.30-06 Ackley Improved Model 70 is a shooter!

[HaveGun]

My dad gave me this rifle and said he was getting 1.5" to 2" groups with it at 100 yards and said every time he took it in the woods, he never saw an animal, so thought it was bad luck and gave it to me.

Pre-'64 Model 70 action with a 20" XTR Featherweight barrel chambered in .30-06 AI in an Al Biesen stock. He also gave me some composite stock he had for it. I put the action in the composite stock and tucked away the invaluable Al Biesen stock for safe-keeping since I'm hoping to use this as my primary deer/elk rifle.

I worked up some loads for it since the load he was using was 5 grains over max according to the latest manuals. Max is 62 grains of RL-22 and he was using 67 grains.

I took the rifle out to his place today and used his range since the wind finally died down. The results were impressive.



Sighted it in using cheap Federal 150 gr Hi-Shok Soft Points in .30-06. Figured I'd use those to fire-form some fresh cases and wasn't expecting the group I got; 1/2"!!



Then tried some 178gr ELD-X bullets with 62 grains of RL-22; the max load listed. Mediocre with a best of 1 3/4". But the barrel was heating up.



Then tried the Nosler 180gr Ballistic Tip with 48 grains of Varget. Amazingly accurate with a 3/8" group, but this is a slower round but plenty adequate for deer.



Running out of time before work since the barrel takes so long to cool down. Dad convinced me to try his over-max loads using Winchester Ballistic Silvertip in 180gr and 67 grains of RL-22. 7/8". He said he's getting nearly 3000fps with that load and I don't doubt it. It hurts!

Then tried some 180gr Nosler Ballistic Tips with 57 grains of 4350 and got a 1/2" group, then a giant 2 1/8" group as the barrel heated up, again.



Overall, super happy with the results. I would hunt with any of those loads. Checked for signs of over pressure with the over max loads and primers were a little flat, but not too concerning...

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[2Wheels4Ever]

Awesome write up, and thanks for sharing. While 30-.06AI was not the favorite of his calibers, I'm sure it's still a very sweet shooter.

 

[CLT65]

20+ years ago I bought a Remington 700 with a custom barrel chambered for 30-06AI. It had a fogged up 6-18x Burris scope on it, and I've learned over the years to never pay much for someone else's unknown "custom" work. I got it for what the action was worth because the seller didn't know who did the barrel work or what kind of quality it was. I figured on saving it for a custom project of my own someday.

I sent the scope off the Burris, and they replaced it with a brand new one! Talk about a great warranty- I was honest and told them I wasn't the original buyer. Then I shot the rifle and decided to keep the barrel that's on it. It's a tack-driver.