30-30 to 357 Maximum

[frgerald]

Anybody here have any experience with re-barreling a Winchester AE or Marlin 94 from 30-30 to 357 Maximum?  Just wondering if it is possible or even practical.  Aw, heck, practical has nothing to do with it....just can it be done?

Gerald

[Nobade]

Sure is a lot easier to rebore it to 35X30-30........

[dpe.ahoy]

If you have enough money, anything can be done.  I would think the timing would have to be totally redone as well as the rebarreling.  Couldn't use the 30-30 barrel as it sets, the chamber is larger than the 357 max case,  Might be just as cheap and easier to do with a 94 chambered in 357 mag.  DP

[gunnut69]

I would bet Nobade is right, the 35/30-30 would be a better option. This should be close to the 35 Rem round as for as power levels.. Depending on neck length and powder capacity.. Loaded to similar pressures it should easily outpace the 357 Max.. I would check the pressures to which the 357 Max is loaded.. The M94 is best kept to 30-30 prssure levels.. the 375 Win and 307 were made in special M94 actions to avoid springing. Over pressure loading can open the action at the locking bars..

[Nobade]

Yep, I have both and if the max is pushed to the point of case failure it still isn't as powerful as the 35X30-30 at normal levels. And Gunnut is right, the capacity and loads are identical to the 35 remington. For your '94 you're looking at a $225 rebore and you're done. Feeding should be slick. To make it a max you're looking at essentially re-engineering the whole action and if you don't do it yourself you'll have to pay someone big bucks to do that and fabricate the parts to make it work. Winchester did make '94s in 357 magnum, and if you absolutely had to do that one of those would be the place to start. But those are famous for not working very well and breaking regularly.

Another option is to buy a Marlin 336 in 35 remington. I suspect you could buy an entire case of those for what it would cost to build one Win '94 into 357 max.

[gunnut69]

To carry Nabade's point even farther the cost of a conversion to 35/30 would come very close to the price of a good used 336 in 35 Rem... If your looking to duplicate ammo with a pistol/rifle combo might I reccomend an Encore or Contender in 357 Max as the likely best answer. As one with a tiny bit of experience in changing the feed geometry of a 94 I'll say this, unless you do the work yourself and consider the cost the price of knowledge it's a collosal waste of money. The 94 seems simple but the geometry is intricate indeed.. The 94's that had breakage problems included some in 44 mag which I dealt with. The lifter failed with no force hardly at all.. The service folks took the serial number and told me they had a bad batch of lifters from a sub--contractor and replaced it at no charge..

[gs50401]

How about a rebarrel of a 44mag into 347/44 Bain and Davis.

[gunnut69]

That would be easier to do but there is still the question of why? The 35/30 would likely outpace even the B&D and produce lower presssures most likely. The feeding issues should be a lot easier to work out. Still a 35/30 would simpler and even more powerful. The 35/30 would in escense be a rimmed 35 Rem.