the pros and cons of a 30-06 AI.

I've been looking at buying a new toy, I mean rifle, for the last few weeks and have been going back and forth between the 30-06 and the 300win mag. What I want is a light weight rifle that will shoot 165s in the 3000fps range and 180s at 2900 fps or a tad more. Plus, even though I handload, if needed I want to be able to shoot factory ammo and be able to find it in most backwoods stores. So tell me about the 06AI. Is it worth all the fuss?

I can see by burning less powder the recoil will be less than a 300win, most 06 based rilfes will weigh less than a 300 and the 06 rifle will hold one more round, which are all good things. Plus I'm of the understanding, if needed, you can shoot factory ammo in a Improved rifle. So other than fire forming brass, which I've never done, whats the down side?

As I understand, the steep shoulder on the AI is not the smoothest feeding geometry. From your requirements it seems the 300 H&H might be a nice, classy chambering to consider. But, I tend to be partial to the old classic cartridges.

Mark, where will you be using this rifle and what will you be hunting? I see you are in Alabama and it looks like you might deer hunt with a 6.5x55 with success I would expect.

If not for needing factory ammo in remote areas, I might suggest a 300 WSM, it's not for me, but it is a good round, 300 WM is also very good, but personally, I jump from 26-28 caliber straight to 338 or 35. A 338 will kill larger game with more forgiveness, and perhaps farther than a smaller bore will. If you can handle the recoil, a 338-06 or WM will give you a lot of versatility say out west if that is where you go with it, and 338WM is very common I would believe in that country.

The 30-06 is THE standard by which all are judged, some improve it, others feel it is good enough as is and unless you need another 50 yds in trajectory, stay with the standard. To gain killing power, I again would go 338 bore, based on my experience and many others. That is esp. if you are thinking Elk and large Bear.

In general you get 100 fps more velocity with an AI chamber compared to what you could get reloading the regular cartridge. The shoulder design means less case stretch, but that's no big deal. The AI cartridges may be more inherently accurate as well compared to a cartridge with a sloping shoulder. However I think the benefits are not worth the inconveneince.

unless you just WANT! one, of course. Then it makes perfect sense to me.

Rich

Unless you run high pressures, an ackley gains a wopping a 50 fps over the parent -06 chambering. Unless you configure the magazine and feed rails to match the body taper of the ackley, it won't feed nearly as smoothly as the parent -06. I had a 35 whelen ackley, and won't repeat that mistake in a hunting rifle.

The answer for what you are after is a Kimber Montanna 300 WSM. 165's @ 3100, 180's @ 2900. Some folks push them faster, but those are real world numbers. For a light flat shooting 30, it is the best rifle out there.

My Ackleys all 5, shoot every bit as good fireforming as with formed rounds. I use a little under max for fireforming with the powder I use in the formed rounds. I do not use cormeal and pistol powders. Forming with a bullet equals trigger time. USe those forming rounds to practice field postions, recoil is lighter and you are praticing not just blowing off componets. I see no draw backs on doing an improved round other than the cost of the dies. Mine were done by some of the best smiths in the business and feed liked they are greased. The only jams I have had is short stroking the bolt trying not to lose a piece of formed Norma or Laupa brass.
All my guns have became tack drivers. This is not the round as much as the actions were striaghtened and a preimium barrel was used.

This is my experience and opinion. I would suggest getting a new barrel start with a clean slate. Also using a smith that knows the Ackley round will headspace shorter than the parent.