I have an extra 30-30, it is a break-open with a very heavy barrel. It has a 20 gauge barrel that is about the same diameter as the 30-30 barrel. The rifle shoots extremely well. Am I crazy for thinking of an AI, or is there somthing else to look at for a liitle more giddy-up-go? I am on a budget, and just blew most of it on a Winchester model 70 in 22-250.
     Thank you  in advance.

Hey Guys,

The 30-30 AI is a good cartridge and will give you 200 maybe 300 fps over a standard 30-30.  It's easy to form cases, easy on powder supplies, and reasonably accurate.  Simply running a 30-30 AI reamer into your existing barrel is all that's necessary to alter your rifle.  Sounds like a winner to me!!

El Lobo in NM

I have an old Savage M 340A that I rechambered to 30-30 AI many years ago. With this rifle, I also had to do some minor mods to the clip to allow the AI cartridge to feed correctly. There is a great advantage over the standard 30-30 round, over 300 fps actually. I also switched to the 135g Sierra Single Shot Pistol bullet. Because I didn't use this spitzer bullet in a tubular magazine, it worked great. Both of my sons learned to hunt using this little rifle and it worked great for pronghorn, mule deer, javelina, etc. I think they killed about twenty big game critters with it. In your single shot, you can take advantage of the better ballistics with the spitzers also. I didn't have the option to try any 150g spitzers because it would make the overall cartridge too long for the clip. The 135 Sierra SSP expanded just fine at the 30-30 AI velocity and did not explode or fragment. I believe that it probably is a better choice than the 150g anyway. I think you'll find that the rechambering will be worth the trouble.

I recut the chamber in a Savage 24 O/U .30-30/20ga combination gun several years ago.  This little gem has a 24" tube, and really makes use of the extra case capacity of the .30-30 Improved.  It's scary accurate, and what an improvement in ballistics!

Sounds like your little single shot would benefit in the same way, and since there's no magazine to worry with COL, the sky's the limit for bullet selection!  

Rent a reamer and go for it!

God Bless,

Marshall

I agree 100% !!! *The 30-30 AI is a dandy in my opinion. You have nothing to loose and a lot to gain!




(Edited by GilaMonster at 6:51 pm on Oct. 16, 2001)

Would one still see the increased performance gains mentioned (approx. 300fps) in a standard 20in. barrel?  Thanks for any and all advice.

1 pointer;
Yes I got about that much advantage from the old M 340 with a 20" bbl. I liked the H335 powder in it. Hey it's a great upgrade to the standard 30-30, what can I say?