Author Topic: 22/30-30 ackley improved questions (Read 2435 times)

ace71 · « **on:** April 23, 2004, 07:28:30 AM »

I'm interested in having a barrel made for my encore in 22/30-30 AI and was wondering if anybody could shed some light on this cartridge?? How easy is it to form from 30-30 brass?? What do I need to buy as far as forming dies are concerned?? Any information about this cartridge would help alot.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2004, 08:03:48 AM »

Unless you "just gotta" have such a wildcat why not just buy the .225 Winchester which is basically the same as what you want but has brass strong enough to take the kinda pressures you are likely gonna wanna run it in an Encore and has loading data available? Case capacity is nearly identical.

GB

skb2706 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2004, 10:32:32 AM »

Have to agree. I make up cases for my 6mm 30-30 AI and it is kinda of pain. Going down from .243 to .224 would be the real trick...it can and has been done but it is a tedious operation at best. Just about the only advantage ....small as it may be is the cheap and plentiful supply of 30-30 brass.
I made up my form dies to get to 6mm out of a series of cheap Lee dies that I modified to get what I wanted otherwise you are looking at some expensive custom jobs.
If you like tinkering with those kinds of things then by all means go for it, but if you are doing it for some kind of performance you will likely be disappointed as you will gain nothing over a lock stock and barrel (no pun intended) 22-250 or .225 Win.

stratocaster · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2004, 01:55:33 PM »

I have a 22-30/30AI and making brass is not all that difficult. Take 30-30 brass and run it through a 7-30 walters die. Next, I run it through a 6.5 neck die made by Hornady. This die was about $15 and it is designed to do just that, neck down to 6.5. Finally, I run it through the 22-30/30ai die and that's it.

The 22-30/30ai, as said before, will put you in the same class as a 22-250. My goal was to have a "hot" 22 with a rim. I already had the dies, and got a great deal on a 26" 223 Encore barrel. I had it rechambered to the 22-30/30ai and the whole thing cost me under $200.

If I did not get such a great deal on the barrel, I would have ordered a 225 Fox Ridge barrel. After all this, I was wanting a similar setup for the pistol and ended up calling Ed T/C's and he had a 15" full bull 225 win Fox Ridge barrel in stock, just what I wanted! I have been playing with this for about 3 months now. The 225 win definitely has its advantages, mostly the heavier brass. But, if you just have to have a wildcat, the 22-30/30ai sure is a good one (if you don't mind making the brass)

BTW, the 225 win brass can be had for around $10 for 50.

skb2706 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2004, 05:05:01 AM »

Strato - When starting with new brass at what point do you have to anneal. Mine have to be fire formed once I get them down to 6mm....if I don't anneal prior to fire forming they will split the neck/shoulder. What kind of performance do you get ?

stratocaster · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2004, 08:00:20 AM »

SKB,
Good catch, I knew I forgot something. I usually anneal after I run it through the 6.5 neck die. If time permits and I'm feeling ambitious, I will anneal again after the first time I fireform. The performance is what you would expect from a 22-250. Let me flip through my notes this week sometime and I'll post some load data and velocity stats.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2004, 10:00:42 AM »

Quote

The 22-30/30ai, as said before, will put you in the same class as a 22-250.

NOT with save and sane reloading it won't. The case will not hold as much powder as the .22.250 case and so you're gonna hafta go to much higher pressures if you expect similar ballistics. The .30-30 case is notoriously weak as compared to most centerfire rifle cases intended for higher pressures to begin with so loaded to pressures higher than SAMMI is not a real good idea.

If you just gotta have a rimmed case to reach same ballistics as the .22--250 then go to the larger Swift case. Yeah it's rimmed even tho the rim isn't as large as on the .30-30 or .225 Win. The improved versions of the .225 Win. like the .226 JDJ pretty much equal the .22-250 in case capacity and have the advantage of being extremely strong.

GB

stratocaster · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2004, 12:00:06 PM »

I dug up my notes and data and here goes:

40g V-Max
39g VV-140
Rem brass
WLMR primers
Mean velocity 3987
*Not real hot, just shoots fantastic out of my barrel!!

50g V-max
37g IMR4064
Rem brass
WLMR primers
Mean velocity 3972

55g V-max
35g IMR4064
Rem brass
WLMR primers
Mean velocity 3744

All my initial load developments were with remington brass. I have been using winchester lately and have found it to be a bit thicker. I would like to find some 375 win brass as this is the way to go in talking with others who have 30-30 based wildcats.

I pretty much use WLMR primers in just about everything. They are obviously not needed, WMR would be more appropriate.

As always, these loads have proven safe in my barrel. Please use this for reference purposes only!

I checked my results on the 22-30/30ai with those found in an old P.O. Ackley book I have. He shows slightly faster MV than I do, but we are both in the same ballpark.