savage 340 30-30 range report

[atr]

with a some clear weather today. Rifle is scoped with a vintage Weaver steel tube with post reticle. I suspect that the slight vertical stringing is due more to the fact that the red dot is hard to see with the post. ATR
130659

[Camba]

Nice group there!

[hc18flyer]

I'm glad I didn't see that before I built the 358 win, or I'd have had a Savage 340 in 30-30! Darn fine shootin!
Flyer

[Char-Gar]

Looks good. These rifles are real sleepers and all in 30-30 do very well with cast bullets.

[runfiverun]

Yes they do.
I have been looking for a scope mount for mine for quite a while now.
I would really like to see it's full accuracy potential.

[tdoyka]

great googly moogly, real nice group you have there!!!

[frnkeore]

These are excellent and under rated rifles. They are also very easy to work on. Also, remember that they where chambered in the 225 Winchester at 50,000+ CUP.

I had one about 15 years ago, I put a rear bolt in it and got rid of the barrel band. I then rechambered it with a cast bullet freebore to 30/30 Imp (30 deg shoulder). In a weak moment, I gave it away as a present to a young hunter.

It shot 1 1/4" 5 shot groups @ 100 yd with the fast lot of WC852 (H380 speed) at 2131 fps and the 311291 bullet. 2550 fps with 150 gr jac and 2002 fps with the 311284. You could come very close to though velocitys with the standard chamber.

The weak point in these actions is the extractor and unless you FL size the cases after a few high pressure loads on the same case, the extractor will slip over the rim. A Sako type extractor would cure that.

Frank

[tomon]

I just got 100 Hornady 30-30 brass delivered and am going to load for my Remington 788 scoped, and my Winchester 54 using aperture sights. I have all gas checked bullets. the first bullet I'm trying is a 173 grainer using SRB118 and IMR 4895. I'll seat out the bullets just into the lands. SRB118 is a data powder in the AA2520 range.

[leebuilder]

Those old savage and steavens bolt action 30-30s are fine deer hunting rifles. I liked them because you can load pointed bullets for them. I have shot cast in mine, but not excellent groupings like that,,, well done!!
Was experimenting with shooting singles and double balls in mine, lots of fun.

[Jupiter7]

I love my old 340. Mine also wears a Weaver El Paso 4x fine crosshairs scope. 18.3grs 2400 and powder coated lyman 311-291 prints 1.1" at 100yds. I believe the trigger holds me back from shooting better.

[tdoyka]

my dads m340 is sitting in the safe, waiting. for what, i don't know. he doesn't even use it. if it were up to me( i have a m94), it would go with 165gr ranch dog and a load of powder. ok, rant done!!!

[Old Ranger]

Nice group sir. I am fortunate to have a Rem 788 in 30-30. I've tried a few loads in it but nothing ever performed like that! I've never tried 748 in a cast load either although I remember it being mentioned in an article I read years ago. Good project for this summer's to do list. Got some freshly cast 311041's waiting to be sized in the basement.

748 and 170gr Hornady FP's is the jacketed load I settled on in a early '50's M94 I have.

[kfarm]

Runfiverun, I bought a 340 in 30-30 a couple a years ago and it had a Weaver (I think) scope mount on it. I did not care for it and pulled it off. Give me a day or so and I'll see if I can find it, if I can its yours.

[gnoahhh]

Group shot at what distance? I had my Dad's old 340 .30-30 and it shot passably well but I couldn't warm up to it, so I gave it to a nephew (who hasn't fired it in the six years he's had it). Homely little buggers as far as I am concerned, but they belie that with their nice handling.

Pop killed a pile of deer with that rifle. He bought it new in 1956 at a flood sale at a local gunshop in Pennsylvania. A whole rack of new rifles had water stains on their butt stocks from when the flood got up over the display, hence the discounted prices. The price was $40, and he had talked Mom into letting him spend a wad of their tax refund money on it- $60 was allocated for a gun purchase. Setting next to it was a new Model 70 .30-06 for $60, which he much preferred to have. He sprung for the Savage as the runner up choice because he had enough left over for a couple boxes of ammo, a new knife, and ice cream for we kids on the way home which he couldn't have done had he got the Winchester. Boy, he regretted that decision 'til the day he died. The lesson I took from that was not to give in to cheap bargains simply because that's all I can afford- save the nickels until what I want can be had.

[nanuk]

These are excellent and under rated rifles. They are also very easy to work on. Also, remember that they where chambered in the 225 Winchester at 50,000+ CUP.

I had one about 15 years ago, I put a rear bolt in it and got rid of the barrel band. I then rechambered it with a cast bullet freebore to 30/30 Imp (30 deg shoulder). In a weak moment, I gave it away as a present to a young hunter.

It shot 1 1/4" 5 shot groups @ 100 yd with the fast lot of WC852 (H380 speed) at 2131 fps and the 311291 bullet. 2550 fps with 150 gr jac and 2002 fps with the 311284. You could come very close to though velocitys with the standard chamber.

The weak point in these actions is the extractor and unless you FL size the cases after a few high pressure loads on the same case, the extractor will slip over the rim. A Sako type extractor would cure that.

Frank

Frank, did you have to alter the Mag to get them to feed?
I've got a couple, and was thinking about AIing one of them.

also, I've looked into the nut thing and dumping the band.
As well, the trigger group appears to be tweekable a bit

[nanuk]

Group shot at what distance? ...

target says 50 yds.

[JWFilips]

Thanks For Posting! I asked about the accuracy of 30-30 bolt actions awhile back. Folks said get a 340 & play with it.
I think they were right!
Nice Group!!!

[atr]

this particular load is consistently good. I have tried the same 180 gr sized to 0.309 and the groups were twice as large as what I get with boolits sized to 0.311. I can leave the rifle sit for months then take it to range and it just repeats the same consistent groups.
the worst part about the model 340 is the very stiff trigger
other than that its a great rifle to carry in the woods...very light and quick handling.

[richhodg66]

I like my 340. Mine is the Sears version with a hardwood stock, so ugly it's cute, but it sure is handy and points well.

It isn't what I'd consider a tack driver, but after not having shot it in a year or more, I recently loaded up some of the NOE clone of the 311041 and 26 grains of IMR 4895 and she cooly shot 2-2 1/2" groups at 100 yards right where she'd been zeroed for. I made my first "small bore" cast bullet deer kill with that rifle. I recently got a Stevens 322 (basically the same rifle) in .22 Hornet and while I've only shot it with the iron sights, I think it's gonna be an even better shooter than the .30-30. The 340 is a whole lot of rifle for what it is.

[MT Gianni]

Yes they do.
I have been looking for a scope mount for mine for quite a while now.
I would really like to see it's full accuracy potential.
I tried 3 before I got one to be square over the bbl. That was from Amazon.

[frnkeore]

Frank, did you have to alter the Mag to get them to feed?
I've got a couple, and was thinking about AIing one of them.

also, I've looked into the nut thing and dumping the band.
As well, the trigger group appears to be tweekable a bit

Nanuk,
It feeding from mag to the chamber, it was fine. My Imp reamer was based on the 30 Herret, as I wanted a 30 deg shoulder and the Herret is only .003 larger in the diameter of the shoulder (.406). I did it that way so that I could use Herret dies to load it (back then they where common and not expensive). Even the Ackley Imp is only .007 larger (.403 Vs .410).

For the trigger I just put in a weaker spring. I don't remember what the pull was but, it wasn't over 4 lb or I'd remember that.

The rear screw is very hard to do, at all if you have access to a milling machine . You run the screw through the rear trigger gaurd screw, up to the rear of the action. You need a mill to make sure it goes through centered into the slot that the sear rides in. It well worth doing.

It could be done in a drill press but, you would need to be VERY careful it make sure you meet the slot.

Frank

[clum553946]

Nice group sir. I am fortunate to have a Rem 788 in 30-30. I've tried a few loads in it but nothing ever performed like that! I've never tried 748 in a cast load either although I remember it being mentioned in an article I read years ago. Good project for this summer's to do list. Got some freshly cast 311041's waiting to be sized in the basement.

748 and 170gr Hornady FP's is the jacketed load I settled on in a early '50's M94 I have.

I think the Rem 788 are great rifles to shoot. You are indeed lucky to have one! My first centerfire rifle was a 788 in 243 Winchester & I hunted everything from ground squirrels to hogs with it! Still have it & put a Canjar trigger on it years ago. It was really accurate.

[sthwestvictoria]

130836
This was with a scope, 100metres. AR2208 is Varget.

[atr]

here is a photo of 6 rounds at 100 yds and 6 at 75yds. I shot this in 2012, but shows the potential accuracy of the 340 series. The only change I made to this rifle was to shim the thrust block in the stock with thin pieces of brass sheets. By doing that the thrust block was tighter to the thrust plate which is part of the barrel atr
130845

[nagantguy]

Group shot at what distance? I had my Dad's old 340 .30-30 and it shot passably well but I couldn't warm up to it, so I gave it to a nephew (who hasn't fired it in the six years he's had it). Homely little buggers as far as I am concerned, but they belie that with their nice handling.

Pop killed a pile of deer with that rifle. He bought it new in 1956 at a flood sale at a local gunshop in Pennsylvania. A whole rack of new rifles had water stains on their butt stocks from when the flood got up over the display, hence the discounted prices. The price was $40, and he had talked Mom into letting him spend a wad of their tax refund money on it- $60 was allocated for a gun purchase. Setting next to it was a new Model 70 .30-06 for $60, which he much preferred to have. He sprung for the Savage as the runner up choice because he had enough left over for a couple boxes of ammo, a new knife, and ice cream for we kids on the way home which he couldn't have done had he got the Winchester. Boy, he regretted that decision 'til the day he died. The lesson I took from that was not to give in to cheap bargains simply because that's all I can afford- save the nickels until what I want can be had.

You are right in your figuring the matra here I've heard a lot is spend once cry once.

[kfarm]

Runfiverun, I looked everywhere but the last place and couldn't find the 340 base. I will keep looking but have run out of places. However as I remember it did not sit square on top of the receiver as mentioned in another post. I replaced it with a B Square which looks better. If I find it I'll let you know.

[atr]

kfarm and Runfiverun.....
Weaver still makes and sells a good side mount for the model 340 if your rifle is drilled and tapped for such. That side mount is what I am using on my 340.
130911

[JWFilips]

Can you put a receiver sight on a 340? (I like that on a 30-30)

[kfarm]

I was going to give fiverun the Weaver that came on my 340 when I got it but I must have too much stuff cause I can't find it any where. I even looked in the last place it would be but still no luck. Hold the press I just found it. It was in a box that I had my ham radio antenna tuner on.

Fiverun I found it, looks to have modified somewhat. I'll get a picture and post later.

[runfiverun]

Cool.
I have holes drilled in the side of the receiver so a side mount would
work.
I'd still like to see the pics though I think I could shoot some
good groups with a scope on this rifle.

[Muskrat Mike]

Can you put a receiver sight on a 340? (I like that on a 30-30)
It easier to install a receiver sight on a 340 than a scope. They are usually tapped for them on the left rear side of the receiver and you might have to get the dremel and notch the stock a little bit. I too love the receiver sight on any 30-30!

[gnoahhh]

Yes, Lyman made one. I think it was a #40 (but do your research, I could be wrong about the model number). Discontinued now, but still fairly common and affordable. Definitely a wise move for 340 owner. Introduce yourself on the Savage Collectors forum on the 24Hr. Campfire, and I'll bet one will fall out of the bushes for you. I see them on fleabay a lot, too.

[EMC45]

Mine has a Dockendorfer rear sight, but currently it sits with a Weaver side mount with a fixed 4X steel tube Weaver K4. Still working with old girl.......

[kfarm]

Run, take a look at these. As you see it does not mount square over the bore but you can rotate the scope vertical sorta like a mount on a 94 or M1. This one uses 3 screw's

[warboar_21]

I have a Savage 340C. I bought a spare barrel from Numrich the same time I picked up a magazine several years ago since it was only $50.00. I also put a Williams receiver sight on it since the rear sight was broke off. I wouldn't mind mounting a little 1-4x20 scope on it.

[nanuk]

Can you put a receiver sight on a 340? (I like that on a 30-30)
I have one with a receiver sight. Liked the idea so much i bought another receiver sight. I also bought another barreled action to try my hand at refinishing.

I like these guns!

[nanuk]

I have a Savage 340C. I bought a spare barrel from Numrich the same time I picked up a magazine several years ago since it was only $50.00. I also put a Williams receiver sight on it since the rear sight was broke off. I wouldn't mind mounting a little 1-4x20 scope on it.

I would love to find a barrel in 35-30win. I think it would be near Perfect!

[Okie73]

Nice shooting ATR!
I always look at the 340's when I'm at gun shows and never have picked one up for some reason. Now after seeing your post I have no excuses not to get one.

[runfiverun]

Okay I see how that works, you would have to rotate the scope to line things up.
Those three holes should line up with how mine is drilled
I think someone added another hole to put a peep site of some sort on mine.

K-Farm if you want to sell it P.M me and we can work out the details.
I have been working on some boolits and some home made bullets.
I would really like to scope this rifle to see what it (and I ) can do with them.
If things work out well I will give the rifle to my oldest girl to hunt with.

[atr]

131145131146


runfiverun...The Weaver mount is a two piece mount....first piece attaches to the side of the receiver (4 small screws), then the second piece(2 large knobs) attaches to that first piece. Using the Weaver mount the scope aligns pretty much centered over the chamber/barrel. Here are two photos.

[kfarm]

Well mine must not be a Weaver, qq it is cast aluminum, has been modified slightly, looks as who ever had it had to grind it down for the scope to fit. It did come with a really nice K4 but I'm keeping that.
Fiverun, its yours I have no use for the mount and yes I kept the screws so PM me your address and I'll mail it out. That is if the ice ever melts and I can get to town, we have about 1"-2" of solid ice.

[TCLouis]

Dang I want one of the many variations of one of these guns, but around here folks are a LOT too proud of theirs to interest me.

WHEN/IF I finally find one at a price I am willing to pay, I will likely buy a lottery ticket the same day!

[kfarm]

They certainly are a sleeper, ugly as all get out makes them even more desirable. I only bought mine to help out a guy needing money but now I'm on the look out for a 22 hornet. Mine is not that great a shooter I've got a 336 that puts the 340 to shame but for messing around with cast and pointy boolits just a ton of fun.

[warboar_21]

Does anyone have the B-square mount and is it centered over the bore? Reason I'm asking is because I'm left handed and am not interested in a mount that sits off center of the bore.

[kfarm]

I put the B Square on mine, stole the scope to put on a AR10.

[MT Gianni]

http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Optics-USA-Hornet-Savage/dp/B003O9YGJU

This is the one that was square in my gun.

[nanuk]

I am holding my receiver sight in my hand.

it is a WILLIAMS model 340

for 30-30s, a scope is so much overkill! Any rifle that won't shoot over 250 yds doesn't need a scope. (unless your eyes don't work, but an aperture often corrects most eye problems)

[richhodg66]

http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Optics-USA-Hornet-Savage/dp/B003O9YGJU

This is the one that was square in my gun.


This is the one I have on mine. About $35 on Ebay as I recall and much better than the older Weaver side mounts. Allows a lot more fore and aft adjustment of the scope.

[warboar_21]

Thanks Kfarm that clears it up for me. I think I will go ahead and place my order for one.

[kfarm]

Remember the QD rings don't come with the base.

[bgokk]

runfiverun,

in case the link to the pic doesn't work This is what I have.133951

The top one is complete with the base and is like what I have on my Sears (Savage 340)

[A pause for the COZ]

Yup I like me some 340. Once you see how well it shoots cast. You wont want to buy any of those evil jacketed things. Unless they are on sale.

I have weaver mount and a 1.5 -4 power Banner. its a good match.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_8223.jpg

Can even use pointy bullets if you want.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_8482.jpg

But my bread and butter is cast. I settled on 16gr of 2400 a while ago and never found any thing that shot better.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_8894_zps4c44d0e6.jpg

Even have to use my LNL AP to keep up with the 340.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_9162_zps250f2bda.jpg

[saleen322]

My 340 30-30 does well with cast bullets as well. But it also shoots jacketed bullets pretty good. Great little rifles. I also picked one up in 22 Hornet, 222, 223, 225.................:oops:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Rifles/30-30_zpsd9f2ca93.jpg

[A pause for the COZ]

That has to be one of the nicest stocks I have seen on a 340. Custom?

[TXGunNut]

That has to be one of the nicest stocks I have seen on a 340. Custom?


Couldn't agree more, nice indeed.

[saleen322]

That has to be one of the nicest stocks I have seen on a 340. Custom?

Thanks and I think you are right, I believe it is a Bishop stock from the 70s. I bought the 340 like that in a local gun store for like $150 specifically to shoot cast bullets out of it. I have 4 other 340s and none of them have that nice of a stock on them.

[nanuk]

I have a couple, and the stocks look like they are made from MDF

THAT one is a sweet looking stock

[runfiverun]

thanks BG.


that does look like a bishop stock in saleen's picture.
my stock looks more like coz's but with a sheen more like the bishop, it's in pretty good shape except for a spot where someone missed their swing at the drift when adjusting the rear sight.

[GooseGestapo]

I had one back in the early '80's. It shot the 16.0gr load of Unique under the 150gr Lee .309"FNGC really well. I killed a couple of deer with it using 150gr Speer FN. I lost a couple shooting 150gr Spitzers, so sold/traded it long ago.
It really, really liked the 150gr Lee over 28.0gr of IMR3031. Shot some near 1" groups with it.

I had a friend that had an older one that wasn't drilled for scope, had a 24"bbl and spoon type bolt. It was an earlier one from the '50's. He said it belonged to his dad.

I've been looking for one in either .222 or .22Hornet, but haven't seen one in years.
I guess I'll go check gunbroker.com....

It was a "package" rifle as sold by Otasco/Economy Auto stores. Had a Bushnell scope in Weaver mount, the two picece side mount.

[saleen322]

There were a lot of them made but as a "working guy's rifle" some of them did not get a lot of TLC. My fascination developed into a quest to find one in each caliber. So.....here from front to rear, 222 Rem, 22 Hornet, 225 Win, 223 Rem and the 30-30 Win. I think the ease of finding each caliber I would put in this order; 30-30 most common, 222 next, then 22 Hornet. The 223 Rem was not offered until near the end of the production so there are not as many of them and 225 Win I don't see very often. I hope I am not an enabler for another gun buy! [smilie=s:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Rifles/340s-1A_zpstwrrav2z.jpg

[dg31872]

I like those stocks! Mind if I ask where you got them??

[saleen322]

I like those stocks! Mind if I ask where you got them??

With the exception of the 30-30, they are all factory, original Savage stocks. I think the 222 and 225 have the deluxe stock but they are original Savage.

[Clark]

I got a Springfield 840 for $75 at a gunshow in 2005.
I have not shot it yet, but I bought the side mount base and side mount rings.