30-30 ackley improved

[Poolman]

Does anyone reload for this. I was thinking that the case life might be longer than the standard cases. I see in my Ken Waters pet loads book that he thinks the standard 30-30 is only good for a couple of times. I'd like to get a new barrel(Thompson G2 Contender) and have a few hundred cases from both Winchester and Remington laying around.
Any help would be apreciated.

[Gavinator]

 I do, you should too. Have you read Larry Sand's article?

[ron haralson]

I wouldn't discourage you, but if you are doing it because of case life expectancy, I don't think it's worth your time. My 30 - 30 brass lasts as well as most - far longer than one or two reloads. The only time you should run into that problem(common with SMLE's in 303 brit) is when you full length size every time in a situation involving excess headspace and a stretchy action. After you've fired the brass in your rifle, either back the sizing die off 1/16 - 1/8 inch or buy a neck sizing die. Lee's collet die works well for me. I have brass that I've used for years - target shooting, not just hunting.

Good luck whatever your decision

[Poolman]

I thank you for your reply. I would neck size also.

[Graybeard]

The single biggest problem with the .30-30 AI is an almost complete lack of pressure tested data for it. Oh there is plenty of "internet data" to be had but how safe it is and at what pressures it's gonna be running is anyone's guess.

Looking at it logically you should be able to gain at most 100 fps velocity from the AI version over the standard IF pressures are the same. Yet I've seen folks claiming as much as 400 fps increase. I'm here to tell you that extra 300 fps comes at the cost of excessively high and likely dangerous pressures. Run both at the same pressure level and the difference in brass life isn't gonna be all that great and brass for it is cheap and easily available.

There are better choices than the .30-30 AI for that reason. If good pressure tested data was available it would be a really nice round but with all the unsafe data out there as the primary information on it I just cannot recommend it.

YES I've owned two of them.

[Castaway]

Don't know much about the 30-30- AI, but there is an issue with the SMLE that was raised that needs to be corrected.  SMLE's are hard on brass, but not because of excessive headspace.  The case is rimmed and headspace is determined by that, not on the shoulder as are rimless bottlenecked cartridges.  The reason the SMLE cases stretch so much is the ample chamber that is cut to allow dirty and corroded ammuniton to be more reliably fed.

[Catfish]

   GB put it very well. For 99 % of those who are reloading they have no business thinking about loading for wildcats. The other 1% are those with little reguard for their own safety. It is easy to prove on paper the advantages of the wildcat round, but almost imposiable in the field. Depending on the wildcat you build the dies will cost from $50 to alittle over $100 and that will buy you enough extra brass to make up for the shorter life of the standard round, if it is indeed shorter. The main thing, with any round you shoot, is getting the best accuracy from it you can. An extra 100 fps will get you abt 5 yrds more point blank range, ie your .22-250 has a point blank range of 300 yrds. so if you increase the velosity another 100 fps, with the same bullet, you can not hit just as accurately at 305 yrds.
   There is a place for wildcat round and that is the people who just love to play with thing that are different AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN HOW TO BE SAFE DOING IT. Even then things can go wrong. With most rifle rounds you can safly work with 50,000 to 60,000 psi., but it take very little to push the presures to 100,000 psi., and the gun becomes a bomb.
   

[Coyote Hunter]

I'd hold off and get a new .308 Marlin Express.  After some considerable evaluation I decided not to go with a .30-30AI a couple years ago.  The .308 ME will best a .307 Win.  Sounds good to me...

[ron haralson]

Castaway is right about the SMLE - it does headspace on the rim, but if you full length size the brass it fire forms to fit that over - generous chamber. About 2 or 3 reloads, and very often the case head falls off. The effect is probably not much different than if the headspace was excessive. As a matter of interest, the SMLE I used to have had about 15 thousandths of headspace on the rim. Neck sizing solved the problem even in those circumstances.

[Castaway]

Bingo!