Model 219 .30-30

[Double 30]

Just got one with about 90% blue , Utica address and an aluminum guard for $165. Good deal? Bore is minty and she's even got a GOOD trigger.Her stock finish it alittle beat up, one of those carried alot and shot alittle gems.Hasn't been drilled and tapped and will most likely stay that way. A perfect stalking rifle if I ever saw one. Any particular problems with this model , I mean loosening up quickly or obnoxious wear points etc.? Any idea where I could bet another barrel to stub out and a steel guard.No serial # but any idea on a year of manufacture? On the left side of the reciever there is an 11 in a circle. I think these rifles would sell like cheap gas if made today, hammerless and points like my finger... 

[Double 30]

Some additional info. In addition to the 11 in a circle on the left side of the reciever there is a 3 in a circle on the right.Stamped on the barrel, inner frame and butt under the plate are J over RN34. Took her to pieces , as far as I dared to, and found ALOT of gummed up dried crap and under that a very well made rifle.Some moly grease made an already fine trigger exceptional.I'm looking foward to seeing how she shoots. One other thing, most pictures I've seen of 219's showed a color casehardened frame. Mine is blued and shows no sign of having been refinished.Are blued frames unusual for this model? I'm very impressed so far.She also scratches a difficult itch, a 26 inch .30-30... 

[Flash]

The frames came in both blued and case hardened coloring but I'm not too sure which one came first. The 220 shotgun barrels will fit your frame too. The 219 was also made in the 25-20. I've seen them at shows priced at $350. You did great!!!! This should give you an idea.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122552156

[Double 30]

Great news, bad news.The great news is she is extremely accurate. Tried her out with several factory loads and her worst group was 1 3/16 inch for 3 at 50 yards.Her best was 9/16 , again for 3 at 50.Considering her small bead and semi buckhorn sights I think this is exceptionally fine accuracy.Her 3 1/2 lb trigger pull no doubt helped. Now the bad news. Grossly excess headspace.Fired cases had primers protruding .018. I checked the depth of the rim recess and its .080 and average rim thickness is .058. .022 is alittle much! Cases look great . No rings , bulges or other problems, but I'm trying to figure a way to correct this.I think sweating in a shim into the rim recess would do it.I think , for the meantime, I'll shoot fireformed cases.She locks up like a rat -trap. Very stiff in fact, and her assembly numbers ( RN34) is present on both barrel and frame.Odd that a rifle would leave the factory like that...Any suggestions on how to correct headspace would be appreciated.She's a VERY good rifle and deserves to be shot. Thanks for the help. 

[Graybeard]

There really isn't much "shoulder" to headspace a .30-30 on. You might consider having it rechambered to .30-30 AI which has an excellent shoulder to headspace on then the overly deep rim cut wouldn't matter so much.

[Double 30]

GB Thanks for the imput. I believe the .30-30 has a more a than adequate shoulder to headspace off. I had a Marlin that developed alittle headspace after about 3500 shots and about 10,000 cyclings and seating some light loads in contact with the rifling cured the problem.I'm not planning to shoot many factory loads in this rifle as I really love to reload and squeeze the best performance out of anything that goes bang. One thing though, I've seen many references to shooting break open singles with the same locking set up as the Savages and NEF/H&R's and mention is made about not having any lube or oil on the locking surfaces.Why?Doesnt wear become an issue rather quickly? One nice thing about a 26" barrel is I can tone down loads and still equal or exceed carbine velocities. I have high hopes for this little Savage. BTW , anyone know how to take the action to pieces for a complete cleaning and lube? I'm also interested in some fancy wood for her. Anyone making replacement stocks for this model? Oh for some nice fiddleback maple...

[Flash]

I found one a few years back in 25-20 that was rechambered to 25-35 and with it came a 20 guage model 220 barrel. There is very little to take apart on the 219. Just remove the wood and soak the action in kerosene. This will loosen all the little particles and then blow it clean with compressed air. I agree with graybeard about the headspace issue but I wouldn't have it rechambered. I would just seat my bullet out further to compensate and after fireforming each round, neck size only. Save that brass for that rifle and you should be fine. I had to form all my 25-35 cases from 30-30 brass and did it just as i explained. Once the shoulder is repositioned, neck sizing will keep it there.