Was going through the guns and wondering what to do with this 340 since the boy has out grown it. Saw on Numrich that they had 223 barrels for this one for like $55. Did a little research and the 30-30 necked to 22 is the 219 Ziper and the wheels started turning. Magazine fed, bolt action, and cheap. what do you think? I could get rid of it and buy a 223 but whats the fun in that. What I need to know is other than a savage barrel wrench and a reamer what do I need to do this change? "My head examined" is not the response I am looking for.

How hard is it to make a rimmed cartridge feed from a magazine of a bolt rifle?
Butch

Most Savage 340's were chambered in 30/30, so feeding shouldn't be a major issue if infact, i-101's is a 30-30. I must admit to considering this idea before, but along the lines of converting to a 25/35 -- S40

It is already set up for 30-30 so feeding should not be any worse than it is already (it is ok but I wouldn't want to hunt eles with it). So what is the process for changing a savage barrel?

I believe the Savage wrench, headspace gage, and a reamer. A future project for me would be a bolt action in R2 Lovel. It would be nice to do on a Mini Mauser. I might end up with a falling block of some kind.
Butch

I'm stretching the memory banks here but IIRC that rifle was also available in .225 Winchester.

If I'm right then it was strong enough for some serious reloading of the .219 Zipper.

That might be a real sweet gun in .219.....helluva deal!

quote:

What I need to know is other than a savage barrel wrench and a reamer what do I need to do this change? .

A barrel vice, nut wrench, possibly an action wrench and perhaps an 8# sledge if you're a little on the puny side. Next you will need some good honing stones for the trigger.

Sounds like a lot of fun to me.

If you would like some photos of my rewoked Mod.340 send me your E Mail address. roger

quote:

Originally posted by idahoelk101:
What I need to know is other than a savage barrel wrench ...

I believe the 340 barrel nut is smaller than the 110 style, so a common Savage barrel wrench won't fit.

If not too tight, a series of dowel pins (round slotted nut) or square pins(keyway stock)(square slotted nut) laid in the groves, then an appropriate sized box end wrench slid over it will remove the nut.

Bruce

Your biggest hurdle will be the magazines. I've seen 340s in 30-30 and a 222 Remingotn which had been poorly converted to 223. The magzine is folded up sheetmetal and has a impressed ridge on both sides to line up the shoulder of the cartridge. Since the Zipper was based on a 30-30 case you'll want to start with one of those. Once your sure the Zipper cartridges in the magazine the rest will be easy.

I know they were available in 223, 222 and 30-30. They may have been available in 225, and the mag is marked as such, but I can not be sure. I was not so much looking for max pressures or 4000 fps, but a fun small bore wiht cheap componets.

BTW bartsche you have a PM

The 340 V was made in 225, and the other series as well in the 222, and 223. The only real difference in those calibers is the bolt head / extracor system. As well as the barrel and reciever opening for the magazine, and guides.

Regarding the magazine, I have not tried to feed the 25-35 or Zipper thru the 30-30 magazines that we make. The only thing I can think of is that the magazine has an depressed ridge to bear against the shoulder to help feed the bullet nose up into the chamber. While the last cartidge then feeds off the magazine spring and follower.

Should be a fun project, keep us advised.

James Wisner

I've done that and I love it, you'll need to make a barrel nut wrench, I made one out of an 1 1/8" socket shimmed to fit. The magazine will feed 55 gr sp and 40 gr bt just fine, 22 hornet bullets will not feed good.

MR,
If you use a socket, where will the barrel go?
Butch

Butch,
Pardon lack of details. I bored out the socket and used a pipe wrench until I welded handles on. The rounds are a little loose in magazine. I would also get an extra barrel nut.

I knew that you had something like that in mind, but this old brain was a little fuzzy.
Butch

FWIW there's .219 Zipper brass in the classifieds.....and there's probably a resizing die as well however it's not listed!

look here

Many years ago (Ha!) a friend made a half reamer for .219 Zipper. He made a forming die also to use in the vise -much like L.E.Wilsons vise die.

At that time he built a few light varmint rifles on No 4 actions and Sile stocks . They shot well under 1" for 5 rounds at 100 yards. He also shot LR with .303 .
You just filled the case with IMR-4320 and a 50 gr Hornaday SX.

I do wish now that I'd bought one and made a forming die.

You might have to anneal new 30-30 brass but you should be able to make fine .219 brass.

Glenn

A great idea.