Guys,
Just thinking out aloud, but is there a short bolt action suitable for having put together in 30 M1 Carbine? Would be kind of cute as a fox whistling/rabbit rifle, or ultra light cast bullet plinker, maybe even as a turkey rifle for you Americans? May also be applicable as a "Whisper" rifle? Maybe one of those short Sako actions that were used for the 7x33 and 25/20 perhaps?? Any thoughts?
Cheers...
Con

How about a CZ527 or Ruger 77/22H? The rim diameters and lengths of the 22 Hornet and 30 Carbine are real close. I thought you guys had plenty of Martini Cadets down under? Why not one of them in 300 Rook, 300 Sherwood or 310 Cadet? Not a bolt gun, but easier...

Waterfowler,
Nice name, two more sleeps over here and it's duck opening!
Yes, you could build one on a Martini, but I'm more interested in whether it would fit in a current bolt gun. Pressures are also pretty low in factory ammunition, so in a bolt, you might be able to soup it up a little and make it slightly useful?
Cheers...
Con

Con,

a mate of mine tried this about twenty years ago. Don't waste your time or money - he used a brno mini mauser (ex Hornet) for the action (CZ527 is current equivalent), and spent a small fortune getting the thing to feed and shoot. It doesn't seem to have any 'inherent accuracy'

The cartridge is way too heavy for rabbits, foxes, etc., and too light for anything bigger - unless you're real close!!

Better to get one of the Rossi 357Mag carbines - but even those are a bit light to be generally useful, and the trajectory will have you wondering if you'd be better off throwing the cartridge at the game!!!

I agree that a .30 Carbine bolt gun would be some fun.

If I were to lauch such a project, I'd use a Ruger 77/22 Hornet action as my base. The bolt face will likely work as it, meaning that all you need is to install the right barrel and modify the magazine. It shouldn't take much alteration to the magazine to make it feed, and if you screw up on your first attempt, you can get a new magazine and start over for $25 bucks or less.

Rebarreling the 77/22H will take some of the slop out of the bolt and improve its accuracy potential. The trigger is fairly easily reworked or replaced. Do a little bedding, and you should have a neat little shooter.

The Ruger is a tough little action, but it isn't factory chambered in any cartridges that run more than about 45,000 cup. You can load warm, but keep it reasonable.

Your rifle would be about the bolt equivalent of the old Marlin Model 62 lever action. If you don't think the concept of a sporter .30 Carbine is a good one, just check out the prices the out-of-production Marlin is bringing.

RugerUser/Stonecreek,
Your differences in opinion are exactly what I expected as this idea is a bit "out there". Still, would be fun to try as I like "big bores" and the 30M1 is big for small game. No intention to use it on medium game, just a fun little plinker with some specialist capabilities like foxes out to 22magnum ranges etc... Put a .311 90gr cast projectile on it as a plinker, 110gr jacketed for the foxes, I doubt it would be worth the money invested but it might be a lot of fun to play with? Also have heard some comment that with a 180gr it woudln't make too bad a subsonic caliber, no use for that, but again interesting to try.
Cheers...
Con

A friend made a single shot on a 700 SA, I think they used a 223. bolt and modified it for the 30 Carbine. He used a PacNor 1:8" twist and 240 gr. Sierra MKs. He had a need for a quieter rifle with adequate energy. I know that it was built and fired but it was never developed for accurate work.

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
Guys,
Just thinking out aloud, but is there a short bolt action suitable for having put together in 30 M1 Carbine? Would be kind of cute as a fox whistling/rabbit rifle, or ultra light cast bullet plinker, maybe even as a turkey rifle for you Americans? May also be applicable as a "Whisper" rifle? Maybe one of those short Sako actions that were used for the 7x33 and 25/20 perhaps?? Any thoughts?
Cheers... Con

After many years in the US military, starting out with M2 carbines and the M1 rifle, and after having owned an M1 .30 carbine myself for a number of years, I cannot thing of a more worthless cartridge in existence!

However, if your intent is just to kill FOSTER'S cans, it should serve for this application, and be a bit more effective than a Crosman .22 pellet gun, perhaps.....

I toyed with the idea of a 30m1 bolt gun. I then found a Ruger M77 in 7.62x39 and it became my just-for-gun. I have since bought a CZ527 and two Interarm's mini-mausers in 7.62x39. Cheap ammo or load your own. A bit more velocity and bullet choice than a 30M1.

The idea of using a Ruger 77/22h for an 30M1 sounds like it might work. Not a bad caliber for rabbits and cats. More versatile in a bolt since you don't have to load for the semi-auto.
If it is a fun project - go for it! You could always just get a 30M1 barrel made for a TC Contender, G2, or Encore.

If you do build one, please post the results here.

Con,

I hope no offence was taken...

Your idea would be a good 'fun gun', and as others have mentioned, it may well work... I was just relating my observations of a project that cost the owner a lot of money and caused great frustration.

As they say, "You can have anything you want, if you're prepared to put enough money into it!"

Now if you want to investigate a 35/303 on a No 4 action, I'll be in that!!!

Just so you knows I'm not against playing around with ideas!!

rugeruser,
Absolutely no offence was taken at all. I take it the rifle your talking about was put together on a ZKW465? I've thought of that action as we can get them pretty cheap over here but the magazines aren't for fiddling with. Regarding the 35/303, we'll I'm already commited to a 358Win which is being put together now. Otherwise what would you like to investigate? I'm game, particularly on a No4!
Cheers...
Con

sounds neato...

i. am getting a cz in 7.62x39, for something like that!!

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
rugeruser,
Absolutely no offence was taken at all. I take it the rifle your talking about was put together on a ZKW465? I've thought of that action as we can get them pretty cheap over here but the magazines aren't for fiddling with. Regarding the 35/303, we'll I'm already commited to a 358Win which is being put together now. Otherwise what would you like to investigate? I'm game, particularly on a No4!
Cheers...
Con

Con, thanks for that...

I have absolutely no idea what the action designation was, it was just a 'brno' hornet that he had laying around (IMHO, he stuffed up a beautiful gun, but that was his choice...)

As to the 35/303, I've had a hankering for a good pig gun in scrub - I know the #4 has been converted to 308, and maybe that's the way to go - ie rebarrel to 358Win, but somehow, I reckon a #4 in 35/303 would feed better. What I would give for a 10 round mag in amongst the bacon!!

I'm also in Oz (Sydney) where abouts are you?

A Spainish Destroyer 9mm largo carbine might work.

Con,

the little cz 527 in 7.62x39 might also suit your needs as suggested earlier................and be heaps cheaper !!