30-30 Win barrels.

[boojum]

Does anyone know if the latest production 30-30 Win barrels were all Micro Groove? I found 2 new rifles on the internet for sale but do not want a Micro Groove barrel.

[tacklebury]

Might want to take a look in the FAQ, but if memory serves, the only Microgroove barrels made were when Marlin first bought H&R prior to Remington owning them.  Take a look there though as there are several things about how to determine if you have one.

[LAB55]

The one l got fitted last spring from the barrel program had the microgrooves

[tacklebury]

How many lands/grooves?  The micro part isn't the height of them, it's the width.  Microgroove typically have 8 to 14 lands, if memory serves.

[Jeff H]

The "somewhat recent" 30-30  had had "many" lands and grooves compared to anything else I have had.  I never counted them but there were quite a few and I assumed it was micro-groove.  I think it was a Remington era rifle only because I noted that he receiver was not finished very well compared to my older H&R/NEFs.

I shot noting but cast bullets out of it and had absolutely NO problems I could attribute to the rifling.  I recovered most of the bullets I shot from it and the bullets engraved properly, without any slippage/skipping and I did not have any accuracy or leading issues except normal load development foibles - which were few.  It was also not difficult to load for, meaning that any bullet weight or alloy, hardness or powder type/charge combination worked well.

I know it doesn't answer the question, but if mine was micro-groove, it gave  me no reason to want to avoid it on future guns.  I only sold it because it was heavy.

[boojum]

I will be shooting only jacketed bullets and I've heard others say accuracy was a problem.  Yes / no?

[petemi]

I don't really understand the panic over microgroove.  My late fifties Marlin 336 .30-30 has it and is super accurate with the old Winchester 170 gr. Silvertips.  54 years ago I killed my first two deer with it the same day.  The first was a pass through behind the shoulder shot at a known 225 yards.  The second, a head shot at 175.  That was with the factory open sights back when I could use them.  Today, It is scoped and is still inch to inch and a half with my jacketed handloads.

Pete

[LaOtto222]

I seriously doubt if has a micro-groove barrel, but even if it does, it will shoot just fine. Even with cast bullets if you size the bullet correctly. If you shoot jacketed bullets, it will be just as accurate with micro-grooves as with "normal" grooves. Even with the normal grooves, they are only .002" - .003" deep.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[rebel0994]

I have not had any experience with H&R MicroGrooove barrels, but the Marlin lever actions I've had were very accurate. , Roy

[quickdtoo]

H&R 30-30 barrels are extremely accurate, several members here including myself have confirmed microgroove barrels in 30-30, 308, 45-70 and 22Lr. If shooting cast and you're having problems with accuracy, use a larger diameter bullet.

Tim

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/microgrove-barrels.htm

[Badnews Bob]

I too have had several micro groove rifles and have never had a problem with them.

[boojum]

Thanks for all the replies.  I may buy one of the two guns I found.

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

I think the bad rap MG barrels get is from guys shooting custom cast "HardCast" bullets
 
they get them presized, and don't slug their bores, so end up with undersized slugs that can never bump up, no matter how you push them...
 
hardcast slugs are not needed and in fact can be detrimental to good shooting.   The ONLY reason I have heard that makes sense for the existance of HC bullets is so they don't get banged up during shipping.....  pretty stupid reason if you ask me.
 
as others have said, FIT is king!  shoot the fattest bullet that can chamber.  IF you do size your brass, DON'T use a spud for jacketed bullets...  get one that is 0.001-0.002 under your bullet size (for a 30-30, the spud/expander button for a 0.311 bullet works great).   
 
and use an alloy that is moderately soft..   WW/Pb at a 50/50 mix with just a bit of Sn to help with castability/fill out.
 
for hunting, a 60-70% meplat, or with a shallow HP is all you need.
 
go a bit heavy for caliber, and you'll be right along side factory jacketed loads.
 
IIRC, it was Petemi who stated, best size of bullet is one that "Just" slided into a fired case with a hint of resistance.  Bell the case just a but to ensure no lead scraping.
 
no need to crimp in a single shot, unless you find them moving in your pockets.
 
 
and remember this, a fine thread bolt can take more torque than a course thread....   think about it, and when you understand that you'll know why a microgroove barrel can shoot just fine!