Handi Rifle in 30-30 seating bullets deeper

[pathfinder]

Just joined the Handi Rifle club with a 30-30.  Impressive for such an inexpensive gun.  Took it to the range and found that closing the action after loading was difficult with the various ammo I tried, both factory and my own.  The most difficult was a cast bullet (Ranch Dog 165gr) It feeds well in my Leverguns but in the Handi Rifle it engraves on the rifling before full closing.  With the Factory Remington ammo the bullets would actually seat deeper into the case once the action was closed.

Is this normal?

All the loads tested proved to be accurate.  I didn't notice anything unusual.  The brass looked good....

[cwlongshot]

That sounds to me like you have a short throat.. not common on a handi. Potentially dangerous as well. Factory loads should be nowhere near touching the rifling.

 I would get ahold of Remington and get that gun in to the factory for repair! Ask for a trigger job while its there!!

 CW

[Slufoot]

I agree with CW, you definitley have a chamber problem if the factory loads are having the bullets pushed deeper into the case.

Call Rem./H&R and have them pay shipping both ways.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

Just checked some factory Rem. 150 gr. Core-Lokt 30-30 ammo and they are anywhere from 2.504" to 2.510"

Some time ago, I checked where the same  150 gr. CLSP bullets used would touch the lands in my Handi 30-30 with handloads and have recorded the OAL at 2.550"

If yours is pushing Rem. factory loads back into the case it doesn't sound good and needs some attention, as the previous answers noted.


Bill

[pathfinder]

Thanks guys.  Looks like it'll have to go back... 

I guess that would give me an excuse to get another barrel or two.  45 Colt?  45-70?  Both? 

[tykempster]

45-70 can be loaded down there and past 45 Colt...does it all.

[LaOtto222]

My 30-30 has a short throat too. I do not think it is unusual for 30-30's to have short throats, as do 45-70's. I have not shot any factory loads in mine yet, just hand loads. I noticed that I have to seat the 125 grain bullets fairly deep, even 110 grain Hornady's have to be seated rather deep. It sounds like if you are going to be shooting factory ammo, you could use a little throat work. You can send it in for the factory to do, but if you rented a throater, you can do it yourself and get the throat to a custom length. If you send it in, you may get a different barrel back (which may or may not have a short throat), yours with a throat too deep; they even send it back and say there is nothing wrong.

BTW all my other Handi rifles have a long throat, 223, 357 Max (but not as bad as when it was a 357), 44 Mag, 22 Hornet, etc. - too long in my opinion, but that is just the way it is. Good Luck and Good Shooting.

[FW Conch]

   While your @ it , make it a 30-40 Krag  AI  !        Jim

  Edit :  Then get another 30-30  !