How/when do I order .270 AI (wildcat dies)

[Alibiiv]

I am presently having two .270 Ackley Improved rifles built; both by the same gunsmith. They started out to be .280 AI (wildcat.40`), however that got changed. I'd like to get started ordering the dies for the rifles. I'm not sure of how/when to order them. The gunsmith told me that he would provide me with a reamer drawing. Should I get the rifles and fireform a couple of cases and then send the cases to the company making the reloading dies? I'm thinking either Whidden or Hornady, hydroform dies, but not certain there either?

 

[TwoMore]

they will likely want 3 shot pieces of brass from that chamber , they can use the drawing but wont guarantee a perfect fit
https://www.whiddengunworks.com/custom-reloading-dies/
edit I love my hydro dies for my wildcats, now I only shoot two different one so it wasnt to bad on price. i dont think i would be able to do them if I had a large amount of wildcat cartridges

 

[TwoMore]

my hydro dies were made from the prints and my resizers and seaters were made with fired brass good luck with your builds

 

[can1010]

I always send twice fired brass and print to Whidden . I really like their dies. you can go on line now and order custom dies and fax or email the print and get dies while you wait but if the print and reamer don't match it is on you

 

[Alibiiv]

my hydro dies were made from the prints and my resizers and seaters were made with fired brass good luck with your builds

Thanks and thanks for your input.

 

[Alibiiv]

I always send twice fired brass and print to Whidden . I really like their dies. you can go on line now and order custom dies and fax or email the print and get dies while you wait but if the print and reamer don't match it is on you

Thanks for the input. I don't like to be on the end "where it is on me" because I was inpatient. I'll wait until I have the rifles, some fireformed brass, and the reamer print. This stuff is all new to me, and the more information that I can get on it the better. I don't need to reinvent the wheel. Thanks

 

[sureshot21]

I am really happy with the 6.5 x 55 AI Dies that https://www.ch4d.com/
made me.

Under $100 for a fl sizer and seat die.

 

[35 Whelen]

What velocity do you think you will get out of the 270 Win. A.I. ? P.O. Ackley did not think it was worth doing. I'm a 270 Win. fan and have always wonder what the A. I. version would really do.

 

[Alibiiv]

my hydro dies were made from the prints and my resizers and seaters were made with fired brass good luck with your builds

Thanks for your input. Did Whidden make your dies?

 

[lancetkenyon]

I have a buddy who has a 26" 1:8" fast twist .270AI. He pushes the 170 Berger @ 2985fps in his easily. Not a hot load in his rifle.

 

[Alibiiv]

What velocity do you think you will get out of the 270 Win. A.I. ? P.O. Ackley did not think it was worth doing. I'm a 270 Win. fan and have always wonder what the A. I. version would really do.

We seem to have the same likes in cartridges, there's two 35 Whelens in the safe also. I've done a lot of reading on the .270 AI, and yes I've read what Ackley wrote about the .270 not worth the AI because he considered the cartridge already overbore. Well that was 50+ years ago, and powders have come a long way since then. My question is how come the .280AI is toted as the latest break through in the 7mm range, it's got .007 thousands larger bore, and that's not considered overbore? I personally spoke with Ackley's son in law who told me that he and his son both have.270AI, and love them. Is the 6.5-06 overbore, or the 26 Nosler overbore with the amount of powder it uses? If I couldn't get the.270AI built, it in all likelihood been a.270 Winchester build. I figure that if I'm happy with.270 Winchester ballistics, whatever Improved results I get is worth the build to me. I strongly believe that to get the results/improvement out of the.270AI, you need the 26 inch barrel to do it. My build has a 26 inch Lilja barrel on the Ruger 77 tang safety action. I'm using this rifle for deer and hopefully antelope. I'm thinking 140-150 grain bullets, although I like the 130 grain in the.270. I've read estimates that Improving the .270 will render only 5-7%, for
Me that's 5-7% better ballistics over what I consider to be already good ballistics! I'm a bit away from putting the build together, when I finally get to shoot this rifle and chrony it I'll
let you know. Your ID name is easy to remember. Presently my rifles are at least two months away, and another two to three months for the Whidden dies.

 

[FEENIX]

I am presently having two .270 Ackley Improved rifles built; both by the same gunsmith. They started out to be .280 AI (wildcat.40`), however that got changed. I'd like to get started ordering the dies for the rifles. I'm not sure of how/when to order them. The gunsmith told me that he would provide me with a reamer drawing. Should I get the rifles and fireform a couple of cases and then send the cases to the company making the reloading dies? I'm thinking either Whidden or Hornady, hydroform dies, but not certain there either?

My .270 AI dies are Redding and does very very well. I have two accuracy loads - .270 Win and .270 AI - I chose not to fireform. As TwoMore noted Whidden reloading and hydroforming dies is the way to go and exactly what I did fro my .30 LARA. John built it off from 3 brass fired off my rifles chamber/reamer. The only thing I changed from the dies are the lock rings. All of my dies now have Hornady sure-loc lock rings. Good luck.

Ed

 

[FEENIX]

What velocity do you think you will get out of the 270 Win. A.I. ? P.O. Ackley did not think it was worth doing. I'm a 270 Win. fan and have always wonder what the A. I. version would really do.

This is exactly what inspired me to go the .270 AI route over the .280 AI. My .270 AI with 30" Lilja 1:8" 3G is propelling the 175 Matrix VLD at 2993 FPS with H4831SC (my current accuracy load in AI, 2919 FPS with .270 Win). I have gotten near 3100 FPS but group opened up and with pressure signs I can do without. Others are reporting faster velocities with RL26 but have not tried it yet.

Ed

 

[Alibiiv]

My .270 AI dies are Redding and does very very well. I have two accuracy loads - .270 Win and .270 AI - I chose not to fireform. As TwoMore noted Whidden reloading and hydroforming dies is the way to go and exactly what I did fro my .30 LARA. John built it off from 3 brass fired off my rifles chamber/reamer. The only thing I changed from the dies are the lock rings. All of my dies now have Hornady sure-loc lock rings. Good luck.

Ed

Thanks Ed, I too like the Hornady lock rings.