Thoughts on 7mm-08 Ackley Improved... is it worth the effort and added cost?

[MCMXI]

I'd like a price quote on the kit and what would be in it lol, don't know how it find a action tho.

Complete 84M action and bolt (stainless)
TriggerTech Field trigger
Criterion 1:8 barrel timed to action (stainless)
AG Composites CF stock (100% CF shell, not the BS that Kimber claims ) with Open Country dip and clear Cerakote seal
Talley 1" medium rings (Black or Open Country)

Price: TBD

 

[Ks5shooter]

7mm-08 is badass in its original form making an AI can improve it. If you have the inkling just do it MHO!!!

 

[troy fairweather]

Complete 84M action and bolt (stainless)
TriggerTech Field trigger
Criterion 1:8 barrel timed to action (stainless)
AG Composites CF stock (real 100% CF shell, not the BS that Kimber claims ) with Open Country dip and clear Cerakote seal

Price: TBD

Already sounds like I can't afford it lol, I was looking to get a Montana in 7-08 but then they dried up and my money left even quicker lol.

 

[WisBorn]

@MCMXI you know that we all want pictures of the completed rifle and a range report

Enjoy the build process, Safe shooting!!!

 

[MCMXI]

@MCMXI you know that we all want pictures of the completed rifle and a range report

That's a given . I'll get the various components laid out tomorrow and take a photo as a teaser.

 

[greyling22]

Ackley-ize it and you don’t need to trim brass

That's not entirely true. I still have to trim my 257ai, but not as much as my 30-06.

I'd ackley it. I love the way ackley cases look. I'm rebarreling a rifle to 308 because I got a 20" threaded takeoff barrel cheap, but I'd rather have a 7mm-08.

 

[mshootnit]

If I were going to do a 7mm Ackley it would prolly be this:

 

[MCMXI]

I have a Kimber Montana .280 AI Criterion barrel with a 1:8 twist but don't have an 84L receiver or else I'd go that route too.

 

[gotboostvr]

If I were going to do a 7mm Ackley it would prolly be this:

Oh yeah, that particular rifle made me actually look at what a 280AI was all about and put one on my radar. Needless to say, if I ever get around to building my "perfect" hunting rifle, it'll probably be a 280AI.

 

[Legionnaire]

I didn't see the Lipsey's Ruger 280 AI until after I had secured a Cooper and had a custom build going at my smith's. Had I seen the Ruger, I'd probably have held off on the Cooper. I love my African in .375 Ruger.

 

[troy fairweather]

I didn't see the Lipsey's Ruger 280 AI until after I had secured a Cooper and had a custom build going at my smith's. Had I seen the Ruger, I'd probably have held off on the Cooper. I love my African in .375 Ruger.

One in 280ai and either 9.3 or 375 would make a fine pare. They 280ai were going for about $1050. Again I just couldn't swing the money for one, I was hoping to get the corona check but that never happened.

 

[WisBorn]

I didn't see the Lipsey's Ruger 280 AI until after I had secured a Cooper and had a custom build going at my smith's. Had I seen the Ruger, I'd probably have held off on the Cooper. I love my African in .375 Ruger.

Are you loading reduced loads for the 375 Ruger or full bore?

 

[gotboostvr]

Those Lipsey Ruger 280AI's keep trickling onto gunbroker. I really need to stop looking on there when there's no money in the "new gun fund"

 

[Varminterror]

Don’t build both to keep. If you build an AI, you won’t shoot the standard. The 7-08 will be easier to resell (for some ridiculous reason) than the AI, so building both as AI and selling one would be a bad option too.

Personally, I love the 7-08 and 7-08AI, but the AI is just “more” of what I love about both. Just enough extra horsepower without jumping 10grains - or more - of powder to run a long action 7mm. Well behaved, but requires no concessions when shooting long range or hunting afield; with less trimming, longer throat life, a bit more speed (or rather less lost when using heavier bullets), easier load development, AND the retained ability to fire non-AI factory ammo, the AI is a worthwhile endeavor over it’s less evolved parent.

 

[Legionnaire]

Are you loading reduced loads for the 375 Ruger or full bore?

I'm still playing with loads for the .375 Ruger. 235 grain Speer Hot Cores over 78 grains of Varget would be considered "full bore" at ~2,900 fps, but the recoil isn't bad; 76 grains would be around 2,800 fps. I ran some some of the Hot Cores over Trail Boss just to test, but won't do that again; I might also try a reduced load with H4895 (when I can find some). My next outing with the 375 will include a ladder of 300 grain Partitions over H414. I expect the higher end to thump pretty good. I also have some 260 grain AccuBonds to test. Sorry, long answer a simple question. My plan is not to run reduced loads routinely. I have other rifles to shoot when I don't want the recoil of the 375.

Now back to the 7mm-08 Ackley discussion.

 

[WVRJ]

I went from a 280 Rem. to a 280 AI,and the benefits were worth the effort.I would think the 7MM-08AI would also be a winner.And you can shoot the parent round in the Ackley chamber.It really does help with trimming,and the 280AI I built is very accurate with either the regular 280 or the modified brass.I'd chamber one to each round if I had two barrels.I'd cut one off pretty short and make a short,handy rifle that was as light as I could make it,and leave one longer and heavier for the long range stuff.In my 280AI,I get a substantial amount more horsepower from the AI round.It'll run 160's a little faster than the 280 Rem. will run 140's.I like the 160 to 175 grain bullets that have some great BC numbers.I would imagine you can get the 7MM-08 Improved to be right close to 280 Rem. performance in a short action.

 

[MCMXI]

Don’t build both to keep. If you build an AI, you won’t shoot the standard. The 7-08 will be easier to resell (for some ridiculous reason) than the AI, so building both as AI and selling one would be a bad option too.

I think this is great advice. I'll push ahead with one and will most likely order a reamer and GO/NO GO gauges.

Here's the "kit" with most of the major components. The optic is there for effect and I have a few other suitable options.

 

[Anchorite]

Kenny Jarrett (South Carolina) is quite fond of the chambering. He feels it’s the best use of the 308 case, a marriage of a great bullet to the right-size gas tank.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think this is great advice. I'll push ahead with one and will most likely order a reamer and GO/NO GO gauges.

Here's the "kit" with most of the major components. The optic is there for effect and I have a few other suitable options.

View attachment 967667

Such a tease!

That would be an awsome winter project for someone.......one of you guys take one for the team before i find extra money!

 

[MCMXI]

Such a tease!

HA! I'll probably order a titanium bolt handle for this build, maybe even the tactical style that I installed in the 84M Proof rifle that I put together last year. I'll install QD flush cups in the stock along with a lightweight cheek riser. This should be a really good deer/elk rifle.

 

[Txhillbilly]

I built a 260 AI a few years ago, and wasn't impressed with it at all over my standard 260. After a couple month's of shooting it, I took the barrel off and sold it along with the brass and dies. Ackley Improving some cartridges works really well, but I don't think it improves much performance wise in the 308 case family.

 

[Pivot Dr]

Worth it? Probably not, so what? My 260 Improved probably isn’t worth it either, but I didn’t do it to make money, I wanted it. I like fooling with brass anyway. Better than a Creedmoor as far as I’m concerned. It takes the right guy to want to buy one though. I have a 7-08 Remington heavy barrel BDL that I’d consider rechambering to Improved if it didn’t shoot so good now.

 

[Keyfer 55]

Go for it!!! l aways want a Gibbs.

 

[Gtscotty]

I think this is great advice. I'll push ahead with one and will most likely order a reamer and GO/NO GO gauges.

Here's the "kit" with most of the major components. The optic is there for effect and I have a few other suitable options.

View attachment 967667

Very nice! Is the barrel in the kit to be AI'd or kept standard 7mm-08? Does the stock have a blind mag or does it take AICS like some of your other AG Composite builds? It also occurs to me that I have a perfectly good Hunter stock packed safely somewhere in my moving boxes .

You mentioned above that you might be looking to pick up a lightweight hunting can for the build. I put a Nomad Ti in jail for the same purpose back in mid-December. I already have the steel version and liked the length/sound, but the Ti feels like an empty shaving cream can in hand... So light. The new Gen 2 Ultra 5s also seem like they'd be pretty killer hunting cans.

 

[MCMXI]

Very nice! Is the barrel in the kit to be AI'd or kept standard 7mm-08? Does the stock have a blind mag or does it take AICS like some of your other AG Composite builds? It also occurs to me that I have a perfectly good Hunter stock packed safely somewhere in my moving boxes .

Currently both barrels are short chambered for the 7mm-08 Rem so if the new owner wanted an AI chamber that wouldn't/shouldn't be a problem. Yes, both stocks are currently the blind magazine variety with a molded in spring stop. You raise an interesting point about the addition of a DBM. I've only done one conversion of an 84M stock to the AICS pattern, and with MAGPUL 5 & 10-round mags it's really slick. I hadn't thought about such a conversion for these builds but they are AG Composites stocks and basically lighter, slimer versions of the Open Country stock that I converted, so entirely possible. There is a problem though. Sadly, Jeff of CDI Precision passed away last year and as far as I know the company is no longer operating. I'm not aware of any other sources for DBM bottom metal for Kimber rifles. I have an 84M Hunter stock with the Open Country dipped pattern that's very well done so maybe I'll add that to the kit.

You mentioned above that you might be looking to pick up a lightweight hunting can for the build. I put a Nomad Ti in jail for the same purpose back in mid-December. I already have the steel version and liked the length/sound, but the Ti feels like an empty shaving cream can in hand... So light. The new Gen 2 Ultra 5s also seem like they'd be pretty killer hunting cans.

Yes, the lightest can I have is a SilencerCo Harvester .30 cal but I don't really like it. It's long and has that awful integrated brake so thanks for those recommendations. I'd like a lightweight version of the Omega which I consider to be an excellent suppressor.

I'll be ordering 7mm-08 AI reamer and gauges this week.