PO Ackly barrels

[Freezer]

  I had picked up a project rifle at the local gun shop.  It had been ridden hard and put way wet.  It is an Interarms MkX Mauser chambered in 7mag.  I refinished the stock and floated the barrel.  I also added a Timney trigger as the one on it didn't meet my standards.  There was some pitting on the barrel and other areas where the bluing was thin.  As I cleaned and buffed the bad spots I noticed the barrel was made by PO Ackley Inc.  I never knew he had a barrel company.  I can only assume the quality of the barrel from the way it shot.  What can you tell me about this rifle/barrel combo?

[tsanzone]

In the early 80s I was enrolled at a gunsmith school in Trinidad Colo where P.O. Ackley had been a former instructor. One of the older instructors had some barrels that Ackley had bored and rifled & contoured. The old instructor explained that the metal was so hard that Ackley pre-contoured them to save custom builders the trouble. Its funny; most of the barrels he was selling were 7mm. I still have one or two of them somewhere; for that custom rifle project that never seems to happen.

[saltydog]

An Ackley barrel is a premium find but as you describe may be shot out or ruined by poor care. Looks as if some one bought one and had it installed on a Mauser type action - check to make sure it is not an improved as PO is famous for. From my understanding 7 REM MAG was not his favorite as he questioned any real performance gain over a 280 or 270. Improved standard calibers were his passion.

[roper]

I've got a friend with a PO Ackley barrel on Mark 10 in 30-06 and here in Colorado you still find rifles with Ackley marked barrels in various calibers.  He did lots of work for guys here after he moved to Utah.