Author Topic: 30-30 AI (Read 912 times)

Longcruise · « **on:** July 26, 2004, 10:05:35 AM »

Seems I recall that some members had experimented with this conversion in their nef 30-30's and I'm wondering what sort of results y'all got?

Any chrono data?

Would like to add a few more fps to my 30-30 for the 180 and 200 gr bullets and thought this might be the way to go.

Any ideas?

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2004, 05:03:57 AM »

There has been several posts regarding the AI conversion. I'm on a list to get the reamer. Have not made the conversion to date so can't comment.

Longcruise · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2004, 05:38:38 AM »

Quote

There has been several posts regarding the AI conversion. I'm on a list to get the reamer. Have not made the conversion to date so can't comment

Thanks for jumping in! Was beginning to think I'd get no response. :grin:

How does this passing of the reamer work? Cost, etc.?

What benefits are you looking for in the conversion?

What does it take to use a reamer? Can a person do it on the home bench? Need a lathe or power tool or??

Thanks again for jumping in.

Fred M · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2004, 06:11:04 AM »

This is an interesting and simple conversion . I made a previous request to find out how it turned out. The 30-40 is also a good conversion but I like the 30-30AI much better. Fred M.

Longcruise · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2004, 06:42:26 AM »

Quote

The 30-40 is also a good conversion but I like the 30-30AI much better. Fred M.

Fred; How much do you gain with the 30-30 AI?

My goal is to make my nef into just a little bit better black timber elk rifle than it is in the std 30-30 cal. The 30-30 will do since we are talking 50 to 100 yard shots while still hunting the heavy cover.

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2004, 09:04:51 AM »

I think the story is that you gain a couple hundred FPS in velocity but the big gain is in life of your brass...the sharper angle of the AI conversion reduces brass stretching. Mitch in mi has the reamer...I got on his list and sent him 15 bucks...when a person uses the reamer it is forwarded on to the next person on the list. Also I believe a tap t-handle is all that is needed along with some cutting fluid to keep the reamer sharp and lubricated...no other special tools are required to the best of my knowlwdge...your original bunch of brass is acquired by fireforming standard 30-30 cases in the AI chamber which blows out the shoulder to the new AI dimentions....then you must have 30-30 AI dies to reload the brass. Like I mentioned this will be a first for me...shoot Mitch in Mi a PM.

Fred M · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2004, 10:00:06 AM »

The 200 ft/sec is about right or a low end 308 Win. But that is not at all I am looking for. The 30-30AI has such a well balanced case volume for the 30 bore which produces velocities close to a 308 with less powder, therefore less recoil which means better accuracy.

In a Handy I would load it to a high end 30-30 or about and extra 100 ft. With a load like that you woud wear out the barrel before the cases would give up the ghost. 30 - 40 reloads are possible.

This case has achieved remarkable results in Hunter Benchrest competition. There it is called the 30 Aardvark very close to the 30-30AI but a little shorter and the rim is removed. On a lath a rimless groove is mashined in the cases ala 308 Win..

If the case did not show a great deal of benefits, nobody would go through all the trouble converting the cases. Also only 40 cases would be needed for hunting or competition.

Of course the 30 Aardvark will not work in a Handy because the chamber would have to be shortened. Fred M.

Longcruise · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2004, 10:13:18 AM »

Are the AI dies readily available? Guess that would be the deciding factor for me. Also, do we end up with a slightly longer case too?

Fred, thanks for the additional info on the AI. It appears that it would get me exactly where I'm trying to go allowing that reloading gear etc. can be had without breaking the bank. :-)

Mitch in MI · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2004, 11:00:05 AM »

The Lee AI die set is $24 at Midway IIRC. I'm the jerk who hasn't rechambered my gun and sent the reamer to deadeye yet. Right now, my new unfired 30-30 is wearing BBF's 223 bull barrel, and I haven't fired (or even scoped) that barrel either. Unless my weekend falls apart again, I plan to testfire the 30-30 and rechamber it so I can send the reamer to deadeye Monday. I don't expect to have time to play with the rechambered barrel for a while, but if I can get some idea how it's shooting stock before I rechamber it I'll have some limited basis for comparison.

Longcruise · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2004, 11:03:43 AM »

Mitch, please advise me of all the dirty details of the reaming project once you have done it. I have never used a reamer and would like to know the exact procedure before committing to the idea.

Thanks

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2004, 12:17:47 PM »

longcruise I'm right in there with ya buddy! I too have never used a reamer so this will be a first for me also but from what everyone says it's a no-brainer...soooo hopefully this will be a plus for me!! :oops: Looks like Fred has done his homework on the technical "skinny" on this round....I know I've heard nothing but good things about it's performance.

Mitch in MI · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2004, 02:14:16 PM »

The biggest problem I forsee is the ejector. Mine sits up above the chamber when latched, so you would have to hold it down with a c-clamp to keep from reaming the finish off from it. But then you'd still have to contend with the possibility of getting chips in the ejector and jamming it later. It seems the safest thing would be to remove the ejector. Maybe I should include the proper size pin punch with the reamer I'll be passing around?

The actual reaming should go quite smoothly if I'm careful not to exert side pressure on the reamer and cut the chamber out of round.
Rimmed chambers have a nice depth indicator built in. When you scratch the bluing on the bottom of the chamber rim, you know it's time to stop.
Much easier than cleaning a rimless chamber and dropping a headspace gage down it, then trying to guess how many more times you can turn the reamer before you clean and gage it again.

Mitch.

Fred M · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2004, 05:25:02 PM »

Mitch in MI.
By all means invest a couple of bucks for a pin drift and remove the ejector. Use a thin piece of hard wood to compress the spring when reinstalling the spring so you don't damage the spring when driving the pin back in.

I guess I have to buy another complete 30-30 rifle to get a 30-30AI, since the 25-06 goes to a young hunter friend.

But that will be another cold weather project, and my present experience with the Handi will help it along. I shoot a lot of Speer 125gr HP TNT bullets in my 30BR benchrest rifle. these bullets are extreamly accurate, nearly custom made BR grade. Give them a try.

I get 2980ft/sec with 34.0gr of H4198. Too bad the Handi could not be set back to accommodate a short case like that. 150gr Sierra match bullets will do about 2500ft.

Don't forget I am waiting for a 30-30AI report.

Fred M.

Buffalogun · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2004, 06:00:34 PM »

Guys,

I have the 30-30 AI chambered in my Contender Carbine(24"). I also have P.O. Ackleys books. I am very impressed with the performance of this round. I have the Lee die-set and have had no problems.

My current load is the Barnes 130g XBT over 34.5 g IMR 4198 for a velocity of apprx 2,800 fps. My Contender also likes the Nosler 125g Btip.

Buffalogun