Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Contender 30/30

What do you guys think about having a 21 inch 30/30 barrel cut down to 16.25.

Why?

I'm wonting a 16.25 inch 30/30 barrel. Had one years ago. Cant fine one anymore and I have a 21 inch

Since you asked, I wouldn't do it because of velocity loss and the louder report. Might also negatively affect the balance. IMO, short barrels should be heavier to balance well.

Do as you please, of course, but you did ask.

Not a good idea in my opinion. 21” is already ‘short’ in a single shot Carbine!

If you need to work in extremely heavy cover. Mangrove swap or something? I dont know what, I dont see any reason not cut the barrel if actually needed. I would tend to think if 16" was needed then 44mag might be better. The hearing damage is bigtime more significant with bottleneck rounds in 16" barrel than pistol rounds. In more normal woods carry, the shorter barrel is always lighter and easier to carry. I am seeing more and more 16" rifles like the new 350 legend. Short works. I have a contender 30/30 pistol, it kills fine and that is 14". It almost carries one handed like a micro carbine.

The beauty of the contender is this is JUST A BARREL. Cut it, dont cut it, no big deal. You can buy more. Think about wearing game ears.

I have owned two super 16 barrels one was a 7-30 watters and the other was a super 16 30-30

Have a few 16" barrels in the rack now, and have had a few others in the past.

Tapered contour 16"s are really light & pretty handy, only issue for me is the perceived muzzle blast is quite a bit louder...i doubt actual blast is different, but when you move it much closer to your head, its sure feels that way.

Straight bull 16's DO feel better balanced to me, especially with heavier wood or laminate stock sets. I can live with 16" tapered barrels on rynite/synthetic stocks, though balance feels better to me with longer barrels.

Have 16" barrels now in 41mag, .256winmag, .35rem, 45/70...and have a couple of other carbines with 17" & 18" barrels.

If you like the 21" and it is a shooter, would it be worthwhile for you to just add a second barrel & have MGM make you a shorty?
was thinking i remember seeing a 16" 30/30 listed for sale here not long ago, dunno if that sold or not.

I have a encore 7mm08 that I had cut down to18 inches. It a nice carbine

That's my feeling on them too. I had a tapered 18" 357 Max with a rynite stock and that was about as light as I've had that to my hand anyway still felt like a balanced carbine. Tapered 16's while very light seemed to be a little too much of a good thing and would rather just use a pistol at that point.

Too bad you didn't have a newer 23" to cut down instead. The 21's aren't around as much now as they once were.

Got to admit to being a bit baffled by some of the comments. Metal and wood or Metal and plastic, they weigh in at around 5.5# with a 23" barrel or so. Kind of the definition of handy in my eye. Cutting a few inches off the pipe isn't going to make that much difference in weight or balance. So far as balance goes I've always preferred a forward balance for offhand shooting anyway. I have two frames and two barrels for each. .22 short/.30-30 are standard contours, 20" and 22" respectfully. The other uses bull contour in .22 LR and .30 Sneezer, both 20" and threaded.

The shoot like this in the same order:











That said, do what you gotta do, it's no big deal either way.

My other gun has a 42" barrel and works just fine in the woods.

Digitaldan, tell me about that 22 SHORT 20” barrel! That’s one of my favorite plinking rounds. I have three Winchester model 56 bolt action rifles in 22 SHORT. You must have purchased one of those 22 SHORT MATCH (?) barrels once offered by Fox?

Yes I did, back around '99. It has been my go to hog whacker since 2005.

If I was considering going to a 16 and half inch barrel in
a 30-30 Id do it with a 30 Herriet instead. that makes more
sense to me..

Billy

i added lead shot w epoxy to my rynite forend, Super 16 in .35 rem.
Made it easy to shoot well offhand.
Was too twitchy before.
Looked funky w G2 forend and taper of the 16.25"
Better would have been 18.25".
Maybe even in non taper.

If my .35 rem was 18.25" I'd have kept it.
As a 16.25"...............that shot well..................away it went.