anyone done a 25-06 ackley improved

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive heard that you cant just run a reamer in it. You have to set the barrel back also. Was this the case for you?

[two dogs]

i am building a new one now.you will have to set back for a re chamber on an existing 2506 chamber

[smokemjoe]

Just a note on the 25-06 Ack. Imp. I had Harry Mcgrowen put a barrel on a 17 Enfield in 1971, I got less then 400 rds. and the barrel was burned out, Like 54 grs. 4831 and a 87 gr. bullet,It was a great rifle out in Mt. and Wy. for long range shooting.I shot it out in the Tx. on jacks. and P. dogs.

[nicholst55]

IIRC, Ackley said that the .25-'06 realized very little benefit from being 'improved.' He said that it was so close to being grossly overbore as it was, that increasing the case capacity just made it burn barrels out faster.

I seriously considered building a .25-'06 Improved, but settled on a .257 Weatherby instead. I don't regret it one bit, either. The Weatherby has a reputation as being a barrel-burner, too, but I knew that going in.

[Lloyd Smale]

i think part of his opinion was based on the powders of the day. Back the 4831 was about as slow as you could buy. I cant see why it wouldnt be an impovement over the 2506 now with the newer powders. The 257 weatherby sure is.

[two dogs]

lloyd i talked to two smiths that told me without setting the barrel back you would not clean the chamber enough to remove all the tool marks.A with todays powders i think the ai is worth the trouble.

[RwBeV]

I have chambered allot of Ackley improved chambers, you must set the barrel back a few thousands in order get the correct head space. Ackley use the go gage as a no-go that would give you a chamber about .004-.006 tight. If you chamber an improved gun like this it is unlikely that you will lose brass do to case head separation. I have set back quite a few guns that someone just ran an improved reamer in, they all had case head separation problems.

Oh buy the way, I'm new here this is my first reply. This is really nice forum just what I have been looking for, I may be new but I'm not new to gun smithing, I have been at the trade since 1980

Thanks
Bob

[felix]

It is always safe to set the brass back using a larger case. This assumes a larger dimensioned case of excellent condition can be obtained to size down to fit. The cardinal rule is to size down to make a crush fit on the SHOULDER. I have converted stock 223's to Ackley 222's until the cows came home. ... felix

[RwBeV]

Felix that is the reason Ackley set the barrel back, so that you can fire factory ammo without fear of losing any. My son shoots a 7x57 Ackley, Both my daughters shoot 257 Ackley's they have never lost any brass on fire forming.

[pdawg_shooter]

Just a note on the 25-06 Ack. Imp. I had Harry Mcgrowen put a barrel on a 17 Enfield in 1971, I got less then 400 rds. and the barrel was burned out, Like 54 grs. 4831 and a 87 gr. bullet,It was a great rifle out in Mt. and Wy. for long range shooting.I shot it out in the Tx. on jacks. and P. dogs.

I have been shooting a 25.06 standard since 1981 using 55gr H4831. Same barrel, still shoots sub MOA groups. I shoot 800 to 1000 rounds a year on prairie dogs. I take care not to let the barrel too hot and clean every 50 rounds or so. It is a Doughlas #5 contour.