P.O. Ackley

A picture of Parker Otto "P.O." Ackley, a famous gunsmith and author. He is probably most known for his development of a large number of wildcat cartridges.

Parker Otto Ackley (May 25, 1903, Granville, New York – August 23, 1989) was an American gunsmith, author, columnist, and perhaps most famously, a firearms researcher and wildcat cartridge creator.

Ackley started his career as a gunsmith in Oregon in 1936, But World War II would soon interrupt. In 1945, he opened a new shop in Trinidad, Colorado, and soon became one of the largest custom gunmakers in the United States. He was also on the staff of the magazines Guns & Ammo and Shooting Times. Ackley was an instructor at the Trinidad State Junior College from 1946 to 1951, where he had the opportunity to do a great deal of research and development.

A biography was written about Ackley titled "P.O. Ackley, America's Gunsmith", by Fred Zeglin. - ISBN 9781440247590.

Cartridges Developed by P.O. Ackley

A (probably incomplete) list of cartridges developed and/or improved by Parker Otto Ackley. Keep in mind, the "Improved" cartridges could all be formed from standard cases, and firearms chambered for them could also fire their standard non-improved counterparts as well! However, other cartridges without the "improved" nomenclature, do not share these characteristics as they would require length and/or caliber changes.

• .17 Ackley Hornet, a .22 Ackley Hornet necked down to .17 caliber.

• .17 Ackley Bee: a .218 Improved Bee necked down to .17 caliber.

• .22 Ackley Improved Hornet, an improved .22 Hornet.

• .22 Eargesplitten Loudenboomer, developed to exceed 5,000 feet per second.

• .218 Ackley Improved Bee, an improved .218 Bee.

• .219 Zipper Improved, an improved .219 Zipper.

• .22/.30-30 Ackley Improved, a .30-30 Ackley Improved necked down to .22 caliber.

• .22-250 Ackley Improved, an improved .22-250 Remington.

• .223 Ackley Improved, an improved .223 Remington.

• .224 Belted Express, formed from .30-06 brass. A small number of die sets were made by RCBS.

• .228 Ackley Magnum, an improved 7×57mm Mauser necked down for .228 caliber bullets.

• 6mm AR Improved / 6mm AR Turbo, an improved 6mm AR (itself a necked-down 6.5mm Grendel).

• 6mm/.30-30 Ackley Improved, a .30-30 Ackley Improved necked down to 6mm (.243 caliber).

• .243 Ackley Improved, an improved .243 Winchester.

• .25 Ackley Krag, a .30-40 Krag necked down to .25 caliber.

• .25-06 Ackley Improved, an improved .25-06 Remington with a 40 degree angled shoulder.

• .25 Ackley Krag Short, a slightly shortened .25 Ackley Krag.
• .250-3000 Ackley Improved, an improved .250-3000 Savage.

• .257 Ackley Improved, an improved .257 Roberts.

• .260 Ackley Improved, an improved .260 Remington.

• .270 Winchester Ackley Improved, an improved .270 Winchester.

• 7×57mm Mauser Ackley Improved, an improved version of the 7×57mm Mauser cartridge with 40 degree shoulder, dies readily available.

• .280 Remington Ackley Improved, an improved version of the .280 Remington with 40 degree shoulder. Replicates ballistics of the 7mm Remington Magnum, with 30% less propellant used and less barrel erosion. Registered with SAAMI by Nosler.

• .30-30 Ackley Improved, an improved .30-30 Winchester