Hello everyone,
I've noticed a few of you speaking of owning a .309JDJ. I already own a .375 JDJ and am wondering weather or not it would be worth rechambering my 30-30 to 309JDJ. Would I gain much over the 375JDJ?
Mike

Mike,
The relationship between the .309JDJ and .375JDJ is like that between a .300WinMag and a .375H&H.
They're used for different purposes; the .309JDJ is great on game up to 400-500lbs. (I used it on everything from 70lb. deer up to 400lb. oryx and barasingha).
The .375JDJ is a bigger hammer. Better for elk, bears, and large African game.

You could rechamber your .30-30 and pick up a few hundred FPS, but I would be careful using loading data developed in an SSK barrel for your T/C barrel (there is a big difference in bore smoothness).

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

mikehjd,

I just switched from a factory rechamber to a full custom SSK barrel in 309. I've only shot 10 rounds through the new tube, but the first two 3-shot groups went 0.350" and 0.537" with fireforming loads. The T/C rechamber barrel grouped a little less than an inch. The only reason I switched was that the factory barrel was a 30/30 with the factory muzzle tamer. I didn't like having a brake on the barrel. Recoil seems the same, but not as much muzzle blast.

I don't think you'd go wrong rechambering the barrel. Also have it recrowned. You may want to conisder the 308 Bellm, as it uses 308 dies and you need 308 dies to neck down to 309 JDJ. I prefer the JDJ series over Bellm's only because I have a thing for that sharp shoulder. It just looks a hell of a lot better to me. I think ballistically both cartridges are on par with each other.

I had a 12" TC Hunter 30-30 rechambered about two years ago by JD. At that time he sent me reloading data for the 309 and he did not say there was any difference in reloading a rechambered 30-30 from TC than with a straight SSK barrel. Of course, as with any load development, you need to work up your load to your barrel and not start with top listed loads. I never shot the barrel in 30-30 as when I saw a new stainless 30-30 Hunter for $100, I knew it was coming home with me and going right back out to JD in the morning. One of my better decisions.
As to worth it, I think so. A 165 gr. bullet at 2304 fps and sub-MOA groups gets my attention any day.

Big Bore, if you are getting 2300 with a 165 from a 12" Hunter rechamber, you are doing much better than I am with a Super 14 rechamber. I get sticky cases at 2250 fps with the 165 NBT. Nevertheless, my rechamber is more than accurate enough for hunting (MOA 5 shot groups or under when I do my part). JD doesn't tell you about the rechambers generally being slower unless you ask, but an equal land/groove design like TCs can't compete with the thin, smooth lands of the Shilen blanks. Add on that some TCs are a little undersize in the bore and you can get pressures with loads as much as 10% below his data's max. My max for the 165s is 49 gr. of IMR 4350, compared to his data's max of 52 or 53 depending where you look.

I have a 16" rechamberd 309JDJ. With the loang barrel I'm pushing and hitting 2600fps with that long barrel.
I stopped shooting the gun at 100 yards cause I was obsessing on the tiny groups and messing up my shooting (and enjoyment of). So now it's my 200 yard minimum gun, and it will easily do 1" 200 yard groups if I don't screw it up.