So, this year, I decided to dust off the .257 Ackley and see if it would shoot the BIB 110 Gr. BTs into respectable groups using RL-17, and CCI-450 Mag. primers to supply the juice . . . and, hopefully add a little 'extra' velocity! ;) For a change, it all came together quickly - at least good enough for game shooting. This is the Rem. 700 based rifle, smithed by Stan Ware, using my reamer and a PacNor 1:10" twist, #3 contour barrel, and stocked by Al Nyhus - the stock is a McMillan, "SAKO Hunter". Since I gave the .257 IdiotMag to son-in-law, Matt, I put the Huskemaw 5x20 scope on the ol' Ackley, using a set of Talley one-piece rings . . . Over the last four years, this rifle has only been affectionately handled, while thinking of the efforts invested by good friends, and recalling a couple of pretty rewarding mule deer hunts.
The rig was bore-sighted and the scope "clicked" to what appeared, "close enough", and the initial shot was aimed dead-center between the #5 and #2 bulls (about at the bottom edge of where the three-shot group formed), with the horizontal wire disecting the #2 bull's ten-ring: that [first] bullet impacted about 1.7" low (just above the target numbering). The aim point was resumed and the elevation knob twisted until the horizontal wire was "on" the first bullet hole. Then, using the lower-left border-lines of the #5 bull as the aiming point, three shots were fired - the pic speaks for itself . . . not a bad day at the range. Sans wind flags, the groups remained under .6" AND, at the top end, the Oehler revealed a WHOPPING 3330+ FPS out of the 110 BTs - all with EASY extraction and NO "click"! :) Gotta find a mule deer somehow! Though the [relatively] new Hogdon H-100V shot tighter groups, I'm opting for the extra 100FPS produced by the RL-17 . . . even the H-100V bested my long-time favorite (H-4831) by fully 150 FPS! We're living in good-times for reloaders . . .well, for those who planned ahead. ;) RG
Note: this image works out to roughly 125% of actual size.
