New(To me)SHTF rifle

[Ronald_THM]

so while i was hanging out with my dad this weekend we got on the subject of firearms and how i want to find a medium rifle cal. that wont break the bank (as in my 7mm mag, and m1 carbine). So dad goes to the safe....(cue the dramatic music) and breaks out a Revelation model 225.

WTF? a 30-30 bolt gun? yes, 30-30 bolt action! Its a neat little rifle with a 20 inch barrel, the blueing is in great shape and the action seems tight. the stock has a few dings but I think i might try to re-finish it. Apparently some guy dad once worked with gave the gun to him (along with a springfield .22) and now it is mine! score!

anyone have info/opinions on this type of firearm or the 30-30 cal. in general? thanks guys!

[Rustyshakelford]

so while i was hanging out with my dad this weekend we got on the subject of firearms and how i want to find a medium rifle cal. that wont break the bank (as in my 7mm mag, and m1 carbine). So dad goes to the safe....(cue the dramatic music) and breaks out a Revelation model 225.

WTF? a 30-30 bolt gun? yes, 30-30 bolt action! Its a neat little rifle with a 20 inch barrel, the blueing is in great shape and the action seems tight. the stock has a few dings but I think i might try to re-finish it. Apparently some guy dad once worked with gave the gun to him (along with a springfield .22) and now it is mine! score!

anyone have info/opinions on this type of firearm or the 30-30 cal. in general? thanks guys!

Now thats pretty cool!!! You can actually load this up with tips that will bring out the potential of the 30-30.

30-30 is a decent survival rifle. It does have a lot of range limitations though. But wow!!! What a cool find!! Wanna do some swapping.....er I mean...its crap...I may be able to offer you something and take it off your hands.

[kenno]

This is a great rifle made by Stevens in 30-30 and I think 22 Hornet. Thousands were made for different retailers. The 30-30 has more power than a 762.x39 in the 150 grn bullet. Extra mags and some parts are available, I have seen them in Sportsmans Guide.

[Rustyshakelford]

These guys have mags for it.

http://www.wisnersinc.com/rifles/savage/325-340.html#30-30%20magazine

So do these guys. Hope this helps.

http://www.thegunrack.net/Magazines/centerfire_rifle_magazines.htm

[Zombie Axe]

Good score Ronald :D

Yeah those Hornady Lever Action Loads for tubular mags will up the ballistics of the 30/30. You are also NOT limited to flat heads so you can load up some nice rounds for this on the cheap if reloading is yer thang :)

Lots of animals have been taken with the 30/30 so its not a bad choice to put meat on the table!

[Ronald_THM]

thanks for the info guys! I will definitly be picking up some extra mags for it (it holds 3 in the mag and one in the chamber). I think 30-30 may become my new favorite caliber considering the cost of ammo that isent .22lr.
another question for you reloaders. I am just getting into loading (thanks to my grandfather whos showing me) will my M1 carbine dyes work with 30-30? i know they are completly different rounds but still 30 cal. i know the promers are different so any info is appreciated on this.
I cleaned the rifle up and wow does it shine now. the bore was a little dark i geuss from sitting in the safe for awhile but its shiny now. Does anyone know the twist rate for this rifle?

[kenno]

Nonono!!!!!!! the ammo is completly different, ecept for bullet diameter, they use completly different dies! The twist rate should be the same as for any other 30-30 rifle, 30-30 ammo is standardized at 150 and 170 grn bullets.

[Rustyshakelford]

thanks for the info guys! I will definitly be picking up some extra mags for it (it holds 3 in the mag and one in the chamber). I think 30-30 may become my new favorite caliber considering the cost of ammo that isent .22lr.
another question for you reloaders. I am just getting into loading (thanks to my grandfather whos showing me) will my M1 carbine dyes work with 30-30? i know they are completly different rounds but still 30 cal. i know the promers are different so any info is appreciated on this.
I cleaned the rifle up and wow does it shine now. the bore was a little dark i geuss from sitting in the safe for awhile but its shiny now. Does anyone know the twist rate for this rifle?

Nope, M1 carbine is actually a straight walled pistol cartridge. I load for it also. You need 30-30 dies. Let me check next week. I may have an extra set. I do not load for it, but over the years have come accross lots of reloading "stuff" that I do not use.

[Ronald_THM]

I figured it was different, but just wanted to make sure. Like i said, im still new at reloading but i want to learn as much as i can.
Rusty, you should have seen the first .30cal round i reloaded, i got everything done except loading the projectile, Pop said "medium pressure, you'll feel it when the bullet is seated". what do i do? mash the heck out of the press, im really lucky nothing happened! the round ended up looking like it was necked in reverse! but it was a learning experience...

[Rustyshakelford]

I figured it was different, but just wanted to make sure. Like i said, im still new at reloading but i want to learn as much as i can.
Rusty, you should have seen the first .30cal round i reloaded, i got everything done except loading the projectile, Pop said "medium pressure, you'll feel it when the bullet is seated". what do i do? mash the heck out of the press, im really lucky nothing happened! the round ended up looking like it was necked in reverse! but it was a learning experience...

Yikes. Yeah. I have done stupid before while reloading too. I remember the day I burned my Hornady Powder thrower up while reloading 7.5 x 55 Swiss and smoking a fine creatively aquired Cubano cigar. I no longer smoke stogies while reloading.

[Ronald_THM]

finally got out to test fire the rifle the other day. I was using Federal power-shok 170gr soft points. At about 50 yards it was dead-on (shooting at skeet set up infront of a river bank). Fun little rifle, the action locks up tight, the only problem was when I loaded the magazine. Its a new mag so the spring is not broken in well.
I think after the holidays i might invest in a lever-action chambered in 30-30 as well.

[Ronald_THM]

it would allow me to have more then 3-4 round in the rifle at once. I was looking at my father-in laws Winchester 94 and it hold 7-8. Plus its kind of a neat action, one that i have never owned before. Any suggestion on a good lever gun? I know the winchester 94 and marlin 336 are the two you hear the most about but are their any other reliable ones?

[kenno]

I've had 2 Marlins and a Winchester I liked the Marlin better because it is easier to mount a scope, otherwise I think they are equal.

[Ronald_THM]

from what i can tell the only major difference in the 2 (marlin and winchester) is that one ejects from the side and the other from the top. i can see where a top ejected casing and optics might not work too well. after some google searching it seeming like mossberg has a new lever gun out. looks like i could play John Wayne sooner then i thought, lol!

[kenno]

Bug-out
Many years ago I had a Marlin with a X1.75 scope so it was pretty fast. The big advantage to a scope (back then) is that it had a single sighting plane instead of 2 like iron sights, but now with Ghost ring sights much of that advantage is lost on a 30-30 type rifle in dense cover.