Converting a 30-30 to a 25-35?

[andym79]

How much work is involved in converting a 1894 30-30 to a 25-35?

[GRUMPA]

Not as much as it takes me to make the 25,30, and 35Rem cases from 30-30...

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?228409-25Rem-30Rem-32Rem

Compared to that, that's an easy conversion but may require a person to remove some material from the shell holder.

[andym79]

I was referring to the actual rifle, obviously it would need to be re-barreled to a .257" rather than a .308" and a chamber would need to be cut! But would the action work fine without modification?

[Bent Ramrod]

You may need to do some work on the cartridge guides that are screwed to the sides of the receiver. I rebarreled a 94 action that had been a .38-55 to .25-35 and replaced the .38-55 guides with .30-30 guides. The cartridges still wouldn't feed out of the magazine. The project kind of stalled after that.

[Mk42gunner]

I was thinking you probably need cartridge specific guides, although you may be able to build up the .30-30 ones if you can't find any for the .25-35.

Robert

An easy way to find out would be to see if the gun will cycle .25-35 rounds before you take it apart.

I looked at the cartridge prints in the second edition Lee manual, and it appears the 25-35 is smaller in every dimension (with the exception of the rim and head), so it should chamber if it will feed at all.

R

[andym79]

Yes the ability to cycle is an interesting question! You wouldn't want a single shot, when you started with a repeater!

[andym79]

Ok, the reason I am asking these questions and trying to get an idea of the cost of this conversion is to work out it a particular rifle that I am looking at is a good deal!

Its a 1982 Marlin 336, re barreled and chambered in 1999 to 25-35 and the seller is asking $1000! Keep in mind here in OZ; a standard used Marlin 336 in 30-30 cost $650-850!

The price includes dies and 200 25-35 head stamped brass.

Just about all rifles are between 50-100% more than in the states here!

The only real concern I have is that I would like to see it in action; problem is its 2000 miles away, the other side of OZ!

I have bought two rifles unseen previously and they have both been good, but third time might not be the charm as the other two were unaltered!

[Mk42gunner]

When your opening post said 1894 30-30, I thought you were talking about a Winchester 1894. The Marlin is a bit different, but I have a suggestion: go to the Marlin Owners website and look in the 336 forum.

I am almost positive I have seen threads there about 336's converted to .25-35.

As to values, I am stuck at least a decade in the past as to what I think guns should cost versus what they bring now.

Robert

[Three44s]

It would seem that if you went for a .25-35 Ackley conversion you may have better feeding?

Just thinking out loud ........

Three 44s

[Cactus Farmer]

Looks like a good excuse to ride the Indian Pacific. ;>)
The 25-35 Ackley sound good too.