30-30 to 30-30AI?

[TMAKER]

Can a 30-30 be reamed out to a 30-30AI?

[SkinnerSights]

Yes and it makes quite a neat round out of a normal 30-30. 

[shot1]

And you will still be able to shoot 30-30 Win ammo in it. It does not change the length of the case just the shoulder is pushed forward and the shoulder is much sharper which makes the neck of the case shorter in length more like a modern bottle neck cartridge instead of that mile long neck on the 30-30 Win. One thing I have noticed is after fire forming the cases seem not to grow much if any and don't need trimming much if any. I have a T/C Contender pistol with a 14" 30-30AI Shilen SS barrel made by Match Grade Machines (MGM). With 33 grs of IMR 4198 in a fire formed WW case fired by a Wolf LR primer it will push a 125 gr Nosler ballistic tip 2670 fps average and will drive tacks. 3/4" and under groups at 100 yards. It hammers deer also. One other thing I have found prudent to do is start with new cases or factory 30-30 ammo to fire form your cases. I tried some once fired cases and had a number of split necks. I got some new WW cases and use some junk I had laying around. Some 147 FMJ pulled from military ammo bullets. Some IMR 4320 powder that I have had for ages and don't use in anything. I used a starting 30-30 Win load. What astounded me was that after I did my get it on the paper at 100 yards zero that took 5 shots. Myself and two other people, which one had never fired a Contender pistol before, put the other 45 shots into a group of 2" at 100 yards. I know I have a good barrel but I have also read of the same type of accuracy others are getting out of the 30-30AI. It seems to be one of those ACCURATE cartridges. Good luck and good shooting.

[quickdtoo]

It's an easy rechamber by hand with a rented reamer, I did one of my H&R 30-30 barrels, took less than 30 minutes start to finish including clean up. I use 375Win brass and the 125gr Sierra Prohunter SPT, my load is hot, so I won't post the powder since it may not be safe if a lot of 30-30 rifles.

Tim