Author Topic: 30-30AI at Midway (Read 2127 times)

Moe · « **on:** September 14, 2004, 07:39:44 AM »

Midway has 30-30AI 14" barrels on sale and in stock for $200.00. Lee dies are $22-25 depending on where you get them. Several shooters really love this round in a Contender. Thinking about one myself. Boredom at work does that to me.

KYODE · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2004, 09:44:06 AM »

it's a great barrel...thats for sure!

i think i've also seen a 14" 221 fireball in factory form there, along with 14" .223 ackley improved barrels. great choices for contender shooters, imo.

since i'm here.....i'll show my 3 shot 100yard group recently shot with my 30-30AI contender. :grin:

not bad for a deer hunting barrel :grin: course....maybe a bit of luck was involved.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/KYODE/3shotgroup3.jpg

Moe · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2004, 10:25:00 AM »

I knew you would see this post and reply. Now all we need is SD to chime in...

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2004, 11:10:00 AM »

With an invitation like that a person just has to say something. However for the life of me I can not think of anything to say about the .30-30 AI that hasn't already been said many times over.

Oh, I did think of something. While not as good as KYODE's group, I did manage a 3 shot group at 100 yards last Saturday that measured .420" center to center. Shooting was done off a portable bench, Harris BR Model Bypod and a Sandbag under the grip.

The .30-30 AI is just one of those cartridges that seems to have the proper balance of Case Capacity vs Bore Capacity to make an excellent choice for 14" Handgun Barrels. There are quite a few different powders that seem to be working quite well, and there is quite a few bullets available that seem to work well at these velocity levels. All of this combined makes it a really good handgun cartridge.

SD Handgunner

Moe · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2004, 12:41:50 PM »

I know a lot has been said about many calibers over the years, but sometimes I just like hearing it again. Haven't owned one of everything yet but I'm working on it. Sometimes we will get a FNG to say something that we have not heard before.

KYODE · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2004, 03:26:31 PM »

sorry!.....i would if i knew how :? i'm lucky enough just to get one posted at all. :?
maybe i could delete it all together.....or, maybe you or chris can fix it. :?

i just made it a url......all i can do :shock:....that don't work either :roll:

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** September 14, 2004, 04:13:10 PM »

Very strange. I know the image worked earlier but now that you've changed it to just a URL I can't make it open at all. Double check to see that you have all the URL correctly. If you can't resize the image we'll fix it as a URL as I mentioned. I can help but must know what the full correct URL is and it doesn't seem to be working at all now.

You don't by any chance have a limit on how often it can show at that site do you?

We can host it here at GBO for you if need be.

KYODE · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2004, 05:04:40 PM »

:? very, very strange. i just now tried it, and it worked ok. maybe it was a temporary site problem :?

fyrepowrx · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2004, 05:35:06 PM »

cknight;

i didnt get one of each like you mentioned but i did get the fireball & the .30-30 AI... have not played with the 30/30 AI much yet but the 14" fireball is a real shooter... would have to say if i had to get rid of all my other small bore TC barrels (god forbid!!!) the fireball would remain..

a questions for the 30/30 AI guys, what single bullet/powder combination would you vote "most lkely to succeed" in your barrels? and what accuracy comparisons have you noticed between the lighter bullets like the Hornady/Sierra 130 & 135 grain SSP bullets and the heavier 150+ grainers?

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2004, 03:34:07 AM »

When I first aquired my barrel I tried IMR-4198, H-4198SC, H-322, W-748 & AA2230 with 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips, and IMR-3031 with 150gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. In my barrel (an old .30 Herrett with a 1 in 14" twist and the 6 land & groove rifling that SSK rechambered for me) the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips were much more accurate than the 150's. Also either of the 4198's produced the best accuracy with the 125's.

I believe Shortgun and KYODE have tried some different combinations in their barrels, which are factory T/C Barrels with 1 in 10" twists and the newer style 8 land & groove rifling.

SD Handgunner

KYODE · « **Reply #10 on:** September 15, 2004, 10:54:07 AM »

me personally......first thing i'd try would be imr4198 with 125-135gr bullets. h4198, could do well....i've never shot it. i've had good reports on AA2015, RL-7, and RL-10X also.
i havn't shot many 150's, but have good reports from IMR3031, RL-7, and W748.
i shoot 130gr hornady ssp's for my current deer load. the 125gr sierra sp shoots great in my barrel. i need to try it in a hunting load.

i shot a few 165gr sierra's with blue dot powder that was really accurate, but they were fireform loads with reduced charge of blue dot powder.

my bullet choices..... :? 110gr v-max,125gr nosler, 125gr sierra sp, 130gr hornady ssp, 135gr sierra sspb(if ya can get it), 150gr nosler bt, and 150gr hornady sst. depending what i wanted to shoot, or hunt.

it's hard for me to nail it down much closer. the dang barrel shoots a lot of stuff excellent. :shock: i started with imr4198, and 130gr hornady's, and it was great off the bat.

h4895 showed potential.......h335 was accurate also, but puts out a heck of a fireball. :shock:

Moe · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2005, 11:55:06 AM »

can't remember if your barrel was factory or not?

handgunhuntr · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2005, 11:46:54 PM »

Does anyone have a pic of the 30-30 win next to an AI for comparison?

KYODE · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2005, 02:25:37 AM »

my 14" 30-30AI barrel is the factory special run. it was the one midway had, but i got it from "ed's contender's" after midway was out.

midway has a sale on now for $191 :shock: heck of a buy!

casper_zip · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2005, 02:56:15 PM »

Hey there & especially to Kyode. I have been doing lots of research and studying on the 30-30 AI. I have seen your name come up on several places on the internet about this caliber. I ordered a barrel and dies from Midway a couple of days ago. I am really 30 caliber "poor". I shoot the 30 Herrett, 30-30 Win. and 30/223 in the Contender, and shoot the 308 in the 15" Encore. I love the 30 calibers. So, I guess I'll be well rounded in this one in my battery.

I couldn't get the page or pics you had listed, but I know (or the other guys said so) that you were really getting some tight groups with your loads in the 30-30 AI.

Well, better go, post some of your best loads if you don't mind. Thanks in advance.

Casper_Zip :grin: :grin: :grin:

Reed1911 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2005, 02:54:18 AM »

If there is enough interest, we'll make a run a .30-30 AI brass. While it may be of little use to you that have been shooting a while some of the new owner might want fully formed brass right of the bat. I'm guessing cost would be about 31-33 per 100.

Moe · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2005, 09:12:04 AM »

I couldn't take it any more. I bought one of these from Midway while on sale. I was hoping they would sell out or go back up in price, but NO!
Look for some more sale items to pay for this.

handirifle · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2005, 11:17:46 AM »

Handgunhunter

Here is a Pic of a 300BRM (almost identical to the 30-30 AI)

The 30-30 has much more slope to the shoulder. Sorry couldn't find a good pic.

Moe · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2005, 02:53:30 PM »

Got my 30-30AI Wednesday and shot it today. I was very impressed with the fireform loads. It was very accurate, and for a TC barrel it did not have a huge throat. In fact I am not sure I could load 150gr bullets. Don't plan to anyway. I have had many calibers over the years and I think I am going to really like this one.
Kyode: you were right, this is one neat looking round. I like it!!

Tad Houston · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2005, 04:36:16 PM »

You guys went and made me buy one too! So far though i have no regrets. I have not shot it yet, but from what i read here, i shoudnt be disappointed. What i was wondering is can i just shoot some factory 30-30 ammo i have kicking around to make brass for it? Thanks alot guys!

KYODE · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2005, 04:38:09 PM »

:grin: good! i think a lot of people would like it if they shot it a lil bit, and didn't expect it, or push it to be a "magnum" round.
mine doesn't have a long throat. i can easily reach the lands with 130gr hornady's, with it seated close to one caliber deep. havn't tried loading 150's yet either.
let me know if ya find good loads, or what works well in your barrel. always interested to hear that stuff.

Tad Houston · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2005, 04:39:35 PM »

You guys went and made me buy one too! So far though i have no regrets. I have not shot it yet, but from what i read here, i shoudnt be disappointed. What i was wondering is can i just shoot some factory 30-30 ammo i have kicking around to make brass for it? Thanks alot guys!

KYODE · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2005, 04:42:03 PM »

yes...........factory ammo works in AI barrels. i've shot a couple boxes of 150gr win hp's in mine. accuracy would be very usable for 100-150 yard hunting, but not spectacular. it did form cases just fine though.

Moe · « **Reply #23 on:** March 18, 2005, 10:25:02 AM »

This was the only powder suitable on hand when I got this barrel and it was extremely accurate right out of the box. I have used this powder on many 30-30 and .225 Win based rounds. Always with very good accuracy. Has anyone else tried this powder? I didn't see it listed above. I see no reason to change and I have several calibers that use it.

KYODE · « **Reply #24 on:** March 18, 2005, 01:29:39 PM »

i tried some H4895 with 125 and 130gr bullets outta mine. accuracy and velocity was only mediocre so i didn't pursue it further.
pm me your actual load, if you get time. maybe it's something i could try myself sometime. :wink:

hoser · « **Reply #25 on:** March 23, 2005, 07:08:39 PM »

I picked up several Contender barrels at a gun show last weekend. One of them was a 16" blued barrel marked 30-30 Win. It looked new with no marks on it so I cleaned it and fired a couple of rounds through it. After the second round, I looked at the extracted brass and it didn't look like 30-30 anymore. I suspect it has been rechambered to 30-30 AI but it isn't marked in any way. I miced the brass and it fits the dimensions I found on my RCBS load data so I'm guessing I've got an AI. Does anyone have a picture of a 30-30 Win and an AI? After reading all the comments on this cartridge, I'm very enthused about working up some loads for it.