.22-250 Ackley Improved

The .22-250 Ackley Improved (AI) is a high-performance wildcat rifle cartridge based on the popular .22-250 Remington. Developed by legendary gunsmith P.O. Ackley, this improved version features a steeper 40-degree shoulder and less body taper, resulting in increased powder capacity and improved ballistic efficiency. The design allows shooters to achieve higher velocities—typically 100 to 200 feet per second faster than standard .22-250 loads—without significantly increasing pressure. This makes the .22-250 AI especially attractive to varmint hunters and long-range precision shooters who demand flatter trajectories and minimal wind drift. While factory ammunition is not commercially available, the cartridge can be formed by firing standard .22-250 Remington rounds in a properly chambered .22-250 AI rifle, a process known as fireforming. Once fireformed, the brass can be reloaded multiple times due to the reduced case stretching. The .22-250 AI retains the superb accuracy and low recoil of its parent case, but offers notable performance enhancements in terms of velocity and downrange energy. However, since it is a wildcat cartridge, it requires handloading expertise and a custom or re-chambered barrel. For experienced shooters and reloaders, the .22-250 AI represents an excellent balance of speed, accuracy, and efficiency in a .22 caliber platform.