Anyone load for .30/30 Ackley Improved?

[bee-kay]

I bought a 14" barrel for my T/C Contender and I've been considering getting an A.I. 30.30 reamer and reaming it to chamber that.
I have read elsewhere that It's fairly straightforward and nobody is disappointed that they did it.
I'm just curious about a few things before doing it, mainly considering that I'll be hunting with it in this state and there are complications that we're all aware of.
The Barnes .30/30 bullets have been recommended and I'll be getting some of those today.

I have some .30/30 brass and I don't have a .30/30 die set.
My plan is to rent a reamer for .30/30 A.I. and to just buy the A.I. die set and to use that to reload the standard cases that will then fireform to the re-chambered barrel. It seems to me that it ought to work that way, but I haven't tried it so I'm not sure.

Thanks for any suggestions

[hntnnut]

Don't have one but what I understand the performance is pushing close to the 308 win. being a single shot won't limit you to "30-30 bullets" you will be able to use any .308 cal. bullet. Not sure but I believe you can load the std. brass with the a.i. dies. another option is to load a bit of fast pistol powder held in with a dracon overwad and no projectile that should be enough to punch the shoulder out.

Richard

[hntnnut]

Just found this quote on shooters forum

Just fireformed fifty 6.5x57 Ack Imp using Rem 7x57 cases necked down to 6.5mm.

Loaded with 18 gr Red Dot then filled with COW up to the bottom of the neck all held in place with an old cleaning patch stuffed into the neck. No bullet.

Worked great. Fully filled out with no primer protrusion. Primers had the appearance of a regular bullet load.

Richard

[bee-kay]

Don't have one but what I understand the performance is pushing close to the 308 win. being a single shot won't limit you to "30-30 bullets" you will be able to use any .308 cal. bullet. Not sure but I believe you can load the std. brass with the a.i. dies. another option is to load a bit of fast pistol powder held in with a dracon overwad and no projectile that should be enough to punch the shoulder out.

Richard

I was reading this and trying to figure out what dracon might be... Dacron? Maybe?
That's great to know. I didn't raelly want to buy a set of 30/30 dies just to relaod cases for fireforming.
I'm reading also that actual .30/30 A.I. dies aren't nessecary, because you can get by sizing the neck only.

[hntnnut]

Your Right Dacron is what I meant. Look up dacron batting its the stuff they put between quilts. Good to know on the dies. For hunting bullets for California I would look at the Barnes 130 gr. TTSX we have had good luck with it in my wifes .308 Winnie.


Richard

[bee-kay]

Thanks
That's good to know on the Barnes 130 gr
Those are on my list
I had a talk with another member who advised me to go with the Barnes 150 HP because velocity may be a bit slow for a lead free rifle bullet to expand. The Barnes 150 HP for the .30/30 is designed a lot like a handgun bullet and is likely to open up at velocities significantly less than the rifle bullets.
I'm gonna give em both a try though.
Unfortinately there isn't a synthetic test medium that totally duplicates what deer are made up of.
This is an interesting project because I'm finding out that this particular gun/chambering pushes the lower limits of bullet performance.