Author Topic: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??  (Read 739 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline TribReady

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (8)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1059
  • Gender: Male
.30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« on: September 05, 2006, 06:19:54 PM »
I now have an older sb-1 receiver/frame.
It's from a 1976 .58cal muzzleloader. My newer .50cal muzzleloader barrel fits fine on the frame.
I know I can put a shotgun barrel on it and I know that nef doesn't recommend rifle barrels on this reciever, but I'm reading tons of info on this and it seems like some people think it'd be fine for low pressure rifle cartridges.
Any thoughts/advice would be great.  Should I try for a shotgun barrel only? Try a .30-30 barrel if I can find one? Or just sell it or give up on replacing the barrel and move on to something else?
Thanks.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson


...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  -2 Chronicles 7:14

Offline handirifle

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3570
    • http://www.handirifle.com
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2006, 06:29:33 PM »
As old as your frame is I wouldn't recommend it.  Not worth a risk in my book.
God, Family, and guns, in that order!

Offline Mac11700

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (34)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6875
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2006, 06:48:08 PM »
As old as your frame is I wouldn't recommend it.  Not worth a risk in my book.

Ditto...

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline Paul5388

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 888
  • Gender: Male
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2006, 07:47:42 PM »
Actually, the age of the frame doesn't have anything to do with whether you should make the conversion.  The barrel will fit the SB1 frame regardless of age, but are you willing to take a chance on whether the frame will stand the pressure?  Several people have put rifle barrels on shotgun frames, but they don't necessarily recommend that anyone else follow suit.  You can pay your nickel and take your chance or do it the NEF way.  ;D

Offline myarmor

  • Trade Count: (46)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3239
  • Gender: Male
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2006, 08:15:51 PM »
.......  Several people have put rifle barrels on shotgun frames, but they don't necessarily recommend that anyone else follow suit........

Absolutely.
Whether you decide to do it, or not, is a personal decision.
I have done it, but I do not recomend it.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php?topic=94528.msg1098249434#msg1098249434
Besides the extra $50 or so for an SB-2 is worth the insurance in my book.
-Aaron



Offline eskimo36

  • Trade Count: (156)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1359
  • Gender: Male
    • Adventure Rider
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2006, 02:11:28 AM »
I was thinking the firing pin in the frame from the huntsman 58 was designed to detonate a percussion cap on a nipple. I am at work so i can't look at mine but I don't think it was designed to fire a primer.
"one shot is usually enough"

Offline TribReady

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (8)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1059
  • Gender: Male
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #6 on: September 07, 2006, 06:29:53 PM »
The firing pin is definately larger.  I've read that it should still fire 209 primers no problem, but my main question would be then:
Can anythng be done to the firing pin to make it better? File it down in circumference to make a finer contact point? Will this firing pin still work with .30-30 shells?
I'm really just asking about adjustments that could safely be made to help.  I'm not too worried about the frame holding up under .30-30 pressures.......Again, a .30-30 barrel would be the only rifle cartidge I'd try.
Any input would continue to be great, I'm new to Handi's and love learning....
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson


...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  -2 Chronicles 7:14

Offline trotterlg

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (36)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3978
  • Gender: Male
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #7 on: September 07, 2006, 06:50:42 PM »
I have two of the 58 huntsman's in my safe.  There is no way it would be safe to shoot a rifle barrel on one of these frames.  The fireing pin is as large as a large rifle primer, even if you "sharpened it" to fire a rifle primer, the primer would blow back along with the pin into the frame, shear off the set screw and do an automatic re-cock on the hammer at least.  Very bad plan.  They were made purposely so that a rifle or shotgun barrel could not be used on them, that is why you can buy them without any paper work.  They do, however, shoot very well.  Larry
A gun is just like a parachute, if you ever really need one, nothing else will do.

Offline TribReady

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (8)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1059
  • Gender: Male
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #8 on: September 07, 2006, 07:22:21 PM »
Thanks Larry, that response was helpful for sure.
Now, my next question, though (forgive my lack of knowledge please, this is all very new to me) is.... even with the larger firing pin, would it still work on a shotgun primer if I added a shotgun barrel?
I'm thinking that it would still work, or should I Just convince myself that this will be a .58cal Muzzleloader only and move on... ;)

I just want to get as much out of this receiver as possible.
Thanks.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson


...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  -2 Chronicles 7:14

Offline trotterlg

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (36)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3978
  • Gender: Male
Re: .30-30 barrel on an sb-1 ??
« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2006, 07:33:35 PM »
I think you could probably do a little machine work on the frame and put a plug in that could not be driven back into the frame, then drill it for a proper fireing pin for a rifle or shotgun.  These things are so cheap that I would think it best to just buy a new one, I paid $100.00 for two of the huntsman's, one was unfired, and I see the Handi shotguns all the time for $69.00 in the pawn shops.  Larry
A gun is just like a parachute, if you ever really need one, nothing else will do.