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257 ackley is it worth chambering

Buckmaster223
i have a mauser rifle in 257 roberts it holds a group of .5"
@ 100yrds. should i have it ackley imp. or just let it go. please give me some of your thoughts.

One Shot-One Kill Semper Fi
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • A J Christ
    If it was mine, I'd leave it like it is.
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    if it ain't broke donen't fix it. you can safely load the standard .257 r. to almost the same vel. as the a.i. (assuming a good action, no m-93 mausers!).
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  • duckhunter
    Shoot Hornady Plus loads and leave it alone.

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • Buckmaster223
    it dont like factory ammo but thanks for the suggestionquote:Originally posted by duckhunter
    Shoot Hornady Plus loads and leave it alone.

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.


    One Shot-One Kill...... SEMPER FI U.S.M.C.
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  • pack rat633
    I had a Mauser M-24 chambered in .257 Ackley Imp. Quite a shooter, I got .75" with 100 grain bullets, and 3750 fps over my chrony. Go for it!!

    SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI
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  • ern98
    If the barrel isn't at least 23.5" long then scarp the idea as you don't have the length to generate enough extra velosity to make it worth it. If the action is a standard length M98 and the contour of the barrel is enough around the chamber end, I'd punch it out to
    25-06. The 257 ackley is a good cartridge, but you will spend two or three time the price in dies for the ackley as compared to the 25-06 dies, witch everyone makes for cheap. Yes you will save 3 or 4 grains of powder and get within 150fps of the 25-06 with the 257ackley, but covering the difference in price of the dies at 3 or 4 gains per will take a long time, and then there is that pesky 150fps, especially in the heavier weight slugs. For my 2 cents, go 25-06 or stay standard 257Roberts.
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  • D.S.COLE
    I have and shoot both the 257 Roberts and the Ackley improved version. I have no trouble duplicating 25/06 velocity in the Ackley with my handloads. The Ackley is acknowledged by many experts as being the ultimate case size for the 257 bore.If you want the extra trouble of fireforming brass and slowly working up handloads to the max (I personally enjoy the work as a hobby) then it will serve you well.The dies RCBS 40 degree are readily available for about $10 more than Standard . You will have the expense of powder and bullets to fireform your brass. The chamber when it is cut for the Ackley is headspaced 5 thousands short, if done properly, this makes the standard brass a tight or crush fit when the bolt is closed. This makes it well supported to fireform (blowout). You can still shoot regular Roberts ammo. Mine will still shoot very good groups with standard cases.
    If your barrel is 22 inches or longer the Ackley will be okay . 24 in. might give a slight velocity increase
    but mine is 22 and works.
    Now let me tell you the advantages of keeping it as is. The 257 Roberts as it was developed many years ago in older less strong actions than todays,
    Is still loaded at the factory to the original pressure limits. In a modern action and your 98 if it is a good one certainly qualifies,it can be loaded with modern brass to the same pressures as more modern rounds .Ive read some loads by the gun writers that are way beyond the manual . You will have to do your own work ups by loading the manual max chge plus a half grain more at a time and test firing until you see pressure signs.
    I spent the time and trouble to do this and have found with my max loads I get almost 25/06 velocity with heavier bullets and with varmint weight bullets can match the 25/06.
    If you leave it as is and carefully and cautiously work out your rifles max you will have almost the same thing as the Ackley with far less trouble and expense.
    I could quote you my loads but the armchair experts, wannabe liability lawyers around will be criticizing my doing so.
    TRY working up some modern pressure loads before going to the Ackley If you dont have success then try the Ackley. My opinion after using both for years.
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  • modoc
    I M H O If you intend to keep it until you die then go to the Improved if you want..but the wildcats are harder than heck to sell as everyone thinks that if it is for sale ,then the barrel must be bad.So from the standpoint of value,you just might take a beating..I too have a 257 in a Mexican small ring Mauser 98 but would NOT convert it.That 257 is one potfiller if a guy uses his head,one of the most flexible rounds possible.Best thing is the lack of recoil for us greyhaired KIDS.Mine carries a 1.5 to 5 Leopold in Jager mounts.Good luck............SEMPER FI,brother.

    BILL
    KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.BUT NOT HOT.....single action S&Ws are keepers
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    listen to d.s.c. above, I build myself a .257 a couple of years ago and had the same results. the only reason the a.i. chamberings SEEM to get more velocity is the fact there is no RED LINE as to pressures. the .257 is one of the calibers that SAAMI limited the max. pressure on because of some older and weaker actions it was chambered in. IF you are an experienced reloader and know how to check for pressure signs (and have a suitably strong action) you can get near .25/06 preformance out of the standard chamber.
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  • Ackley Improved User
    Yes, the above are correct. The 257 AI is likely the best 25 caliber rifle available today - it's awesome - the perfect bore for .257. Also, it's accurate and relatively easy on barrels.
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  • Hunter375
    quote:Originally posted by D.S.COLE
    I have and shoot both the 257 Roberts and the Ackley improved version. I have no trouble duplicating 25/06 velocity in the Ackley with my handloads. The Ackley is acknowledged by many experts as being the ultimate case size for the 257 bore.

    I'll play on this a bit more. Back in the day when the .25-06 was an infant wildcat, the available powders could not make use of so much case capacity, and velocity was almost identicle but used 20% more powder in the .25-06. In 1969 Remington standardized the .25-06 and since then an array of bullets and powders have been developed that really make it shine. The .257 Ackley is still more efficient, especially the AI version, but neither will achieve .25-06 velocities at SAAMI spec. pressure levels. However, if you only intend to shoot 75 or 87 grain bullets, the .257 AI will nearly equal a standard .25-06. When you move up over 100 grains, the gap widens considerably. To up the stakes a bit more, the .25-06 AI is, for all intensive purposes, the fastest .25 around-even eclipsing the .257 WM.

    In summary, while the .257 AI is an excellent cartridge, it will not safely match a .25-06 with heavier bullets and is more difficult to find factory ammunition (meaning standard .257 Roberts) or new brass for. But if your mauser shoots that well, leave it be.

    It's easy to spot liberals-they are the ones who have no assets to protect and need every handout they can get. They have forbeyed themselves ascendence to a productive lifestyle.
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  • Buckmaster223
    i was just wondering what powder your using and what pressure your putting out to get that velocity even though it is ackley.cause im putting my 257rbts now out at 3100fps with a 100gr sbt gameking. so what your telling me is i can get close to 4000 by going ackley.cause all im realy trying to do is get 3000fps with a 117sbt gameking and the best i can get that out is 2800.quote:Originally posted by pack rat633
    I had a Mauser M-24 chambered in .257 Ackley Imp. Quite a shooter, I got .75" with 100 grain bullets, and 3750 fps over my chrony. Go for it!!

    SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI


    One Shot-One Kill...... SEMPER FI U.S.M.C.
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