New To Forum, Need Some Input

[Bearing-Man]

Hello All! I am new here, but I have lurked a little over the years. All of my rifles are standard chamberings, but I wanting to step out and build a new rifle in an Ackley. I have chosen the 6mm Ackley. My friend has a .243 Ackley that I have shot some and it impressed me!

Could anyone give me the pros and cons of a 6mm Ackley? Where can I find some good info regarding the 6mm Ackley?

 

[ShootDots]

My first "Ackley" build was a 6mm Rem A.I. If it is used for hunting, I can think of no "down-sides" to it at all.. If it would be used for F-Open, short barrel life would make it less than desirable.. Now back to the 6mm Rem. A.I. >> I learned a "trick" if you will from reading an article by Jon R. Sundra. He postulated that using Norma brass (7 x 57 Mauser) is the best course of action for making 6mm Rem brass. He was correct. I started to neck the 7 x 57 down to 6mm.. It is EXCELLENT brass and "forming" it to 6mm Rem is simply a stroke of the loading press. The 6mm A.I. can, with a 26-27" barrel and slow powders, get you very close to 200 f.p.s. gain over a "standard" 6mm Rem. I used to use H1000 with 95gr. "Ballistic Silvertips" at slightly over 3400f.p.s. I had a 1-8 as I wanted to use the 105Hornady A-Max at the time, however, it shot terrible in my rifle.. On our Texas "smallish" Hill Country whitetail deer, it was a "bomb" on them! However, I shot a BIG Axis deer right in the shoulder knuckle>>>it did not penetrate and I lost a "Gold Book" Axis>> I felt terrible about that deer and what it went thru for awhile. Good news though>> The guide saw it alive and well a few weeks later>> Which brings me to a finer point. Because the 6mmRem A.I. CAN push bullets to extreme speed, I think a Barnes TSX would be the way to go..

 

[Bearing-Man]

Thanks for the input. I forgot to mention in my original post - this gun will be used for punching holes in paper only.

 

[civil82]

I have one 6mm AI. Current load is 105 A-Max over Reloader 22. Unfortunately, I didn't get to chuck hunt much this year but did have three good kills the only evening that I took it out this year.

I won't talk anyone out of something that they want, but if you are strictly punching paper, there might be something with a little more barrel life that would be better suited to your purposes. Others may object.

 

[ShootDots]

If you are "punching holes" in paper... What does that entail... Competition or just going to the range and firing 3-5 shot strings and letting the barrel cool down? If it is the former, as in F-Open>>> get a different cartridge! If it is the latter, you will be ok...

 

[gotcha]

You might want to go to "Guns of the week" & check out Richard Franklins 6MM A.I. A great cartridge for LR varminting. I've got one & love it. For paper punching you might be better off w/ the 6BR. Much more efficient, excellent case life w/ Lapua brass & good to 1000 yds if need be. Great selection of loading dies @ reasonable cost & excellent BBL. life compared to the 6mm AI. BUT........... when ya' gotta have a wild cat there's just no substitute 8)

 

[MarkS]

Bearing-Man,

I have had few of both, 243AI and 6AI, great rounds, They are hard on barrels. I have gone to the 6BR and 6BRX, better accuracy and barrel life. Richard Franklin built all of them. I would give the edge to the 243AI due to better brass. But if you are set on a 6AI is a good round.

Mark Schronce

 

[jonbearman]

Could you tell us alittle about your current rifle like who made it,what trigger etc. I may have a couple suggestions for you.

 

[stacy]

243 Ackley, I have two they both shoot very well

 

[Bearing-Man]

Thanks for all the input so far. I mentioned punching paper will be it's only use. This is not going to be a competition gun. I just want a "wildcat" tackdriver. Yes, I will go to the range and punch paper, and hopefully one day return to South Dakota to shoot the "dogs" again. I am looking for a 500-600 yard round. My friend who has the .243 Ackley took his with us to South Dakota a few years ago. I shot it and really liked it. I have not been shooting rifles much of late, but my fire has been rekindled so I am wanting to build up a Wildcat round.

A poster asked what rifles I owned or was accustomed to.....as far as centerfires - Cooper .222, Cooper .223, Remington VLS .223 with trigger job, Ruger 77 .243 with trigger job, etc. Cooper's are as close as I have to a custom rifle.

 

[jonbearman]

I was more interested in which rifle you will be putting the new barrel on.

 

[Bearing-Man]

I was more interested in which rifle you will be putting the new barrel on.

I am looking to build one from the scratch