked the same up to .284, also, without problems.