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Rechamber to 30-30 AI

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21 November 2003, 07:00
bulldog
Rechamber to 30-30 AI
Is it possible to rechamber a T/C 30-30 barrel to 30-30 AI? The AI brass is shorter by 0.040"
Anyone here done this?
Bulldog...
21 November 2003, 07:19
Big Bore
IMO you will be better off rechambering to the .309 JDJ. Much better performance for the same price. But to answer your question, yes, you can rechamber to .30-30 AI. The shorter length will not be a problem.
21 November 2003, 15:48
KYODE
IMO , you would get NO better performance from a 309jdj with bullets 150gr or less.
30-30AI 14" barrel
110gr bullets 2700fps
125gr bullets 2600fps+
130gr bullets 2588fps
135 gr bullets + - 2500fps
150gr bullets + - 2400fps

i'd have to look up some 309 data to be sure, but i don't think it does much better than that. someone correct me if i'm wrong.

lot's of pluses to the 30-30AI. cheap, plentiful brass. ability to shoot factory 30-30 ammo thru it. reasonably priced dies(lee around$25, redding around $58)

30-30 brass is thinner than 444marlin brass(used for 309jdj, i believe), and not as high quality. BUT, 30-30's are easy to find,easily replaced, cheap, and you have the ability to hunt with factory 30-30 ammo, and or, form cases with.
22 November 2003, 03:13
jabradyjr
Thanks for the info guys!

I've been over Mike Bellm's web site I don't know how many times tring to find out if the 30-30 could be rechambered to the 30-30AI. Would that take care of the "no throat" design problem of the factory 30-30 chambering? If I can find out the answer to that question, I'll be able to decide whether or not to just buy a custom barrel in 30-30AI, and have a barrel rechambered to .308Bellm and another to .309JDJ. I had a .309JDJ and it was an outstanding barrel. I'll never know why I decided to part with it. Must have been a "Senior Moment"!
26 November 2003, 01:08
<J�rgen>
Although Mike will not agree with me : I got a reamer from Clymer that was "On Sale" , ran it into my chamber with enough cutting oil and care , presto ! My 30/30 AI shoots like a dream now and it truely is worth doing it !
Go for it , or have it done by Mike , J�rgen [Big Grin]
26 November 2003, 03:40
<SD Handgunner>
The only problem I can see in rechambering a Factory .30-30 Winchester Barrel to the .30-30 Ackley Improved would be the throat. If this is an older barrel with an extremely long throat, no you would not change the throat. If it is newer Factory Barrel with No Throat YES you should be able to have it throated as you want it.

When I had my Super 14 .30-30 Ackley Improved made I started with a 6 Land & Groove, 1 in 14" Twist .30 Herrett Barrel. SSK did the rechamber for me and I am very pleased with the outcome. 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips @ 2683 FPS / .793" 5 shot 100 yard groups, 150gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips @ 2437 FPS / 1.462" 5 shot 100 yard groups. I still need to tweak the 150gr. Load a little, and I also plan on trying the 150gr. Hornady SST.

SD Handgunner