Has anyone tried this? 30-30 case opened to use .357 cal bullets? I've been thinking of this as an improvement over the 357 Max I have in a HandiRifle. The idea is to shoot heavier bullets.(250-350 gr ) I understand it was very popular as a cast bullet match round years ago.

What kind of balistics could I expect?

<edited for me being a dork that morning>

jeffe

if you look at P.O. Ackley's "Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders" Vol 1 & 2 you will find that there is very little that hasn't been tried at one time or another. they are very good books to have if you do any reloading at all.

The .35 Win is an altogether different animal that the .30-30. The case is about 3/8" longer, has a larger rim, and the body is about .040" larger in diameter. It drives a 250 grian bullet at or about 2200 fps.



The .35-30 has been done and here are some reported velocities:



180 grain bullets can be driven to about 2100 fps.

200 grain bullets can be driven to abetween 1900 and 1950 fps.

220 grain bullets can be launched at about 1850 fps.



Very similar to .35 Rem velocities.

I have a .358 Bullberry in a 12 inch contender barrel and a 20 inch Handirifle barrel. It is the 30-30 case necked up or the .375 win case necked down to .35 cal. I can also use 38-55 cases if I trim them a little. It is a very versitile round that I much favor. I can use 357 pistol bullets of 358 rifle bullets. The 225 NBT is a favorite. The handgun barrel will do 2100 with 180 Hornady SSP and a little over 2000 with the 200 Hornady RN. I can get about 1850 with the 225 Nosler. It is a real deer hammer and I much prefer it to the 35 Rem because it is a rimmed case.
I just recieved the Handirifle barrel from OTT and it is a rechamber of an old .357 Mag barrel. I have not yet been able to get to the range and chrono any loads from it but I believe it will be all I was looking for in a hog/deer gun. A 2x7 compact Bushnell sits on top and it is a nice little woods rifle.
It is a fun caliber and I highly recomend it.

shortgun

Check your twist,you may not be able to stabilize 250 gr.or
heavier bullets.

WC

Another option is what Mike Bellm calls the lazy mans 357 Herret. He cuts a Herret chamber, but instead of the 1.75" length, he cuts the neck long to use full length 30-30 brass, so no need to trim. If you can pick up a cheap set of 357 Herrett dies ~$20, which isn't that hard as it isn't very popular any more, then it is good way to go. From my 10" 357 Herret pistol barrel, I was able to push a 200 gr cast to 1900-2000 fps, a 20" rifle barrel should be good for another 300 fps.

So, you'd be looking at 200 gr @ 2200 fps, and 225 gr @ 2000 fps, I would think the case is too small for smaller bullets, and the twist too slow.

Thanks for all the input......I think this project will have to go on the back burner for now. It does sound like the balistics I was hopeing for( except for that twist problem ).