Questions regarding 30-30 with a brake

[ralfus]

I have a chance to buy a very nice condition TC contender with pachmayr grip and forend, TC 2.5-7 gloss black scope in a SS Duo mount and 30-30 barrel with brake. I think its a 14" barrel plus brake but I haven't measured it yet. All satin stainless.


How does is the 30-30 recoil in a braked 14" barrel?? Accuracy??


Whether I keep the 30-30 barrel or not I know the asking price is a steal and I can use the rest of the pistol. I found the whole package for $450.

[Richard P]

Braked barrels tend to recoil more directly rearward. You'll likely notice less muzzle lift and those to the sides get muzzle blast. You should feel a bit less recoil vs standard barrels and if you keep bullets in the 125gr area it should be a pleasure to shoot.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Accuracy should be excellent with tailored handloads. My 30-30 bbl is 14" and is not braked. I don't consider the recoil to be bad. Yours will recoil less, but will be louder. If you hunt with it, plan on wearing hearing protection. I have a couple of different hunting loads that will all go sub-moa with mine.

That's a great price for that package. Are you sure it's stainless, and not armor alloy? Just wondering.

Keep it and shoot it, you will like it.

[ralfus]

Are you sure it's stainless, and not armor alloy? Just wondering.

It may be AA, I'll find out later.    I don't normally like brakes, but the 30-30 has me wondering if I'll want to keep it or just flip the barrel and keep the rest. More dies to buy, brass, etc, etc.

[Grumulkin]

I had one with open sights for awhile.  Accuracy was OK; I never really gave it a chance with a scope but I think it would have done well.


Recoil was no worse than a 44 Magnum.

[EdK]

Seems like a good package deal. I only tolerate brakes on rounds that really need it. I don't see the 30-30 as one of those. A 14" 30-30 with muzzle tamer is only an effective 12-12.5" barrel and the 30-30 likes the full 14" Get it, shoot it, decide at that point.

[ralfus]

Well I did buy the TC. Since it was on the shelf at the shop for a long time they let me have it for $400 . Condition is near perfect except for a scratch on the scopes eyepiece. I am a Contender novice so I dont know the details well. It is a Super 14 "hunter" barrel with the factory Muzzle Tamer. I am familiar with both beadblasted stainless and hard chrome  (AA) but I am still not sure which finish this pistol has (its at the shop still). I figured it out myself, receipt shows the serial # starting with an S, dating to 1995.

I dont think I'll keep the 30/30 barrel though as I have enough new calibers to play with as it is.

[longwinters]

I don't have a break on my 7-30 but I would figure it this way.  With or without you will need to wear plugs or muffs.  So I would keep the barrel and maybe get it improved/AI.  This is a very popular caliber and would probably serve you well.
 
Long

[Lanyard Stretcher]

I admit my inexperience with many hard kickers with a TC. I have a muzzle tamer on my 30/30. The recoil is straight back and I feel it in my wrist. Barrels with out in my experience have more muzzle flip. In fact my buddy who is new to 44 mags had a muzzle flip into his forehead requiring stitches. Muzzle brake = loud, recoil straight back. No muzzle brake = muzzle flip.
This is my 12 inch hunter. It does double duty, big game and small game .

 
Mike

[leadman]

I have a 30-30AI barrel that started life as a 14" 30-30. Had a brake put on it and kept it at 14". I can still get 2,400 fps with a 125gr Ballistic Tip.
 
The great thing about the standard 30-30 is it downloads just fine, with cast bullets or jacketed. I have shot the "plinkers", the half jacketed bullets with a little bit of a fast shotgun or pistol powder. I also shoot cast in my 30-30 21" carbine barrel. 170gr at 2,200 fps.
 
Light bullets like the Lee 113gr or a 30 cal. pistol bullet are great for small game and the kids also love to shoot them.
 
Give the barrel a chance and you may find you like it. It is a very versatile round.