"New" 30-30 barrel

[guns-o-fun]

OK, I am sitting here looking at the model 158 30-30 barrel I just received.  It really IS factory new - still in the original sealed bag.  However, I notice that it has that 158 chamber shape, where the top is reduced in diameter to match the really sweet sporter weight and profile of the barrel.  I bought this barrel so that I could load a little higher pressure loads than for my Marlin.  Now I am wondering, with this smaller margin of steel around the chamber, can I really do that safely.  Any ideas?

[MSP Ret]

sell it to me?


 

seriously, if that barrel shape will fit onto a new style frame we could talk about swapping for my newer style 30-30 barrel that you can load up. I personally think that barrel is stong enough but if you want to talk I am here. I usually prefer less than max loads in all my loadings anyway...<><....

[guns-o-fun]

I thought about saying that I would sell my mohter to the ____________ first, but then I thought I might get kicked off the forum for good.   Anybody with experience loading for this puppy?  I really love the way it looks and the quality iron sights it has on it (as opposed to the plastic ones they put on them now).  Thanks for the suggestion though.

[petemi]

That's a sweet little rifle...wish I could find one.  Enjoy

Pete

[Spanky]

Those "profiled" frames and barrel were really nice.



Spanky

[guns-o-fun]

BTW, I think it WILL fit on the SB2 frame without any problem.  I just tried it on one of mine and it almost fits.  Have to try it on my others.  I am hoping it will fit on my 45LC carbine.  That would be a truly sweel little rig.

[petemi]

Yes, that would be a sweet setup.

Pete

[Airsporter]

Take a look at a model Win 94.  You have plenty of barrel steel for reasonable loads.  The receiver strength is the issue.

I laugh sometimes when I see some concerns about barrel/receiver thickness.  Check out the cylinder wall thickness of a S&W model 19 in .357 or a Model 29 in .44 mag!  Talk about thin.

That said, the receiver on the 158 is probably not designed for loads that would far exceed the Marlin safety margin.  If on a SB2 receiver, I think some stouter loads (within reason) would be fine.

And, if all this really bothers you, you could sell it to me too.  

[quickdtoo]

I really love the way it looks and the quality iron sights it has on it (as opposed to the plastic ones they put on them now). 

The only centerfire barrel with plastic sights is the 500S&W,  other than the 45 Colt, barrels have the Williams WGOS metal sight.

Tim

[guns-o-fun]

That's good to know, Tim.  As far as the receiver goes, as long as I can get this matched up to one of my SB2s, the receiver strength is not an issue.  I was particularly interested in trying some of the lighter bullet, higher velocity loads ala Paco Kelly - only maybe not quite as hot.

[quickdtoo]

I can't answer the barrel strength question as I don't know what steel they used then, modern centerfire rifle barrels are 4140 alloy, shotgun and rimfire are 1137. As for fitting,  many members have stated they've fitted M158 barrels to modern frames just fine, others have stated that it would take a lot of work on the underlug to get it to fit including the one I had, there must have been considerably big tolerances in the old H&R Inc frames.

I've loaded my modern 30-30AI barrel to ~60kpsi with 125gr bullets with no problems, so maybe MSP's offer would be worth considering, I don't recollect(but that's not surprising anymore  ) anyone working with an older barrel with higher pressures on an SB2 frame, maybe they'll chime in on it. You could always tie it to a tire and pull the trigger with a long string to proof it, but I'd hate to ruin a really nice barrel. 

Tim

[carbineman]

My experiences tell me that it can be loaded safely with 130 grain bullets using data in Hodgdons #26 loading manual. I have three Toppers in 30-30 and if you keep to 30-30 load pressures with 130 grain bullets, you'll be amazed at the velocity. I use cases that weigh around 130 grains with Remington 9 1/2M primers and W748 propellant. Again I have had no problems with my loads and rifles but your components and chambers maybe entirely different, and as always YMMV.

These lightweight rifles are a pleasure to carry afield and come to point quickly on stand. None of the three barrels I have will fit on an SB2 frame. Not even close from what I can tell. One of the barrels I own did come from a poster here that indicated he had it on an SB2.

[guns-o-fun]

Thanks for the info.  I will look at the Hodgdon data again.  It is a sweet barrel and not that easy to find anymore, and I hate the thought of damaging it in anyway (or myself for that matter ).  I have already considered the remote firing first time around in any case, considering I will probably have to do a little fitting.

[jather]

silly question for ya. have you got a proper forend for it? if memory serves, that needs snap-on forend-no screw on. i got one of those a month or two ago. i wonder where he keeps coming up with all these profiled 158 barrels? i've got two now, both 30/30. one original complete and another profiled receiver plus that "new" barrel. not rare maybe, but not all 158 receivers/barrels wre profiled like this. does look neat, though. always like something a little different. have fun, jather.....