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Ackley improved???

hitman#1
What is this? Anyone able to give me more info on how it works. maybe a website?
Thanks
JW

In search of 243wssm with no luck yet. A guy told me today to go with the ackley improved 243 and save some $. He said that you could use factory loads or the ackley cal. afterwards how is this possible ?
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • captkirk3@dslextreme.com
    Hitman#1; What is it you want to know? You did'nt ask for anything specific about any Ackley Improved Caliber....So..there's no way to make an intelligent reply...Be Specific and you'll probably get a bunch of Replies....Best.....

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
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  • JustC
    P.O. Ackley was an extremely talanted balistician. He discovered that by changing the shoulder angle of a given caliber to 40degree, that the powder burned inside the case created far greater pressures than the original case with the same amount of powder. He also surmised that by lengthening the body, by firing the original case in a chamber which was reamed with the 40 degree shoulder slightly ahead of the original shoulder, that the case would hold more powder. The increase in powder capacity and new, "sharp" shoulder angle, and the new higher pressures, would force a given weight projectile into a velocity of up to 200+ fps faster than the original caliber.

    The process of forming the new case is called "fireforming" where the original caliber, i.e. 30-06 is fired in a 30-06 ackley improved chamber. the case "blows out" to the new shape under the pressure of the powder igniting. That new case will now hold more powder and has the sharp "ackley" shoulder.

    Another advantage of this case, in any caliber, is that the sharp shoulder keeps the brass from growing and needing to be trimmed as often when reloaded. The caveat, is that often the necks will need to be annealed to re-crystalize the brass and make it softer so it can be resized without cracking or splitting, as a result of being reloaded more times before it becomes unsafe and unconcentric, or work hardened.

    I own a 6.5-06AI and a 280AI and both are very accurate, very fast, and very flat shooters. [8D]

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • martzkj@msn.com
    I don't see how building a custom gun in 243 Ackley improved would save you any money. Not to mention the dies for reloading are probably expensive. Plus all your laods would have to be hand loaded, this is ok if you are a reloader. Back to the first point. I don't see how you will save any money.
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  • JustC
    because you can shoot the factory caliber in the ackley chamber with very little accuracy loss. The resulting "fireformed" brass is now ready for full power ackley loading.

    By the time you pay winchester for their overrated WSSM bullets, and shoot a couple hundred rounds, you will have spent enough extra money to buy the dies for the ackley. They aren't more expensive, just a different series die from the manufacturer. Not to mention that any quality rifle in 243 can be rechambered to 243 ackley for very little gunsmithing expenditure. You headspace the barrel while it's off, and recrown, and voila,......you have a tackdriver. No custom build-up necessary...

    A remington Varmint heavy barreled rifle or ruger 77VT rechambered for the ackley 243 from the standard 243 would be one sweet rifle. IMO

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • martzkj@msn.com
    Hi justc, While you are right that the gun smithing is not a lot. I was assuming that he didn't already have the gun. Thus he would be buying the gun plus the smithing costs. As for accuracy, I found in the couple I owned that once the brass was fire formed that the grouping was much better than just the factory loads. I still think the Ackley will end up costing him more in the long run. If he has to buy the gun to build it.
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  • hitman#1
    you are correct. I do not own the gun at this time. Just in search of the best mid-size cal. As of right now I do not reload either. I have seen many once fired brass loads out perform factory, That being said I will probably start hand loading in the near future!
    Thanks
    JW
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  • cody45
    i have a 243 ackley 40x remington varminter with dies for $1200. custom varmint stock, custom extractor, and lots of brass.
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  • martzkj@msn.com
    HItman, Take a look at the 260 or the 7mm08 or 6.5x55. I think these are some great mid size cal.
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  • JustC
    I totaly agree with that suggestion. I have a 7mm-08 that is very accurate and very handy. The 260 is also a sweet shooting caliber.


    If you wish to go ackley,....just be sure you know what is involved. The loading requires an extra step and usually an extra die. However,...accuracy and powder effiency are generous.[^]



    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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