Dave Ward has written a short but positive article on the .30-30 Ackley Improved for the 2004 Gun Digest. Dave Ward's article relied on loading information taken from P. O. Ackley's Handbook For Shooters and Reloaders. While Ward does not mention this, the information in Ackley's book was developed by Robert Hutton in a 32" FN Mauser that P. O. Ackley rebored and chambered for him. Hutton believed this was the first .30-30 Improved rifle built by Ackley. Hutton's article is titled; "A New Look At the .30-30" and was published in the May 1961 issue of Guns and Ammo magazine. Hutton's goal was to develop a long-range target cartridge for bolt action rifles. At the time Hutton was developing his load information he had a specific goal (3,000 fps with a 180-grain bullet) and a limited number of powders types available to him. Times have changed and powders more appropriate to the .30-30 Improved are available to the handloader. Dave Ward's article, by his selection of powders which are not ideal for the cartridge, has done little to shed light on this well-known but little understood cartridge. Given the nature of our litigious society the reluctance of a publisher to list loads for the .30-30 Improved that approach 50,000 CUP is understandable. This does not make up for the listing of loads that demonstrate little or no Improvement over the parent cartridge. By continuing to rehash old inappropriate data without any development work utilizing powders available to today's handloader, all that is accomplished is to do a disservice to pioneering experimenters such as P. O. Ackley and Robert Hutton.
There are several articles in the 2004 Gun Digest that warrant its purchase, "Modernizing the .30-3" is not one of them.

Thanks for the most informative report, William - that's something for the 30-30 AI inquiries that have been posted lately.

The only question I would have is that most folks are wanting to stuff this cartridge into a lever gun to improve ballistic performance. 50K seems pretty stiff for such guns. Also, considering the thin wall of the 30-30 case, wouldn't prudence dictate a more moderate 40K - 44K max loading?

Not trying to be cynical about this - just wanting to know. I used to have a Savage 340 bolt gun in 30-30 that I often wondered about the AI loading, but then the one lug bolt intimidated me from trying.

kdub
50,000 CUP is stiff for these guns. Some of the load data I have seen quoted on other boards indicates to me that some people are working well above this level in Contenders. Like you I am not real comfortable up there on a regular basis. When the .308/.444 was being developed by Myron Rockett he worked above what we now call maximum for the .307 Winchester without noted problems.
The brass life for the .30-30 Improved at these upper levels is surprisingly long. We have fired full power loads in the same brass more than ten times without case loss. This was starting with new brass and not counting the fireform load. We now retire cases after five full power loads. The primer pockets are tight and the cases have been lightly trimmed once. Brass is cheap.
Operating as you suggest with the mid 40,000 CUP as your personal stop point is probably very prudent. There is certainly a noted Improvement at these estimated levels.
We intend to shoot the .30-30 Improved side by side with the .307 this spring. Just to have a good look. I am a big .307 fan and inly started the .30-30 Improved project because I thought it was all too good to be true. Turns out the old thutty thutty has a lot of life in her!

Excellent info, Slim, as usual. :) You've been a buncha help to me. When I have more time I will update you on my progress, or lack of it, as the case may be. :rolleyes: :D

Slim,

I also read the article in the Gun Digest you refer to and it at least stimulated my curiosity on the 30-30 AI. You replyed to a thread I started on this subject a month a go in the Lever Gun forum. I am still very interested the the AI modification on the 30-30. I just wanted to let you know that I am very interested in the out come of your future tests with the 30-30 AI. I appreciate you taking the time to reply on the forum to guys like me and share your experience.