30-06 Ackley Improved Build & Load Info

[Grahams]

I recently bought a Nesika Action and built a 30-06 Ackley Improved and thought I'd share some info and results. I've had 308, 30-06 & 300WSM before so thought this would make a good project, long range hunting & Fly rifle.

Rifle consisted of. Nesika L Action, Jewell HVR Trigger, McMillan A3 Stock & a Krieger Barrel 30" 1:10 twist. Nightforce NXS 3-15x50. Had to import the dies from the USA.

The fire forming process was interesting, refer to the photo below. I had a box of Hornady ELDX 212gn left over from my 300 WSM so they become the fire forming projectiles.
It was chambered for 210gn Berger VLD's with a 0.010" jump. I worked the load up from 54.5gn of 2209 with an avg of 2630 fps and good groups up to 56.5gn of 2209 which I have now settled on. Yes, this is above ADI's max but the primers are still rounded and no other pressure signs. This load of 56.5gn is giving me 2791 fps and good groups. The grouping in between these two loads increased then dramatically decreased once I got to 56gn.
The rifle came in at about 6.5kg and is very pleasurable to shoot. No brake required. Yet, still light enough to carry up the hill.

[Gyro]

Nice work ! Can u use "Long range hunting rifle" & "Fly rifle" in the same sentence ?

[Grahams]

Hi Bro .... We can on this side of the ditch. Ha Ha

[Gyro]

Nice, because over here if the rifle can be carried all day it normally don't do tight groups on call, at least not like a Fly rifle.

I do love what all the "Long range hunting" guys are up to tho. The cool thing say about an F Open rifle is the weight limit is generous, so along with using all the hi-tech associated rests too some very serious precision shooting can be done.

[Rich4]

The hills are probably a little flatter here, what I can carry for a day may be a little heavy for NZ, pretty sure everything over there has one leg longer than the other

[GSells]

Thanks for the info . I love Ackleys ! From my lil 7/08 ai which launches a 180 comfortably at 2730 FPS and is an absolute tack driverTo my other fav ackley is 280 ai which I haven’t found the limit for how fast and accurate I can launch a 180 gr pill but was experimenting 3040 FPS . But normal loads can drill the x ring at the ton from 2880 FPS to 2950 FPS using 2213sc and reliably see Batch lots SD of 3-5 FPS .
The poor mans saum !
Regards Graham.