Author Topic: bolt action 30-30? (Read 4790 times)

anweis · « **on:** June 24, 2009, 03:22:28 AM »

Is there a bolt action 30-30? Or perhaps a nice single shot 30-30?
What i am looking for is a rifle chambered in 30-30 of really good quality, with nice metal and wood, that i could put a nice scope on, reload with spitzer bullets, and get 1" groups on paper. Any suggestions?
The Ruger no 1 is too complicated, too many parts, and i don't like it. The New England/HR are too mundane and cheaply built, the TC single shots are ugly...What else is out there?
Any opinions on the 97D rifles by EABCO?
I don't know whether to post this in bolt action forum or single shot forum, because i am not sure what i am looking for.

Foggy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2009, 03:30:21 AM »

I have a savage 340 it shoots a treat

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2009, 04:19:24 AM »

The 340 would be my first choice, but if you can find one and afford it, Win. made the model 54 in .30-30. They were neat rifles. Looked at a couple over the years, but prices have skyrocketed. Probably the Savage would be the best shot, there were some 788's also, but they are apretty spendy.

RaySendero · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:05:09 AM »

If I wanted to get a bolt rifle, It probably wouldn't be a 30/30. Just think that their are better cartridges in a bolt for shooting spitzer bullets and more options in the rifle than you'll find looking for a 30/30.

However, if you have other rifles in that caliber and reload for'em there would be some synergysm in having them all shot the same round!? It's just up to you.

One thought I had was, there are still some good buys on the 303 British Enfields out there if that fits your plan.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2009, 07:15:47 AM »

The Savage 340/840's are great guns and will meet your expectations for 1" groups, especially with Hornady's Leverevolution ammo if you're stuck on factory ammo. The problem is in finding a good one without a lot of bolt wear or a cracked stock. They were not an engineering masterpiece so one that is well-worn may give you feeding issues. If you do shop for a 340 make sure it is drilled and tapped on the left-hand side and use a B-Square or Weaver aftermarket mount. I've found some of the best examples at pawn shops, mostly 222 and 30-30.
They are light and handy, have low recoil, detachable mags, and you can definitely wring more out of the caliber not being stuck with blunt nose bullets. The Rem 788 is better,but it'll cost you.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2009, 08:53:40 AM »

IIRC, Savage & Winchester were the only makers of bolt-action rifles chambered in .30-30 - The Model 40, 45 Super, & 340 Savage boltguns, and the Win Mod 54, as posted above.

Two, out of the three Savage Model 219's on www.gunsamerica.com , are .30-30's - single-barreled, break-open tpye single shot rifles.
The third is a Hornet, like mine.

The Savage 24V O/U combination gun was available with the rifle barrel chambered in .30-30.

Early Savage 99 leverguns can be found in .30-30, also.

If I wanted a .30-30, a boltgun wouldn't be my first choice, though - it would be a Marlin or Winchester levergun.

.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2009, 11:45:36 AM »

While not as common as the other calibers, Remington produced the 788 in 30/30 as well.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=132112858

RaySendero · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2009, 02:00:56 PM »

Quote from: anweis on June 24, 2009, 03:22:28 AM

Is there a bolt action 30-30?

anweis,

Go to this link and type in 30/30 in the search box.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Browse.asp?Cat=3022

I see Savage models 325s and 340s. Also see a Rem 788 in 30/30 listed.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2009, 02:06:20 PM »

[Remington produced the 788 in 30/30 as well.]

Ya know, I clean forgot about that one, made in .44 Mag as well - Thanks hunt-m-up !
I must be gettin' CRS.

.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2009, 06:43:39 AM »

I just didn't want to leave the 788 out as they are decent guns, better built than the Savage 340. I like the 30-30 bolts, but I would have to agree that if you can't find one in excellent shape, then it's alot easier and cheaper in the long run to go the lever route.

BruceP · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:28:18 PM »

Most replys so far have been about bolt guns (and this is the forum for it) but since you also asked about single shots I'll mention that Browning made their 1885 Low wall (i think could have been High wall) Traditional Hunter in 30-30. I'm not sure if it the TH series was drilled and tapped for scope mounts or not. They came with tang sights.

Bruce

Halwg · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:26:16 PM »

As they said...the Savage 340. It was my first deer rifle (borrowed from my uncle) in 1964. Find one used and buy it.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2009, 04:13:07 PM »

I have a Stevens 325 it shoots great. My daughter shot her bear with it.

Hank08 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2009, 05:35:54 AM »

Savage/Stevens 325-30/30 with Bushnell 4X in Weaver side mts. shoots great with 150 spitzers.
H08

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2009, 11:43:05 AM »

I'm going to have to be the voice of dissent on the savage 340, I've built two of these in the dream of having a super accurate longer range 30-30 and have been disappointed on both occasions. One rifle I even went so far as to install a custom thumb hole stock. There are several strikes against the 325/340 that I'll try to outline here.

1 The action is a loose single forward locking lug affair that has all the strength of an overcooked ramen noodle. As a result accuracy and brass life suffers accordingly. Expect any loads much above start load levels to produce a very pronounced nice bright expansion ring on your brass. I also believe the offset asymmetrical bolt locking is the cause for wild POI shifts as pressure increased I've noted in BOTH my Savage 30-30's

2 The stock, these rifles use the most retarded bedding of any bolt action I've ever used. In lieu of to rear action screws as a normal bolt gun would use there's a screw at the FRONT of the action just rear of the recoil lug and up front you have a barrel band clip affair half way down the bbl which simply cannot be bedded by any means I have yet found.

Both one and two work together to make the Savage much much less accurate than folks like to claim. One MOA 3 shot groups can be had on OCCASION but only firing weaker handloads or factory ammo. On average I'd rank my 340's at 3MOA shooters

3 The magazine, If you're looking for a spitzer shooting super 30-30 the Savage isn't for you. The magazine length on these rifles are very limited, short 150grn down spitzers is about all that'll fit, and again if you want to push the 30-30 envelope you run into issue #1

4 For whatever reason the barrels on these things are "SLOW". Both mine would chronograph at least 150fps slower than the published velocity for handloads or factory ammunition. Other GBO members have noticed the same phenomena

In short if you're just looking for a 30-30 that happens to be a bolt gun the Savage is fine. But if you're wanting a rifle to do some experimentation with the cartridge then the Savage isn't for you. In my opinion your best bet is an SB2 Handi rifle chambered for 30-30 this way you have an action that can handle 65K psi so you have a huge margin of safety, an unlimited mag length and great brass life

Hank08 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 27, 2009, 03:07:31 AM »

Have to agree, somewhat, with krochus although i've never had any wild POI shifts with mine.
I've only used mine for what it is, a cheap, accurate 30-30 that can be shot with spitzers.
It's not a gun to base a super accurate custom rifle on, thumbhole stocks, trying to turn it into a .300 mag. but clamp the barrel band down tight to dampen the barrel vibrations and shoot it with 30-30 pressures and it'll shoot fine.
H08

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2009, 04:33:10 AM »

I don't think their marketing claims on the 340 included being comparable to a Mauser action. It was cheaply designed and constructed to appeal to a particular market segement that would put a box or two thru it a year and put it back in the closet until next deer season. I wouldn't want another one unless it was in v. good to excellent condition because both the band-type extractor and ejector loosen up pretty good on them with much use. I would agree on the accuracy with factory ammo with one exception being the Leverevolution rounds which gave legitimate repeatable 1 MOA groups with my particular 340/842.
I think the REM 788 is a better, more capable design.

MGMorden · « **Reply #17 on:** June 30, 2009, 05:23:02 PM »

I like my Savage 340 ok. I got it about a year or so ago. $100 even from the shop because it was missing a mag (cost me about $30 to replace that). The stock was in pretty bad shape - the finish was yellowed and flaking off and it had a poorly installed set of swivel studs. Metal was in great shape though, and I did't mind doing some TLC to the stock (I stripped it, filled the holes from the swivels, and then refinished it). After a refinish and a thorough cleaning/oiling the gun looks much, much better than the sad little thing I first saw in the shop

.

So far it hasn't shot quite as accurately as my Marlin 336. About 2" groups at 100 yards - sometimes 2.5". That's plenty good enough for hunting, but the Marlin is closer to 1.25-1.5" or so, which while still not as good as some of my bolt guns, is still pretty good for a .30-30. The Savage also has some feeding issues. Generally as long as I only put 2 rounds in the mag it's ok, but if I fill it up it'll bind up when feeding the first round.

Still, I like the .30-30 cartridge for what it is: a cheap, perfectly adequate hunting round for shots within a certain range (a range that 95% of my shots end up being within anyways). The guns chambered in .30-30 also tend to be extremely light as well since the lower pressure round allows for a smaller action. That combined with the typically shorter barrels make for an incredibly light rifle. For big calibers you have to specifically buy a "featherweight" - with .30-30's it's just implied. I also like bolt guns more than levers (not really an emotional issue for me - just a personal preference), so I still like my 340 too.

One thing to note about them too - I'd previously shot Winchester 94's with side mounts and hated it. The scope being that far off the bore center line just felt wrong, and I'm sure there was a serious penalty to the accuracy (seems like there's be some type of parralax error). I had also always heard that if you get a 340 that the B-Square mount was the way to go since it put the scope on center-line with the bore while the Weaver side mount didn't. Well, my little 340 came with the Weaver mount which I had already mentally said "I'll replace that" when I first saw it on the rack, but after getting it home - I really found no reason to. If the scope isn't on centerline it's so close that I can't notice. Not anywhere close to as extreme as the Win 94's I'd shot. About the only thing I think the B-Square mount gets you is the ability to use your own rings rather than them being integrated with the mount.

I would say that the 788 is probably a better choice if you want the best bolt .30-30 you can find, but based on going market prices you could probably buy 4 or 5 Savage 340's for the price of a Remington 788.

Reverend Recoil · « **Reply #18 on:** July 01, 2009, 06:34:48 AM »

One option - Re-barrel a Lee-Enfield for 30-30.

Better option - Forget the 30-30 and shoot 303 British.

MGMorden · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2009, 09:19:41 AM »

Quote from: Reverend Recoil on July 01, 2009, 06:34:48 AM

Better option - Forget the 30-30 and shoot 303 British.

Meh - ammo is more expensive, reloading bullets aren't as common as the .308" variety, and the recoil is heavier. IMHO if you want a .30 cal and want to step away from .30-30 then .308 or .30-06 would be a better choice than .303 Brit (and I've got 2 .303's - one No1Mk3 sporter and one No4Mk1 original).

mannyrock · « **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:21:53 PM »

Hey, Waita minute?

If you rebarrel an Enfield to .30-30, will the .30-30 rounds feed smoothly from the magazine? Or, are you looking at a huge pain in the butt jamming situation?

(Just asking.)

Mannyrock

anweis · « **Reply #21 on:** July 06, 2009, 03:22:41 AM »

Quote from: mannyrock on July 05, 2009, 12:21:53 PM

Hey, Waita minute?

If you rebarrel an Enfield to .30-30, will the .30-30 rounds feed smoothly from the magazine? Or, are you looking at a huge pain in the butt jamming situation?

(Just asking.)

Mannyrock

Well, i don't want to find out. It appears i will have to go the single shot route, as lever actions are not my cup of tea.

MGMorden · « **Reply #22 on:** July 06, 2009, 04:25:27 AM »

Quote from: anweis on July 06, 2009, 03:22:41 AM

It appears i will have to go the single shot route, as lever actions are not my cup of tea.

What was wrong with the Remington 788 or Savage 340 suggestions for a bolt .30-30?

Happy · « **Reply #23 on:** July 06, 2009, 05:27:34 AM »

The model 96 and 38 Swede 6.5x 55 could be bored out and rereamed to take the 30/30 you would not need to do anything to the bolt face. Then too you might find an older swede auto converted to 30/30.

mannyrock · « **Reply #24 on:** July 06, 2009, 05:38:50 AM »

All in all, I agree. The Remington 788 is the best bolt action .30-.30 ever made. The Savage bolt in that caliber doesn't even come close.

Regards,

Mannyrock

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #25 on:** July 06, 2009, 09:41:26 AM »

Quote from: Happy on July 06, 2009, 05:27:34 AM

The model 96 and 38 Swede 6.5x 55 could be bored out and rereamed to take the 30/30 you would not need to do anything to the bolt face. Then too you might find an older swede auto converted to 30/30.

only with the installation of a new barrel. If you bored out a 6.5x55 bbl to 308 diameter you'd pretty much have a 7.5x54MAS which is much much larger around the case than 30-30 winchester. How do you propose to ream to a smaller cartridge case?

I've owned a swede semiauto trust me a 30-30 conversion would be the worlds first pocked knife fed and extracted magazine fed single shot straight pull.

In all honesty the absolute best bolt action 30-30 made to date is the little CZ527 carbine in 7.62x39

jeclif · « **Reply #26 on:** July 06, 2009, 09:56:47 AM »

I think the762x39 has more ump than a 3030
and I love mine shoot 5 in a bunch you can cover with a $.25 quarter .
and that is at 100 yards

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #27 on:** July 06, 2009, 10:18:29 AM »

Quote from: jeclif on July 06, 2009, 09:56:47 AM

I think the762x39 has more ump than a 3030
and I love mine shoot 5 in a bunch you can cover with a $.25 quarter .
and that is at 100 yards

My extensive testing of the two rounds puts them roughly equal. With the higher pressure rating of the x39 making it roughly 100fps faster with lighter with bullets less than 150grs and the 30-30 is about 100fps faster with bullets heavier than 150grs due to it's greater case capacity

mannyrock · « **Reply #28 on:** July 07, 2009, 05:50:07 AM »

Sorry, but the fact that the 7.62 Russian in standard factory load is 100 fps faster than a .30-30 doesn't mean anything in the real world of hunting. What does mean something is the legendary effectiveness of the .30-30 with a 170 grain Remington Core-Lokt or Winchester Silver Tip bullet. The Russian, with its 129 grain bullet, just can't compare. So what if it shoots somewhat flatter? Who cares? The .30-30 is plenty flat enough for its maximum 200 yard range. Just sight it in to be 4 inches high at 100 yards.

The .30-30 with its 170 grain factory load will cleanly put an Elk down at 125 yards. Shoot an Elk with a 129 grain Russian soft-point at 125 yards, and see what happens. A wounded running Elk.

Just my opinions.

Regards,
Mannyrock

Happy · « **Reply #29 on:** July 07, 2009, 06:44:53 AM »

Quote from: jeclif on July 06, 2009, 09:56:47 AM

I think the762x39 has more ump than a 3030
and I love mine shoot 5 in a bunch you can cover with a $.25 quarter .
and that is at 100 yards

Well the swede conversion to 30/30 does work . If you had a problem with feeding then it was your rifles problem .Some where some one should be able to sort that out for you . You might not like the weight , but then these guns are old.

I have tracked deer for folks many times shot with the 7,62x39 and lost, and know all things are not equal . the 30/30 would have dropped the deer . You can not always make up for things in speed . I would shot a black bear with the 30/30 , but never with the 7.62X39 'cause all you get is a mad bear.

The levered 30/30 or 35 rem will always getthe job gone.