6mm ackely barrel length?

J

jeremiah1757

New member
I will be receiving a 6mm ai in trade in the next few days. It is a rem 700 with a 27" shilen heavy barrel with a 1/8 twist. Was wondering what the shortest barrel length is ok without losing to much performance? Was hoping to cut it down to around 22" as 99% of my shots will never come close to even the 500 yard mark. Also with the 1/8 twist what is the lightest bullet that you would try. Hope the 87 v-max would produce good results. This will be my first wildcat and anyone with experience with the 6mm ai I would love to hear you opinion. Thanks in advance.
 
I'm running a 28" 8 twist on my 6AI and it shoots the 87 vmax great although I mostly shoot the 105 Amax as for barrel length you will lose some velocity they say 30 to 50 fps per inch, I don't know the exact number, i f I was to build a 6mm with a 22" barrel I could think of a couple more efficient cartridges.
I know your getting this on a trade and not building it but IMO you won't be able to really take advantage of that chambering with a 22" barrel
 
I may just have to keep it at 27" then. Any pet loads or powder I should start with? Also the previous owner recommended that I FL size every time. Is that the best practice? I have never really messed with neck sizing but was told by others you get better accuracy that way. Anything else that I might be missing or may need to know would be great. As stated before this is my first wildcat and I want to get the most out of it. Thanks again.
 
I would keep it at 27", a 22" 6 AI just does not make sense. The fad these days is to have short and light for ease of carry. If you want a truck, gun then I can see the need for a 22", otherwise no.

My load for a 10" twist 6 Rem AI is 49.8g of Win 760 with the 70g Nosler at 3890 fps. Pressure increased with the 87g bullets so I had to FL size with them, so I stuck with the 70's for that reason.

Another issue, is your throat length. Your rifle will not shoot worth a darn jumping bullets very far, that will become an issue for you to measure when you receive your rifle, and will determine what bullet your rifle will more than likely shoot.

jeremiah1757,your quote,"Was hoping to cut it down to around 22" as 99% of my shots will never come close to even the 500 yard mark." I am curious what is your line of thinking on this?

The 6 Rem AI is a fantastic cartridge, fast speed with all bullets.

Jeremiah1757, your comment,"Also with the 1/8 twist what is the lightest bullet that you would try."
What will determine the answer to this question the length of your throat, again bullets do not like jumping a long ways.

If you do not have a tool to measure the over all cartridge length to where the bullet touches the lands, you need to purchase one right away, either a Davidson Ogive gauge or a Hornady(Stony point). These are a must for achieving the best accuracy in measuring the over all length to where the bullet touches the lands. Measuring off the tip of the bullet only gets you in the ball park.

Good luck
 
Ackleyman thanks for all the information. This is the kind of this I need to know. I thought maybe the throat length would come into play at some point. I asked the previous owner if the chamber was throated for a certain weight bullet but he said he did not know. I will just have to measure. New to the 6mm ackley but I know in my 204 it liked to jump some to the lands. Different caliber and different gun I know.

My line of thinking on shortening the barrel length was the velosity lose. At a 1000 yards I would think that the velosity lose from 27" to say 22" would show more of a disadvantage than at a little shorter ranges. Maybe you will still notice the difference. I will most likely shoot it at 27 first to see if I like it and make my decision after. Thanks again.
 
If you find you really don't like the 27 inch barrel and depending on who cuts it down you might talk them in to cutting 2 inches off but not crowning it and checking the feel of it. Once you get it to where you want then they could finish it up. Once it's cut, it's done.
 
Call me weird, but my 243 Ackley wears a 20" tube. I do give up some speed....but I am still shooting faster than a 20" standard 243, and I am not toting around a truck axle.
 
Originally Posted By: liliysdadCall me weird, but my 243 Ackley wears a 20" tube. I do give up some speed....but I am still shooting faster than a 20" standard 243, and I am not toting around a truck axle.

I guess I'm weird also liliysdad.
I'm having a 20" 243 Ackley built so I can shoot with my Gemtech Suppressor attached and not have to wave around a 26" buggy axle plus a 7" suppressor screwed on the end of all that........... 33 inches of barrel AOL doesn't handle very well.
 
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