Ackley Imp

I I build a .257 Ackley Imp will I have more than just a glorified .25/’06?

thought I would toss out something more interesting
excuse the typo….meant to say “If I build” etc
no imagination Dave…you disappoint me. I expected a better answer than that from you

one of the benifits of an ‘Ackley Improved’ version of a cartridge is that you can load a standard version of the cartridge in the rifle and use that. Indeed this fireforms the case to the ackley chamber.

It isn’t like you are going to run out of your handloads for 257 Ackly Improved and then be able to run to the corner store during your hunting trip and expect to find 257 roberts to use in it’s place.

Second, as you note the 257 AI basically duplicates 25-06 in a shorter package, although it falls a tad short of the 25-06. In fact, nowadays you can get 257 Roberts +P which really closes the gap on 257 Akley Improved.

It seems to me if you want to capitalize on the Akley ability to also use conventional cartridges in a pinch, then it seems the 243 AI would be a great one to consider, or if you want to go up to a bigger cartridge, the 30-06 AI. Heck the 7mm mauser AI would be a strong choice, and while 7x57mm ammo isn’t totally common it is more common than 257 roberts. Heck. 270 wincheter AI would be another good choice (not to be confused with the 270/300 savage and 270/300 savage AI)

If the ability to grab and use a readily available over the counter ammo is not a consideration, then I would say pass on the 257 AI, and go right for the 6.5-06 or the 6.5-06AI.

When Ackley invented the 6.5-06 and the AI version his tests showed that the AI version did NOT acheive any greater velocity…but he didn’t have today’s slower buring powder. The 6.5-06 is just a tiny bit bigger than the 25-06, but here’s the kicker. Thanks to the 6.5x55mm swede, there are a lot of really great 140 grain bullets and even some 156 grain bullets, whereas the 25-06 really lacks any bullets that are that heavy or that sectionally dense. So while the 25-06 and the 6.5-06 will overlap on varmint bullets and whitetail bullets, the 6.5 leaps ahead in the elk range. Heck because of the great sectional density the 6.5-06 outperforms the 270 winchester on elk.

If you want something interseting, 6.5-06, either regular or AI is what I would recommend.

260 Ackley Improved for Benchrest

Hornady Die Set 22/250 ACKLEY IMP $65.36 Hornady Hornady Custom Grade New Dimension Dies- Caliber: 22/250 Ackley Improved- 2 Dies- Full Length- Series IV- Use Shellholder 1…