Can and if so How to...30-30 into a 308 ??

[CobraF100]

I have a friend (SFC Mike M.) that picked up a Savage Bolt Action 30-30 today for $100. and wants to reload/use a better type of round to make it shoot more like or with the same ballistics of a 308.

Can it be done safely and if so how would you do it?

I hope in joins this site and chimes in on this topic.

 

[Jim Watson]

I doubt it could be done both safely and for less than the cost of a new .308.

He could try some of the new Hornady rubbernose bullets that are supposed to extend the effective range a good bit. Or handload to the max with spitzer bullets for a little flatter trajectory. He could rechamber to .30-30 A.I. but I doubt that would gain him a whole lot.

As the wise man said, a bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't resist. He'd have done better to apply the $100 to the price of a real .308 instead of trying to convert or overload a .30-30.

 

[nicholst55]

IMHO, those Savage .30-30 bolt guns are pretty marginal quality anyway, and I wouldn't think it would be cost-effective to invest much money into one. A secure scope mount and decent quality scope would go a long way towards optimizing the performance of the rifle. Ditto the spitzer bullets. Still, the .30-30 is loaded to significantly lower pressure than the .308 so you're not going to magically transform one.

 

[Outlaws]

He could rechamber to .30-30 A.I. but I doubt that would gain him a whole lot.

lol. I never understood the AI rounds. If someone wants more performance, there is always a larger cartridge with much better performance.

Flame on AI lovers.

Hornady Leverevolution would be the most obvious choice for milking everything out of a 30-30.

 

[CobraF100]

Outlaws
Hornady Leverevolution would be the most obvious choice for milking everything out of a 30-30.

So the Hornady LEVERevolution Ammunition will work in a Bolt Action Rifle as it seems to be for lever gun's as stated by Hornady.

Thanks for all the help.
Chris

 

[Outlaws]

Oh sorry, I missed the bolt action part. But yes, it will work fine in a bolt action. If your friend handloads though he will have a lot of possibilities because as mentioned above, he can use a vast assortment of 30 cal bullets.

 

[Shell Shucker]

Enjoy the old Savage for what it is. If you want a 308....... BUY ONE!

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've owned 2 of the rifles in question, and there's three really good reasons you cannot shoot hot rod loads in them

1 Due to their quirky deign I find that savage 340 rifles will throw shots rather WILDLY when higher pressure loads are used. I believe this is due to the fact these rifles only have ONE locking lug on their bolt.

2 The magazine and ejection port length is VERY limited, any spitzer bullets even the 125 grainers are too long to fit unless seated very deeply. Also remember that just about all 30 caliber spitzer bullets are intended to operate at MUCH higher velocities than 30-30 can generate

3 With 30-30 I find that you run out of room for more powder in the case before you get anywhere near 300 savage type performance much less 308win.


You can try the hornady ammo but I wouldn't be surprised it it shoots like crap in a 340 due to reason NO.1

He could rechamber to .30-30 A.I. but I doubt that would gain him a whole lot.

due to the way rounds feed from the magazine I'm not certain AI rounds would feed.

 

[Outlaws]

You can try the hornady ammo but I wouldn't be surprised it it shoots like crap in a 340 due to reason NO.1

I was unaware that stuff is higher pressure. From what I know it just gets rid of the flat nose which hinders the 30-30's usable range.

 

[GunTech]

An AIU round is just a blown out case with a 40 degree shoulder. The whole point of the AI is to get getter performance from a round while still allowing you to fire standard rounds (which are then fire formed).

 

[rcmodel]

I was unaware that stuff is higher pressure. From what I know it just gets rid of the flat nose which hinders the 30-30's usable range.

It is not higher pressure.
It meets SAAMI pressure standards for the 30-30 Win..

What it does have going for it besides the Rubber Spitzer bullet is a special commercial grade of powder you can't get for reloading.

From what I have read about it, it is impossible to match the factory load velocity by reloading at standard pressure, because the "magic" powder that Hornady uses is not available to reloaders.

BTW: The 340 action is not nearly strong enough to rechamber to .308 Win.
Don't even consider it!


rcmodel

 

[Vern Humphrey]

So the Hornady LEVERevolution Ammunition will work in a Bolt Action Rifle as it seems to be for lever gun's as stated by Hornady

It will work in a bolt action, but you don't need it. The idea behind the LeveRevolution is the soft polymer point, which is designed not to set off the cartridge ahead of it in the tubular magazine of the lever rifle. With the Savage, you have a box magazine and can load standard spitzer point bullets with no worries.

I'd start with a good reloading manual that gives pressure levels for each load -- such as the Hodgdon manual. Then I'd match loads -- for example, a max load of 35.0 grains of H335 behind a 150 grain bullet will hit 2,400 fps in a 24" barrel. This isn't all that slower than a similar load in .308. With a good spitzer bullet, you can get close to .308 performance and it won't cost you a dime.

 

[R.W.Dale]

for example, a max load of 35.0 grains of H335 behind a 150 grain bullet will hit 2,400 fps in a 24" barrel. This isn't all that slower than a similar load in .308. With a good spitzer bullet, you can get close to .308 performance and it won't cost you a dim

Only about 500 fps slower

But in a 20" savage 340 you'll never see that 2400 FPS. I've NEVER seen a 30-30 with a 20" barrel hit much over 2250 with a 150g pill and even if you could hit that kind of velocity I garentee you you'll be shooting 6" groups


YOU NEED A NEW MANUAL

In my 340 35.0g of H-335 gives a velocity of 2475 FPS with a 110grn bullet and you can't hit crap with this load. Pull the throttle back to 2300 fps and you get sub MOA accuracy


Hodgons wabpage

150 GR. SIE FN 150grn H335 Start 29.7g 2098FPS 28,700 CUP// MAX load 33.0g 2308FPS 36,200 CUP

Savage, you have a box magazine and can load standard spitzer point bullets with no worries.

You can load VERY short spitzer bullets see my above post

 

[GCW5]

The savage 340's are nice little rifles, I have one in .222 and would like to have one in 30/30, but haven't found one yet.

The easyest way to get near .308 balistics would be to have it rechambered to 30/30 Ackly Improved. This would give about 10% more powder capacty and up your velosity to about .300 Savage, while keeping your pressure to that of a 30/30.

Or you could sell it to me and buy a .308.

Good Luck!