KillingCrew
New member
I am wanting to know if ya'll now a good place or web site where I could get my rifle changed to a Ackley.
? 22-250 Ackley Improved?
- Thread starter KillingCrew
- Start date
Dan Carey
New member
The barrel needs to be set back at least a turn (1/16") because the shoulder to neck to head is shorter on the AI. This can be done by any competent riflesmith.
I've edited this 3 times and it's still not explained right.
The Ackley is shorter from the head of the case to the joint at the shoulder and the neck. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I've edited this 3 times and it's still not explained right.
The Ackley is shorter from the head of the case to the joint at the shoulder and the neck. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Last edited:
If your rifle is a Savage you can buy a new AI barrel and do it yourself all for somewhere between $150 and $400. If not consider this -is it worth the cost if the gains are, at least for me
22-250 max load behind a 52 gr. Amax gives me 3820 FPS
22-250 AI requiring 3.5 extras grains to get 110 FPS more, same bullet
YMMV but if it wasn't so cheap to do in the first place I would not did it again.
22-250 max load behind a 52 gr. Amax gives me 3820 FPS
22-250 AI requiring 3.5 extras grains to get 110 FPS more, same bullet
YMMV but if it wasn't so cheap to do in the first place I would not did it again.
Michael J. McCasland
New member
It is my opinion and only my opinion that it is foolish to chase the velocity demon with a light .224 bullet. They are already generally steamin' along inthe mid 3000 fps range. I like the improved versions so I can push a relatively HEAVY bullet to the mid 3000fps range. Occasionally this means using powders that are generally considered to be to slow for the parent case, but comes into it's own with the increased capacity and a long heavy bullet in the 75gr+ range.
For example: this is not a 22-250AI but keep with me. I don't believe a 223 sized case works well with Varget, velocity suffers due to case volume. But my 223AI and varget pushuing the 67/68/69/70 grain bullets excells beyond my expectation. I would be shooting a heavier bullet but my 1:10 223AI barrel doesn't like heavier bullets.
For example: this is not a 22-250AI but keep with me. I don't believe a 223 sized case works well with Varget, velocity suffers due to case volume. But my 223AI and varget pushuing the 67/68/69/70 grain bullets excells beyond my expectation. I would be shooting a heavier bullet but my 1:10 223AI barrel doesn't like heavier bullets.
NM Leon
New member
You can have your current barrel/chamber changed as Dan said, or re-barrel the rifle. Any competent gunsmith will be able to do it.
As skb2706 touched on though, the 250 is already on the ragged edge of the point where burning more powder produces very little if any increase in velocity (overbore). What that additional powder WILL produce is more heat which will shorten barrel life.
It's a trade off, and for most folks the relatively small increase in MV isn't worth the shorter barrel life in the (already barrel burning) 22-250.
As skb2706 touched on though, the 250 is already on the ragged edge of the point where burning more powder produces very little if any increase in velocity (overbore). What that additional powder WILL produce is more heat which will shorten barrel life.
It's a trade off, and for most folks the relatively small increase in MV isn't worth the shorter barrel life in the (already barrel burning) 22-250.
Just my two cents worth. My 250ai wouldnt shoot the hot loads as accurate as a standard 250. I reload so I had to load once for fireforming and once again to shoot. Twice the labor, twice the ammo, twice the wear and tear. Had mine made back to a standard 250, loved it.You cant buy loaded 250 ai ammo, that I know of, so somewhere down the line, you will pay twice. Personally, the cases look cool and a lot of people love them, just not enough gain for the extra work. Just my opinion.
Your likely to find that beyond small velocity gains there are some other considerations.
As Defcon mentioned and I find with mine as well, it shoots standard 250 ammo quite well.
Cases don't stretch much at all.
I load mine just over what I would get in the standard 250. Its like have a powerful car, you don't have to use all the power all the time. saves wear and tear.
As Defcon mentioned and I find with mine as well, it shoots standard 250 ammo quite well.
Cases don't stretch much at all.
I load mine just over what I would get in the standard 250. Its like have a powerful car, you don't have to use all the power all the time. saves wear and tear.
I've worn out three .22-250 barrels and one .22-250AI barrel, currently own one more .22-250 and two more .22-250AI's. All get run full throttle, all the time. I don't think there is much difference in barrel life between the two.
As others have already said, I wouldn't pay for rechambering a factory .22-250. But on the flip side, if I were paying to have a barrel chambered, I'd get the AI over the standard, every time.
As also already mentioned, any "competent" riflesmith should be able to do the job. It's amazing how many riflesmith's are not all that competent though. My first .22-250AI was chambered by a nationally known "big name" BR 'smith known for his accuracy work and building winning BR rifles. That guy might be one of the best ever at chambering PPC's, but he didn't know $hit from apple butter, when it came to chambering Ackley's... I ended up with excess headspace, because he wrongly assumed he should use a standard '250 GO gage. And even after I discovered the problem (which was not minor...) and talked to him about it, he still insisted that he had done it right. I've likewise seen more than just a few rechamber jobs where barrels have not been set back, and several new chambers not headspaced properly like the one I got. So, yes, any "competent" 'smith can do the job, but do not take too much for granted when choosing a riflesmith to chamber an AI. It seems pretty common that otherwise experienced and competent fellows simply don't know what they don't know about chambering them.
- DAA
As others have already said, I wouldn't pay for rechambering a factory .22-250. But on the flip side, if I were paying to have a barrel chambered, I'd get the AI over the standard, every time.
As also already mentioned, any "competent" riflesmith should be able to do the job. It's amazing how many riflesmith's are not all that competent though. My first .22-250AI was chambered by a nationally known "big name" BR 'smith known for his accuracy work and building winning BR rifles. That guy might be one of the best ever at chambering PPC's, but he didn't know $hit from apple butter, when it came to chambering Ackley's... I ended up with excess headspace, because he wrongly assumed he should use a standard '250 GO gage. And even after I discovered the problem (which was not minor...) and talked to him about it, he still insisted that he had done it right. I've likewise seen more than just a few rechamber jobs where barrels have not been set back, and several new chambers not headspaced properly like the one I got. So, yes, any "competent" 'smith can do the job, but do not take too much for granted when choosing a riflesmith to chamber an AI. It seems pretty common that otherwise experienced and competent fellows simply don't know what they don't know about chambering them.
- DAA
Dan Carey
New member
Interesting assessment of riflesmiths. Although an Ackley chamber is (.004") four thousands of an inch shorter than the standard 22-250 it would not be totally out of spec to chamber one at 0 + .004", just a little loose.
I don't succumb to customer desires to have a rifle built to their chamber spec's. I will only build them to accepted industry standards. In my case that would be 0 + .0015 so the resize die would work properly. You will always feel a crush fit with an AI chamber I cut.
I don't succumb to customer desires to have a rifle built to their chamber spec's. I will only build them to accepted industry standards. In my case that would be 0 + .0015 so the resize die would work properly. You will always feel a crush fit with an AI chamber I cut.
Quote:
You will always feel a crush fit with an AI chamber I cut.
That's exactly what I would ask for. Whether you would consider that to be "succumbing" to a customers request at that point, wouldn't really matter, I suppose. Just as long as I get what I want. Now days, we'd have that discussion well before you were hired, and if we couldn't agree on the specifics ahead of time, you would not have to suffer having me as a customer.
I was simply commenting to point out that I've seen plenty of AI chambers that not only have no crush, but have what "I" consider too much headspace, to boot. The one of mine, mentioned above, had about .007, on my particular lot of .22-250 brass. That's way too much. The 'smith blamed it on undersize brass. That brass may well have been on the low side of SAAMI spec. But his chamber was [beeep] sure on the high side, for the parent cartridge, and that is just plain incorrect for an AI chamber. Frankly, I consider anything other than some definite feel, or crush, to be incorrect for an AI chamber, regardless of industry standards. It sounds like you understand this and chamber accordingly. I've seen that not all riflesmiths do, and even talked to at least one that simply didn't agree with chambering them that way. My point was simply to make sure and discuss this detail ahead of time with your chosen riflesmith and not to simply take it for granted that he either knows or will agree with chambering with some crush.
- DAA
You will always feel a crush fit with an AI chamber I cut.
That's exactly what I would ask for. Whether you would consider that to be "succumbing" to a customers request at that point, wouldn't really matter, I suppose. Just as long as I get what I want. Now days, we'd have that discussion well before you were hired, and if we couldn't agree on the specifics ahead of time, you would not have to suffer having me as a customer.
I was simply commenting to point out that I've seen plenty of AI chambers that not only have no crush, but have what "I" consider too much headspace, to boot. The one of mine, mentioned above, had about .007, on my particular lot of .22-250 brass. That's way too much. The 'smith blamed it on undersize brass. That brass may well have been on the low side of SAAMI spec. But his chamber was [beeep] sure on the high side, for the parent cartridge, and that is just plain incorrect for an AI chamber. Frankly, I consider anything other than some definite feel, or crush, to be incorrect for an AI chamber, regardless of industry standards. It sounds like you understand this and chamber accordingly. I've seen that not all riflesmiths do, and even talked to at least one that simply didn't agree with chambering them that way. My point was simply to make sure and discuss this detail ahead of time with your chosen riflesmith and not to simply take it for granted that he either knows or will agree with chambering with some crush.
- DAA
brdeano
New member
The more info you have going into a project, the better off you are.
Awhile back, I took my 1-8" Rock barreled 22-250 up to my local gunsmith, to have it punched out to 22-250AI, along with a dummy round with the 75Amax to show him where I wanted the throat set. I wanted it short enough to keep enough bullet in the neck when I eventually would have to start chasing the lands. He wouldn't set the the throat to my specs and I walked out with the rifle. I was just hoping to have it done locally to keep from having to send it out. Sigh, looks like I have to send it out anyway.
Awhile back, I took my 1-8" Rock barreled 22-250 up to my local gunsmith, to have it punched out to 22-250AI, along with a dummy round with the 75Amax to show him where I wanted the throat set. I wanted it short enough to keep enough bullet in the neck when I eventually would have to start chasing the lands. He wouldn't set the the throat to my specs and I walked out with the rifle. I was just hoping to have it done locally to keep from having to send it out. Sigh, looks like I have to send it out anyway.
Way to go brdeano for walking out on that gunsmith! To get screwed on a chamber job is very expensive.
A gunsmith has to order a generic type of reamer to fill the needs of a lot of people.
Send your gun to Pac Nor with 3 dummy rounds seated to the length that your want, you will get it back chambered the way you want, headspaced correctly.
A gunsmith has to order a generic type of reamer to fill the needs of a lot of people.
Send your gun to Pac Nor with 3 dummy rounds seated to the length that your want, you will get it back chambered the way you want, headspaced correctly.