Have a Springfield 840 E just like the Savage 340 E in 30-30.

I would like to convert it to .223. Numrich sells what looks to be all the parts needed, barrel, bolt head, extractor & ejector, baffel block, mag, pins and springs needed.

Can I just change out these parts, barrel, bolt head assembly, baffel block and mag? Or is there a "got-ya" in there somewhere?

Somebody who know??

Best regards;
Brett

btt

ask on the centerfire rifle forum here:

http://www.savageshooters.com/index.html

Keep in mind that I know next to nothing about bolts or even modern cartridges but once owned a .340 Savage in .30-30. That said, I would wonder if it can handle the pressures of .223. Like I even know what that is.

I would normally not bother to post here, but given only one other answer, and knowing that the action is a bit on the weak side, I just suggest that you find out for sure that it can hold the juice. Just don't what to hear about you getting hurt if this is, indeed, a bad idea.

Brent

Might I suggest that you sell the 840 and buy a Stevens mod. 200 in .223. You'll have close to what you're looking at for perhaps less than $200.00 over what you get for the 840. Just a thought.

Thanks for the responses.

They did come in 223 so I don't think pressure will be a problem.

Brett

Well, there you go. Glad to hear that's not a problem. Just didn't want to hear about a train wreck.

Good luck,
Brent

Thanks again Brent, your point is a very good one.

Best regards,
Brett

You can convert your 30-30 to a 223 SINGLE SHOT. By changing the barrel and bolt head, extractor.
Be aware that there are two types of extactors for the 222 size head. A plunger type and a clip type.

However the magazine mortise in the reciever is cut for the 30-30 and you can not change that one bit. No parts will interchange in that area to convert it over to the smaller caliber.

Jim Wisner
Custom Metalsmith

Mr. Wisner,

Thanks so much for your helpful information. That is exactly what I'm looking for.

P.S. I did look at your excellent website.

Best regards;
Brett

Mr. Wisner,

One other thought, would I be OK with a Win 225 barrel? I believe the magazine is the same as the 30-30?

Brett

Brett.

The factory 225 Savages had yet another type of plunger extractor. Remeber the 225 has a 30-06 size rim, to work thru a std M70 action.

I will look at our sample rifles to see if a 222 bolt head can be opened up to a 225. Or perhaps what it would take to modfiy a 30-30 bolt head to a 225 and use the clip type extractor.

Yes the 225 uses the same magazine as the 30-30.

Another thought would be to go to a 219 Zipper or a 25-35, or a 7x30 Waters. This would entail a custom barrel rather than a off the shelf factory new barrel. But would work thru the action with no modications. You just would have to find a gunsmith to thread, chamber the barrel.


Jim Wisner
Custom Metalsmith

quote:

Another thought would be to go to a 219 Zipper

I did this with a Stevens 325, with a gunparts 223 barrel rechambered.

Mr. Wisner,

Great idea, it looks like the 219 Zipper will clean up a 223 chamber. Easy conversion.

Thanks MR as well.

Best regards;
Brett

No disrespect intended, but 'smithing a Savage 340 seems a bit like polishing a turd to me. They are a 1 locking lug action with a split rear receiver bridge that requires the use of a side mounted scope, plus the triggers and safeties are rather "iffy". The 340 was intended as an entry level gun and would be, at least IMO, about the last action that I'd want to build anything on. As an open or receiver sight loaner they work pretty well in 22 Hornet, 222, 223, 225, and 30-30. 20 or so years ago, I used to make quite a bit of $$ every years by buying 340s in 30-30 and selling them to a pawn shop owner who sold them and pawned them, often to the same people year after year.

I would seem that a Steven 200 would be a much better choice and probably cheaper, or at least equal in cost, by the time you added up all the labor and parts that you'd need to put into a 340 to convert it.

Jeff

Brett

I had time to look at our sample rifles.

The 222 with the clip type extractor can not be changed to anything bigger.

The 222 with the plunger type extractor could be opened up BUT it is going to be VERY THIN and then you have to redo the plunger extrator. I would have to really double check this one out before cutting on one.

The 225 uses a small piveted type hook extractor, so finding one of those may be hard.

The only other way would be to get a spare 30-30 head and play with it to reduce the slots for the hooks to fit the 225.

I think the 219 Zipper would be the way to go in the long run.

260RemGuy.

Yes the Sav 340 type guns are not a high grade gun but they are a good user gun.
Also since I own the tooling for the magazines they are dear to my bank acount.
We sell about 2000 of the 30-30 magazines a year.
About 1500, of the 222 magazines a year and about 400, of the 223 magazines a year.
FYI, it takes a 250 pound coil of steel .030" thick, to stamp out 750 of the 30-30 magazines.

Jim Wisner
Custom Metalsmith
www.wisnersinc.com

Jim,

Thanks again for your help. Zipper it is.

Those sales figures are someting else.

I hope you go through meany tons of steel...

Best regards;
Brett

I currently have 3 of the Savage 340 series around; a new 342-S in 22 Hornet, a nearly new 342-S in 30-30, and a 340V in 225. Since I don't shoot them, there isn't much chance that I'd ever lose the magazines.

Congratulations on your business. I was glade to see that GPC now has after-market Remington 788 magazine for the 6mm. The factory 788 magazines in 6mm are hard to find and often cost as much as the rifles did when they were new.

Jeff