30-30 handi

[bill439]

What size groups should i expect from a 30-30 handi at 50 yds? have been using handloads and best so far is about 11/4 inches with many groups at 11/2 to 13/4 inches.  have tried bullet weights from 110 to 170 gr.  so far the 170 shot the best.  Please send best loads or suggestions, bill439

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard Bill!  I've tried one handload in my 30-30, but the best it's shot has been with cheap Remington 150gr factory ammo, I've got another handload with 125gr Nosler BTs and H4895, but haven't made it to the range yet..

Tim

[bill439]

Thanks for your input Quickdtoo, if the target you have shown is at 100 yds thats great, wish mine would shoot that good.  I will try some factory ammo next, if that doesn't shoot well !!! then I miight as well rechamber to .307 and have a poor shooter with more power.  I am thinking this chamber may be part of my problem as it is very short throated.  So going to .307 will take care of the existing throat.  I thought i would have gotten many replies to my question as many of the people that post here rave about how great the 30-30 is in a handi, maybe i am the only one that has one that doesen't shoot so well.  Wish me luck Quickdtoo, your reply is all I got.   Thankd again, bill439

[quickdtoo]

It's a 100yd target, I don't shoot anything closer, even my 17hmr and 17m2 are shot at 100yds. 

You're right about the 30-30, it's one of the favorite Handi chamberings, I don't recollect anyone ever complaining about accuracy of their 30-30. There are some techniques required of you to shoot a Handi tho, be sure to read the Handi Basics 101 for that info, and spend some time in the FAQs, particularly the Accurizing section. 

Tim

[LaOtto222]

Welcome to GBO. You will find lots of information here. Handis CAN be cantankerous. Many find them to shoot good right of the box, many do not. Lots of people enjoy the tinkering with loads and the gun itself and some do not. I just read in a magazine where a fellow bought a 243 for his grandson and was very unhappy about it's accuracy. He never said if it was a light weight barrel, youth model or what it was, just that it the best it would do is 6" groups or worse with every thing he tried. I will bet that he has not visited this site for information. You are on the right track. I suspect that you did not get all of the responses you thought you would, is because every gun is different. What works for me, will not work for you. As Tim has pointed out look at the FAQ for tips on how to accuractize your Handi then you will just have to try different factory loads and/or hand loads until you get what works for you. I just received a "brand new" 22 Hornet barrel straight from the factory and the crown was obviously messed up. I am willing to bet that you will be able to find the right combination if you have the patience for it. As far as the throat is concerned, you could always get a throating reamer and cut a longer throat in it. Another suggestion would be to send in your frame to have a 308 barrel fitted. I will not cost a whole lot more than having the one you have rechambered unless you have the proper equipment to do so. Keep your chin up, when you reach the correct combination you will have a much stronger bond to that gun; ask any regular on this site about "the disease that they have". Good Luck to you.

[bill439]

Thanks for the encouragement Laotto and Quick, I have read FAQ and accuracy work and conments.  This thing was bought as 30-30, sent to factory and had 45-70, 357, and 50 s & w bbls fitted.  Never shot 30-30 until now.( before hunting season in Louisiana, October) the 45-70 bbl shoots great groups are 1/2" to 3/4" @ 50 yds with several loads.  Played with the 50 a little but found no loads I felt I could hunt with, same deal with the .357 mag.  I was very surprised when the 30-30 just didn't preform well, as I thought this bbl would be the easiest to find a good load for.  I figured I would find a good load to hunt deer and go on to the other bbls to tweak them out.  This weekend I will shoot the 30-30 bbl for the last time with match bullets , weighted charges and forarm detached if no improvement occurs then its going to be a .307 cause I got the stuff to do it.  Then off to the other bbls to give them a try. thanks guys, bill439

[44 Man]

Welcome aboard.  I have not shot my 30-30 for groups.  I got it out of lay-away late summer and put a 4x compact Leupold on it, took it to the range to make sure it was shooting where it looked (along with a couple of other guns), and went out and shot a deer with it.  I will not likely bother to group it, I'm more concerned that the first bullet go where it is supposed to.  I'm sending mine out in a couple of weeks and having it opened up to 30-30AI.  I hope to get a couple more hundred fps with pointed Rem 150's.  I have one area I hunt where I might have the opportunity to shoot at 200 yds, but most shots are 40 to 80 yds.  I have agonized over this.  I reload, but it's really nice to just be able to buy whatever ammo is on the shelf and go hunting.  When I reload, I don't like to experiment.  I want to find a load that does what I want it to and load everything the same from that point on.  44 Man

[woodchukhntr]

I've got a Leupold M-8 2x pistol scope on mine (purchased 2 weeks ago) and just sighted it in for coyotes (not that I'll ever get a shot!!!).  With a Hornady 100 Gr. Short Jacket bullet and 16.0 gr. of 2400, I shot a 1-1/16" group @100 yd. with 2 shots touching.

[vinpar092]

Can you do a 30-30 AI ream yourself? I would love one for the swamp down here in LA.
Vince

[44 Man]

I don't see any reason why you couldn't do the 30-30AI yourself, but I have a gunsmith buddy (the Gun Doctor) that has the reamer and has offered to do it very reasonable.  And I can get inexpensive dies from Lee.  I'm excited to try it.  I just wish there were some more modern load data.  44 Man

[bill439]

reply to vince, yes you can rechamber by hand, keep reamer centered apply moderate pressure when turning with a tap wrench with plenty of dark threading oil.  stop every 5 to 10 turns to remove chips (never turn reamer counterclockwise) cut new chamber to rim depth and you are done.  Tomorrow morning (friday) I will rechamber my dismal shooting 30-30 to .307win.  I will cheat and use my lathe to do the chambering.   I chose to go with the .307 for several reasons  1. easy to do, just need a .308 win reamer and gages which I have.
2.  already have a 30-30 AI    3.  the .307 can be loaded down to 30-30 levels if needed, and will surpass the AI   4. no special loading dies are necessary just use a .308win die set and 30-30 shellholder and you are set.  5.  I like the idea of a rimmed cartridge for single shots, more positive extraction.   it is possible to shoot reg. .308 ammo in this chamber if necessary. (may not extract)  6.  no other work is necessary, 30-40 krag would require some extracto;r work.  anyway I wish you luck on your AI.  Now for the bad news   RANGE REPORT:  shot 5 differtent groups  best group  2 1/2" to 5 1/2" worse.  Yes I can shoot deer at 50 to 100 yds  with it but I wanted to have something I could use up to 150-175 and the accuracy is just not there.  Maybe 44man has got the right idea, just shoot it, adjust your sights and go hunting   who needs to shoot groups.   Hope to give another range report on the new .307 .    Thanks to all  Bill439

[quickdtoo]

If you have a bad barrel and you rechamber it, your option to have it replaced by H&R is gone, that's if it's a factory fitted barrel, what year was the frame made, serial number prefix? H&R is the best for CS, you won't find another gunmaker that is better.

Tim

[351 power]

i'm no expert but you might check the muzzle crown. see if the powder residue leaves a uniform pattern. if it doesn't then a recrowning might help. if the crown is off then a new chamber won't help. i had to recrown a barrel

[bill439]

I have been playing with this bbl for way too long, the crown looks good, but if accuracy doesn't happen with the rechamber then I will recrown bbl.    I"ll send another reciever to H & R and hope I get a good 30-30 bbl.  Meanwhile back at the ranch I have other fish to fry, like loading ammo for my soon to be .307 and my new .375/338 taylor.  Thanks to everyone Bill439

[44 Man]

bill439, I'm curious if you have a chronograph, and what kind of velocites you got with the 30-30AI and what your loads were?  I think I may buy a .308 barrel at some time, but I'm more leaning to a .270 or .280 next.  Maybe I'll make that a .280AI.  44 Man

[carbineman]

reply to vince, yes you can rechamber by hand, keep reamer centered apply moderate pressure when turning with a tap wrench with plenty of dark threading oil.  stop every 5 to 10 turns to remove chips (never turn reamer counterclockwise) cut new chamber to rim depth and you are done.  Tomorrow morning (friday) I will rechamber my dismal shooting 30-30 to .307win.  I will cheat and use my lathe to do the chambering.   I chose to go with the .307 for several reasons  1. easy to do, just need a .308 win reamer and gages which I have.
2.  already have a 30-30 AI    3.  the .307 can be loaded down to 30-30 levels if needed, and will surpass the AI   4. no special loading dies are necessary just use a .308win die set and 30-30 shellholder and you are set.  5.  I like the idea of a rimmed cartridge for single shots, more positive extraction.   it is possible to shoot reg. .308 ammo in this chamber if necessary. (may not extract)  6.  no other work is necessary, 30-40 krag would require some extracto;r work.  anyway I wish you luck on your AI.  Now for the bad news   RANGE REPORT:  shot 5 differtent groups  best group  2 1/2" to 5 1/2" worse.  Yes I can shoot deer at 50 to 100 yds  with it but I wanted to have something I could use up to 150-175 and the accuracy is just not there.  Maybe 44man has got the right idea, just shoot it, adjust your sights and go hunting   who needs to shoot groups.   Hope to give another range report on the new .307 .    Thanks to all  Bill439

*****We talked about this here before and I brought up the fact that the 30-30 is a longer cartridge than the .307. Will your brass grow in length faster than normal expansion? I suppose with the heavier .307 case it could be alright. I would be interested in hearing your results.******

[bill439]

Carbineman, I hope to be at the range this friday shooting my new .307 win.  have 5 different loads to check out.  last range visit my 375/338 shot great with both jacketed and lead loads, gotta load and test some more for that as well.  will give report when done.  bill439