30-06 Ackley Improved
Historical Notes:
The 30-06 Ackley Improved is made by firing the standard 30-06
in the Improved chamber. Headspace is the same, but the Improved case has a more
abrupt shoulder, less body taper and a larger shoulder diameter. The most
popular version was developed by P.O. Ackley in 1944, but there are other
versions as experiments go back to 1940 or even earlier. This has always been a controversial
cartridge with its detractors claiming it was not as good as the standard '06,
and it defenders claiming it was better than the 300 H&H Magnum. Actual
chronograph tests have proven it to be definitely superior to the standard 30-06
cartridge with slow burning powders, but not with medium to fast burning
powders.
General Comments:
The advantage of owning a wildcat chambered rifle that will also shoot standard
factory ammunition is obvious. The various Improved cartridges from 22 through
35 caliber are designed to do exactly that. The idea is to provide superior
performance by handloading the Improved cases, without eliminating the standard
factory round when an ammunition shortage or other occasion demands.
The 30-06 Ackley Improved is one of the most popular and widely used of the
Improved breed. With the proper powder, it will add a little over 100 fps muzzle
velocity to any bullet weight, as opposed to the standard factory loaded
cartridge. This does make it equal to the original factory loaded 300 H&H
Magnum with 150, 180, and 220 grain bullets but, of course, the 300 H&H
Magnum can also be hand loaded to exceed anything possible in the Improved '06.
Best results are obtained with slow burning powders such as IMR
4350 or Hodgdon
4831. The 30-06 Improved would be adequate for any North American game. As
is typical of Ackley's Improved series of cartridges, this design exhibits
reduced case stretching and easier extraction compared to the more tapered
standard versions.
Source: Cartridges of the World
| 30-06 Ackley Improved Reloading Data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet (grs.) | Powder / (grs.) | MV | ME | Source |
| 130 SP | IMR4895 / 54.0 | 3150 | 2860 | P.O. Ackley |
| 150 SP | IMR4350 / 59.0 | 3070 | 3150 | P.O. Ackley |
| 165 SP | IMR4350 / 58.0 | 2940 | 3180 | P.O. Ackley |
| 180 SP | IMR4350 / 56.0 | 2825 | 3200 | P.O. Ackley |
| 200 SP | H4831 / 59.0 | 2760 | 3180 | P.O. Ackley |
| 200 SP | IMR4350 / 54.0 | 2675 | 3190 | P.O. Ackley |
| 220 SP | IMR4350 / 54.0 | 2620 | 3365 | P.O. Ackley |
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