My Carbine project.. uh oh, dillema next season 357 or 30-30 this season...

[Slasher]

  Been mulling over doing a rebarrel on my handi to 357. Plan was to use the straight youth stock and then bob the barrel to carbine length of 16-18 inches get a smith to mount a peep/receiver sight for a nice lil still hunt/ tree stand rifle for whitetail... Here in GA,  where I hunt 35 yds is about avg shot and 75 yds is long... so not worried about range

Decided to go forward on it and... called H&R- low and behold a 8 week wait time for a 357 barrel won't work for this year... (Its my son's deer rifle in 243- that would mean no range time prior to the season...), but anyone ever bob a 30-30 barrel? I think that Winchester used it in the trapper w/16.5 in barrel but can't recall as the only one I shot was chambered in 357... 

Anyone know how bad muzzle blast would be? Kick shouldn't be bad, but I am thinking I'll have to name it, "Great Balls of Fire!!!"

I am going to have to decide to go forward or wait this weekend and get it sent off Monday if I do...

[quickdtoo]

As for having a smith mount a peep sight, that's something you can do, see the Peep and Firesights link in the FAQs.

Mt3030 had a short barreled 30-30 H&R, but he left it at 18" to minimize muzzle blast, he's no longer with us, so his posts will have to do for reference.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,111909.msg1098344556.html#msg1098344556

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,105423.msg1098296727.html#msg1098296727

[Slasher]

Thanks Quick... I tried the search with no luck, but that was it exactly!!! Okay, I am going to do it!!! Have time to think about the barrel length before it goes to the smith... So much good info on here, just need to pay attention and remember where to find it...

Now,

I need to just do it!!!

Thanks

Will update later..

[cwlongshot]

I have a couple marlins with 16.5" barrels. YES they have considerable muzzel BLAST!! I would say it would be distracting for a young/inexperienced shooter.  If you hand load, you could fix that right quick!!

 CW

[MSP Ret]

I have a Handi with a .280 Remington barrel that has been shortened to 19". It is a great gun and more than adequate for deer out to 100-150 yards and anything inside of that. The muzzle blast is a bit loud but you never remember it if you are shooting at game and should have hearing protection on if shooting paper anyway. I call my little beauty "Thunderboomer". It is a very handy Handi and a fine,  easy to handle, short barreled woods rifle with the power to reach out if needed. I say go for the shortened 30-30, especially if you reload....<><....

[PartsMan]

I have a Handi with a .280 Remington barrel that has been shortened to 19". 

After you shoot a deer do you use the muzzle flash to cook them?
Actually I have heard of worse.
I read about a 300mag(not handi) that was cut down in increments to test the effects.

[greg916]

Slasher, my brother in law has a contender super 14 in 30/30.  the muzzle flash and blast is fierce i don't have a chronograph, but judging by trajectory, i bet he dosen't lose more than 200fps over what i get in my handi

[quickdtoo]

I get 2330fps with the Rem 150gr 30-30 factory ammo in the 22" Handi barrel, Hornady lists their 150gr bullets at a top velocity of 1900fps with a max load of N130, 1850fps or less for all the rest of their tested powders in the 14" TC. On the other hand, Speer shows 2171fps with their 150gr bullets with W748 in the 14" TC,  that will give you an idea of the velocity loss with the shorter barrel. Pick the right powder and bullet, and you should be able to maintain good velocity.

Tim

[Slasher]

Well 18in barrel  should be fine as with the straight handled youth stock 16.5 in barrel would be less than 30 inches long for the whole gun!!!

Might reduce some of the muzzle flash/blast to reasonable levels... But then again.. Its not going to be a range rifle, how many rounds do we fire at animals each year? I have ear plugs and muffs for range duty.....So, why not shoot great balls of Fire???

[choctaw]

Winchester used it in the trapper w/16.5 in barrel but can't recall as the only one I shot was chambered in 357...  Huh

I had a Trapper for years.  I love short rifles because they are so dang handy.  I was never bothered by the muzzle blast, but then again I wasn't shooting from the bench (good point Slasher). 

Hmmmm, bob a 30-30 barrel down then mount the whole contraption on youth stocks.  Oooooh, I like that!

[Slasher]

Hmmmm, bob a 30-30 barrel down then mount the whole contraption on youth stocks.  Oooooh, I like that!

Well I have both, but being short I shoot it fine and enjoy the straight grip... receiver boxed up and ready to go... Its actually my sons with a 243 bull barrel and is very nose heavy- no big deal as he shoots out of a box blind or two man stand and uses a rest... but dang if isn't one of the best naturally pointing stocks for me...

[J-Train]

I just completed a carbine project with my .45-70 Handi that I had rescued from a pawn shop.  I found an adult-size straight-grip stock from GunParts for about 20 bucks, unfinished.  I took the forend off, stripped it of its finish, and cut off that tacky little Schnabel tip (don't get me wrong, I like a Schnabel on a fine stock, never liked it on NEF's).  I finished the stocks with a walnut stain and Birchwood Casey stock finish.  A Pachmayer recoil pad completed the project.  I left the factory sights on for now, but may go with a Williams peep sight later.  The factory barrel is 22 inches, but the finished rifle is only a tad over 36 inches long and balances like a dream, just ahead of the trigger guard.  If it were any shorter, it would be butt-heavy.

I picked up a NEF catalog at a gun shop last week, and they are selling a straight-grip carbine now in .45 Colt.  It's a dead ringer for my .45-70, except for a curved buttplate and the Schnabel forend. 

[handi243]

Partsman that info was from Clint Smith at Thunder Ranch They started with a 24" barrel if i remember correct and cut it back 2" at a time to show people that barrel lenght doesn't change accuracy they got it to the legal limit of 16" and there was almost no change in the accuracy. Yes it was a very loud and bright it end up being about 200fps slower. Clint ended up giving the rifle to the guy who did the shooting (he told Clint before the test that he didn't think he would like it) The guy (can't remember his name) said it made a perfect  UTR (Urban Tactical Rifle). Wish i had that article.

[LEO]

I have a 16 inch 30-30 lever action and the blast is definitely more noticeable than a 20 inch barrel, it is a non-issue for me because of how I use the rifle but it could be a distraction for a novice shooter.  For me the trade off is well worth the increase in maneuverability of the rifle, however a handi cut to 18" would be shorter OAL than the lever action.  My next handi project is going to be a 45-70 cut to 16", I am thinking I will probably stock it with a straight youth stock with a Simms pad installed.  I have a 357 handi and its muzzle blast is not noticeable at all and I have shot 16" 357 rifle before and the blast and flash is a non-issue with them as well and while I haven't tested it to be sure, I suspect you are getting what you are going to get out of a 357 Magnum in 16 inches of barrel anyway.