I'll be having a Whelen done up shortly and recently read a little on the Ackley Improved and how it supposedly takes the 35 to new heights. Other than having more shoulder to work with, what are the advantages of this round? Guess I'm looking for specifics on loads, etc.

Ran some data through AccuLoad and don't see where there is a lot of improvement. What am I missing?

Thanks

Not much Bob. The 35 Whelen AI might get you 100 fps, maybe. The Brown/Whelen version will get you a little more then that. So figure 2600 fps with 250 gr bullet in the AI, and 2650 in the BW. At least, that's been my experiance. Not that there's anything wrong with those numbers, either version (or the 350 Rem Mag or 35 WSM, etc) will work very well on any game you care to name out to about 250-300 yeards. I don't think you can ask for much more. There are some advantages in less brass stretching according to the experts with the improved cases, and (maybe) less case thrust against the bolt. Hope this helps. - Dan

I've looked at using an improved case on every '06-based caliber up through the .30-06 and have found that there's very little to be gained in potential performance -- so little in fact as to be similar to the difference between two rifles in the standard version with "fast" and "slow" barrels.

There is a significant benefit, however, in the larger calibers of the advantage of more positive headspacing (which makes for more consistent ignition, better case-bore alignment, less case stretching, etc.) If I were building a wildcat on this case, I think I would go ahead and push the shoulder forward like the Gibbs and get (a little more) extra performance to go with my positive headspacing.

I had one, until it was re-chambered to a 350 Rigby.

From personal experience, I believe that the ackley improved's are more hype then anything else. The greatly increased velocities claimed (150 fps over std cases) are achieved by running much higher pressures, not by some wonderful increase in efficiency. If you're gaining more then 50 fps from an Ackley, it's because you're running higher pressures.

Honestly, I don't think the ackley has any advantage, dies are more exspensive, brass is more exspensive and work as you have to blow out the cases, and the round doesn't feed as well as a std case, oh and you may loose one round of capacity in your magazine.

If/when I build another whelen, it'll be the std case.

Yes, that's rather what I thought. I also couldn't see where there was any real gain unless pressures were pushed up, but thought I'd check around in case I was missing something.

Talked with the smith today that will do the work and he had the same opinion. So, we're gonna order a 1-14" Shilen barrel in the standard and leave it at that.

Thanks for the replies.

[ 12-20-2002, 04:18: Message edited by: Borealis Bob ]

BB - A wise decision. Ackley himself would have been the first to tell you that MOST "improved" cases don't really improve much of anything...or at least not enough to be worth the hassle. Where "improving" a case really pays off is on cartridges with large amount of case taper and very little shoulder angle....or on a cartridge which is under-bore capacity for a given caliber.
The 250/3000 and the Hornet come to mind.

Will the .350 Rigby fit in a standard action or do you need a magnum length action?

Eric

You're not missing anything, Bob. Even old Parket stated that he doubted that and of the "Ackley Improved" cartridges over .30 caliber would show any real improvement.