30-30 win to 30-40 krag rechamber

[ggraham]

I recently purchased a savage 219 in 30-30 with the intention of rechambering to 30-40.  After looking closer at the barrel I noticed that it is contoured  asymmetrically , not perfectly round to occupy the entire breech face.  Running the numbers, the two cartridges are within 3,000 psi. of each other.  The 30-40 is .275 in. longer, and .017 in. larger in diameter than the 30-30.  Bottom line, will this be a safe rechamber?

[gunnut69]

I really don't understand the breech you describe.. Is the chamber not round at it's rear? The 30-40 may not generate a lot more pressure than a 30-30 but it does generate more pressure and combined with the much larger surface area of the casehead to transmit the thrust to the standing breach I would aviod the conversion. The 30-30 was the lagest round chambered by the factory and the 30-40 was available at the time. Evidently they didn't believe the combination a safe one.. Just load the 30-30 and enjoy..

[RonF]

I suspect they may have thought the .30-40 wouldn't be very popular, as well.

I don't know much about these rifles at all.  Are they about the same strength class as the Handirifle?  Those are chambered for some rounds that are both larger in diameter and higher pressure than the Krag.  Someone educate me, please.

RonF

[MSP Ret]

as a little further info on what RonF has said there have been qiute a few 30/30 Handirifles rechambered to 30/40 Krag, that is a fairly popular caliber in the H&R's. Those fine classic rimmed cartridges work very well in the single shot platform....<><....

[gunnut69]

Firstly the 30-40 was a very popular round. It's popularity was such that Ruger offered the No.3 in that caliber.. The 219 is a cast iron machine and is not as strong as the HandiRifle. To chamber the old savage rifle to a 30-40 may work but for how long? How will it fail? There are too many alternatives to risk injury to such an endever.. Old cast iron SxS shotguns regularly fail and a shotgun is loaded to considerably lower pressures than even the 30-30. The 30-40 is loaded to higher pressures and it's larger casehead area exerts more thrust against the action.. This is a risky conversion. It will likely work, for a while.. Of course it is your face.. unless you sell the rifle or your estate does then there is the liability of selling a dangerous rifle..

[RonF]

Thanks for clarifying the strength issue, Gunnut.

RonF

[coyotejoe]

I recall reading a gun magazine many many years ago where P. O. Ackley, as the gunsmithing editor said "yes, a 219 30/30 can be rechambered to 30/40 Krag, and this is the last time I'll answer that question". That stuck in my mind for all these years because it was not like P.O.Ackley to be so abrupt with a reader, apparently he had been asked quite a few times. I'd trust that Ackley knew what he was talking about.

[ggraham]

So the concern is actually the frame and not the barrel?  I know the cheaper single shots around the turn of the last century were of cast iron and some of cast steel.  This gun was made after 1938, I'll look into it but I am hoping that Savage was using modern materials and technology by then.