ORIGINAL: Vapodog
As for the Ackley Improved version it's a well known fact that the ackley improved cartridges are mostly not worth the extra cost of build and reloading. Extra performance is truly a myth and lately most advocates say that the brass lasts longer as they have finally realized that the performance claims are pure BS....The brass life will also be disproved I believe.
I'm not familiar with the AI Whelan, but was quite surprised to read your claims covering all Ackley Improved cartridges. Ackley himself regarded some, maybe even many of his improved versions as experiments that proved to provide little to no value.
At the same time there are several that were regarded by him as being worthwhile. I have several I do feel have been worthwhile chambers. Examples - 2 I feel are significant improvements are the 250-3000 AI and 257 Roberts AI. At the same time, I have a 30.06 AI that probably could be considered an insignificant improvement.
Could you expand any on the facts you refer to? I would be interested in reading them. I'll promise you I'm not interested in getting into an internight fight, and will disappear into the woodwork before letting the thread go downhill, but would like to see your basis.