Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 30-30 AI

I've got a question for y'all regarding the 30-30 Ackley Improved.

I've come into a donor rifle for a project that I originally had slated for a 38-55. However, I may put that project on the shelf. The reason is that I had originally wanted to do up a rifle for Ohio-legal deer hunting. Now that the 350 Legend has been announced, I may hold off and wait for a production 350 Legend rifle.

That leaves me with 3 30-30 rifles, 2 Marlin 336 and a Savage 340. Would it make sense to get one or two of them Ackley'd?

Why?

I I wouldn’t think so. Then again I won’t reload for a .30-30. I think that’s the benefit. 30-30 is usually the cheapest centerfire ammo around here.

Shaman ,if you want more speed or power get a 300 Savage or a 308 Win. Having one of your 30-30's reamed isn't the answer, put a scope on the 340 ,put a receiver sight on one of the 336's and leave the other with barrel sights . Work up a load that works in all of them ok, so no matter what gun or what box of shells you grab heading out the door it will work perfectly every time. Just think it could be that damn simple. ONE load 3 guns and they all work perfectly everytime now that's an outcome to shoot for.(pun intended) MB

Rebore to .358 and chamber for 35 Bullberry . . . . (at least one of the rifles)

Well, I went back and ran the numbers for 38-55, .350 Legend and 30-30 AI, and y'all may be right. 30-30 AI doesn't do all that much compared to 30-30. I might pick up 150-200fps. I may just keep this Marlin 336 in the safe until I can find someone to ream it out to .350 Legend.

And that's the beauty of the Ackley version. You can shoot all the factory ammo in it that you wish.

If and when you wish to step it up, reload some. You haven't changed it into a true wildcat that always requires handloading for.

True. What’s the gain on the .30 Ackley anyway?

150-200fps

A 35-30 now that would make sense, pistol bullets for small game hunting and plinking, I did that with my 358 Norma 148gr DEWC's over a pinch of shotgun powder(loads were in the lyman manual) I used it for squirrel hunting. I believe JES can do the job. There are a number of bullets available designed for the 35 Rem which should be about the same ballistics.

I think with modern components like Lever Revolution bullets and some of the speedier powders the difference in real world performance for the Ackley is almost nil. The 38/55 or a 375 Winchester would be more interesting to me. Or a 35 on the 307 case would be a nice round but I would probably just look for a Savage 99 in 358.

But I am like M70fan and usually shoot factory in 30-30. One of the few times I prefer factory loads.

I guess those newer bullets and powders only speed up non AI cases.

I'm thinking hard about doing a 35/30

I’ve heard good things about the 7-30 Waters although that would be a rebarrel job.

Good cartridge, about no bullets available for it. If you have a 94 and can find a 7/30 barrel, it wouldn't cost much.

I have a 94 but not sure if I’d do it or not. If they make those flex tips for it I would maybe consider it.

They don't. In fact, I can't think of a single FN bullet currently being produced in 7mm

Maybe I can use HP and put play-do on the tip

LUCK

File them flat and put a big hollow point in them, no need to fill the HP it hits outside the primer or at least across it and is supported by the case head.

The 35-30 is a old time wildcat used to freshen up 30-30 and 32 Special barrels that were shot/corroded out in the days of corrosive primers.