Author Topic: .30-30 to .375 win, or .38-55  (Read 613 times)

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Offline Mack in N.C.

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.30-30 to .375 win, or .38-55
« on: December 18, 2008, 04:20:07 PM »
can a 30-30 barrel be  rebored to .375 or 38-55?..i think the rims are the same?....just wondering as i have a foreign made singele shot 30-30 that has a real heavy barrel and i have 3 other 30-30's, so this would let be have a bigger bore rifle......if it can who would you recommend ?...........thanks for any replies.....mack

Offline John Traveler

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Re: .30-30 to .375 win, or .38-55
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2008, 05:01:35 PM »
The .30-30, .38-55 and the .375 Winchester share the basic case diameter and rim dimensions.  The .30-30 was derived from the .38-55, and the .375 Winchester is a modernized, improved version of the .38-55 with more consistent barrel bore dimensions.

If your conversion is a lever action .30-30 to .38-55, it can be easily done by re-barreling and at the most, changing out the left and right cartridge guides on an M1894 Winchester.  It is even easier on a Marlin rifle.

As for converting those same lever actions to .375 Winchester, it is not advised, because the larger cartidge has considerably more breech thrust than the original .30-30.  A responsible gunsmith would not do it.

A single shot .30-30 is likely a good candidate for conversion to either of the larger calibers, and is easily done by re-barrelling.  The .38-55 is particularly favored by the BPCR shooters for mid-range competition shooting.
John Traveler

Offline Nobade

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Re: .30-30 to .375 win, or .38-55
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2008, 01:50:45 AM »
Talk to Clearwater reboring. They can do what you want if the screw holes and dovetail cuts aren't too close to the finished bore.
"Give me a lever long enough, and a place to stand, and I'll break the lever."

Offline Mack in N.C.

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Re: .30-30 to .375 win, or .38-55
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2008, 03:49:14 PM »
thanks,  i will get in touch with them.....mack