30-30s in benchrest - Aussie question

Jay

I designed a swagging tool for this operation. Frank Wilson used to borrow it from me to shrink the flash holes for his hunter class rifle. He finally made one of his own. I don't know if he needs to do this anymore since the introduction of 6.5X47 Lapua brass. I could send a drawing to you sometime if you are a machinist or know of a good one.

Michael
 
Michael I'd sure like that drawing :)

email it to alinwa1@hotmail.com

or fax it to 360 686 4131 'Attn Al'

or snail mail it to:

Al Matson
C/O Sierra Concrete
20211 Ne Yacolt Mtn Rd
Yacolt WA 98675

Or if these methods don't work, call me at 360 904 6941 and I'll send over a courier ;)

thanks

al
 
flash hole reducer drawing

Mike,
I'd also like a copy of that drawing. I've often thought of designing something to do this, but you've already "invented the wheel".

email: mattsonrj@att.net.
Snail: Ron Mattson, 65 Smithfield Ave, Meriden CT 06451.

I do have a fax at work, but it's a community fax for a bunch of anti's.

Also, I see that Al misspells his last name. Must be something with being near Mt St Helens!

Regards, Ron
 
Hey guys

I will definetly get a drawing to you. Let me know what formats you have available. I can draw it in autocad, but if you don't have a way to open it, I can simply send a jpeg. I will be exhibiting at the PRI trade show in Orlando FL. I have been very busy trying to get ready for the show, and dealing with 26" of snow. I still haven't made the time to see why I have no phone either. I will leave for the trade show this Tuesday and return next Sunday. I will be able to make the drawing after I return.

Jeff,
I will also have time to talk with Ken when I return. Please give me an idea of how much difference there is in the time zone. I'm in mountain time. My work phone (Turner Technology) is 575-682-5564, and my home phone is 575-682-3036. Maybe I will get a chance to check out my phone lines tomorrow.

Thanks for all the interest in the 30-30 as a competition round. Don't forget that it makes an awsome hunting round when the pressures are elevated, and high BC bullets are used, giving it near 30-06 ballistics. I would not hesitate to make a 500 yard shot on a deer, or out to 300 yards on an elk.

Michael
 
i had the opportunity to shoot both of the rifles mturner built. i can say that they really set a fire in me for a 30cal score rifle. we shot every bullet you could imagine (some that most people would consider junk) in these two rifles in horrible conditions (30+ mph winds) and never shot a bad group. i remember my very first group out of his heavy gun was a .147 and the first group out of his light rifle was a .190. both groups were shot with common off the shelf bullets. if i had michaels machining skills i would definitely have a 30-30br gun.

chuck
 
Chuck's testing of the 30-30

I'll never forget that day. We spend as much time trying to keep a targets on the backstop as loading and shooting. Chuck put about 20 to 30 staples on each target, just to have them ripped off the board, and these were small targets. The backstops were weighted down with brake rotors, but blew over anyway.

However the thing that I remembered the most was Chuck's shooting ability. Is this guy incapable of shooting a large group? It was as if he was shooting in perfect conditions. He would rarely shoot a group that wasn't in the ones. We were shooting Speer 125gr TNT's, Sierra 135gr MK,, and Sierra 125gr Pro Hunters. Chuck fired these bullets the most, but did shoot one group with 125gr Bergers. If I had to guess, he probably shot a high teen agg. in conditions that most of us wind up shooting a low .3" agg.

I also shot some decent groups that day (for the conditions), but needless to say, Chuck would have whopped me severly had we been competing against each other in a 30-30 vs 30-30 match.

A few days later Brian Turnbull shot my 30-30 for the first time. This time the conditions were very favorable. He shot one group that measured .130", and I backed it up with a .210" group.

How come any time I let someone else shoot my 30-30, they put me to shame? This happens often.

Michael
 
Michael Turner

Michael
I will look this weekend for the Rifle Magazine with Harvey Millers 6 MCR rifle. The rifle is a Cover photo in early 1980's.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR
 
Guy Pike said:
Old Gunner I mean what I said: 7.62 Tokarev.
Click to expand...

Thats sounds like a good Turkey gun.
When I found my .25-20 it was because I'd been looking about for a small bolt action suitable for the 7.62X25 Tokarev.
I had no expectations of finding one of the older small size bolt guns in good shape at a reasonable price and had figured on picking up a fixer upper to rebarrel.
As luck would have it the first rifle of the general type I ran across is a Cherry Savage 23B, the bore bright and sharp as the day it left the factory.

Since the Savage 23 models have the receiver integral with the barrel rebarreling would be very difficult, either relining or cutting away a bad bore and threading the rear stub to take a new barrel would be necessary.

One day I may run across a spanish Destroyer or similar action. For now the .25-20 will do for my purposes, but a 7.62X25 would be nice , ammo would be a lot cheaper and reloading would be easier.

Back to the subject of .30-30 Bolt guns, the .30-30 is an inherently accurate cartridge that has been limited by the action types most often used for these rifles.
The Germans liked the short rimmed 8.15X46r as a specialized target round and made some Mauser actioned target rifles in full military trim in that caliber for match work. Thats very much the same class of cartridge.
So long as the magazine is suited to a rimmed cartridge the rimmed cartridge often seems to have an advantage over the rimless , however slight.
 
Michael..

"...We were shooting Speer 125gr TNT's, Sierra 135gr MK,, and Sierra 125gr Pro Hunters. Chuck fired these bullets the most, but did shoot one group with 125gr Bergers. If I had to guess, he probably shot a high teen agg. in conditions that most of us wind up shooting a low .3" agg."

So Mike,
The Speer's & Sierra's are capable of shooting that well? Amazing!

Other questions: How do you handle head spacing on the rim in a Rem 700 type bolt? Is it a cone breach like in rimfire & turning the rim to standard 308 size. You have me really thinking of building a 30-30.

Thanks, Ron
 
ron,

as i said, most of the bullets michael and i shot that day might be considered "junk" by many. we did not shoot a single "match" bullet aside from the 125gr bergers. i attribute this phenominal accuracy to michaels rifle building abilities and his can do attitude pertaining to making things work. it certainly isnt my shooting ability. i have only shot a handful of local matches where 10 people MAY show up. i got involved because the guy who runs them would shoot down every idea i ever had when i visited his gun shop.

michael,
i would love to get together again some time and shoot. i did finish my 30cal but i have to say, it is not even in the same ball park as yours. i have yet to shoot a match with it. i havnt even shot a match since we met in lubbock. i should be ready by the time things warm up.

chuck
 
Ron

I cone the factory bolt and open the bolt face to .510". I use a Sako style extractor. The headspacing is done just like the barrel seen in my earlier post titled "how I make the 30-30 agg. I can take a picture of a finished bolt I made for a hunter class 30-30. The rifle may actually be for sale. The owner doesn't shoot competition any more.

Chuck, I'd love to get together and shoot again sometime. Maybe you can show me how to shoot the way you did.

Hey guys, don't forget that I'm still in Orlando, and will need some time when I get back home to send drawings and pictures.

Michael
 
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Michael,

Hope you're having a good time in Orlando - warm weather, sea food, steaks, & booth babes for scenery!

The "how I make.." thread was a wealth of info and I understand how you're handling the headspace. However the pictures has been deleted. The magnum bolt face sounds like the easiest way to go - maybe just get a new bolt from PTG.

Regards, Ron
 
Factory made 30 cal bullets

I discovered a number of years ago how well some factory made bullets shoot. TNT's are great bullets and capable of winning matches as are Sierra bullets. One lad who shoots in the same group I do used 135g Match Kings to win matches regularly. I even think he set a record with some last summer. I have found that the Sierra 125 SP hunting bullets shoot very well, certainly well enough to practice with considering the prices of custom bullets. Buying bullets in large quantities is a great way to save a few bucks. I often use TNT's in matches and have done ok with them.

I can't stress this point enough: if bullets are segregated properly, all of them I have used shoot just fine. There is a compelling reason long distance shooters are so particular about all the components they use, the extra work does pay off. Why would short range shooting be any different? Don't we all want our rifles to shoot the very best they can shoot?
 
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twist?

Pete,
What kind of twist is needed for the 135 matchkings? Is a 17 too slow?
Regards, Ron
 
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