35/30 makes me smile

[444ttd]

i sent a winchester m94(1972) in 30/30 to JES and wouldn't ya know it, he did a 35/30!!!! JES did a dang fine job!!! three cheers for JES!!! i tried to clean my rifle's bore, but it was already clean!!!! three cheers for JES!!!!

i did a williams fp sight because the targets weren't cooperating with me!!! nuthing to do with my eyes..........nope, it was the targets. i bought a ch4d 35/30 dies and 30/30 starline brass(250pcs). i bought 500 200gr fn gc (rcbs) from bull shop.

i took the 30/30 cases and necked them up to .358". i used pure lanolin in my necking up. next was the HF wet tumbler with a 4" pvc. after i dried them, i put in a winchester lrp and i loaded up some 16.0 - 20.0gr of 2400/tuft of dacron under a 200gr fn gc. i fired them and 16.5gr - 17.0gr of 2400 had a soot on them, while 17.5 - 20.0gr did not. 20.0gr of 2400/dacon goes 1 3/4 - 2 1/4" at 100 yards(5 shots/benched). 3 shots goes roughly 3/4" at 100 yards but it will go 1/2" at 100 yards if the gods of shooting let me!!! the 35/30 didn't make a difference(target) on unfired or fired 30/30 starline brass.

i chronoed the load and it is 1726fps avg for the 200gr fn gc and 20.0gr of 2400/dacron. i could take it up an extra grain or two but i am happy with the load. besides, the deer i shoot won't know the difference. in case you are wondering why? my ground blind/stand will only let me see about 50-60 yards. more than that i'll have do a pretty durned good shot thru branches and twigs and brambles to get the deer.

i'm going to go with the 270ish gr fn gc and about 1500-1600fps when the 200gr run out. oh......by the way, the 35/30 with 200gr fn gc and 2400 "kicks" about as much as a 30/30 with 170gr factory loads, i'm saying that it doesn't "kick".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtTxBqOwtnA
https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html?_br_psugg_q=rock+tumbler
https://bullshop.weebly.com/-35-caliber-cast-bullets.html
https://smile.amazon.com/NOW-Solutions-Lanolin-Environment-Protectant/dp/B000I1OYNK/ref=pd_nav_hcs_rp_2/132-4558833-4971006?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000I1OYNK&pd_rd_r=06b03c04-cf46-4472-96bd-8a706e004b47&pd_rd_w=H3N8U&pd_rd_wg=B1Lgh&pf_rd_p=7573558a-15e7-4ec0-b40c-153a05f99fb1&pf_rd_r=6R4XXASJT630D1DBHXNT&psc=1&refRID=6R4XXASJT630D1DBHXNT

[dangitgriff]

Would like to see some of your loaded ammo.

[cwlongshot]

I cannot picture this cartridge. I know I have seen it and read about it but for the life of me... dont remember what it looks like. Cannot be much of a shoulder left is there? I thinking shaded of the 32/40..

Love the 35’s!!

CW

[444ttd]

i had it sitting in my safe for about 25 years+/- . the 30/30 was death on deer but i didn't like it. now it has lease on life!!!

left: 35/30 and a 200gr fn gc
right: 30/30 and a 165gr ranch dog

https://i.imgur.com/o54zLlK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/o54zLlK.jpg

[cwtebay]

Glad to hear you are enjoying it!!
Is there an advantage to resizing your way? I have just used the cream of wheat method on mine.

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[GBertolet]

I think what you have, is officially called the 35-30/30. Should be a great deer cartridge.

[444ttd]

Glad to hear you are enjoying it!!
Is there an advantage to resizing your way? I have just used the cream of wheat method on mine.

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not that i could see.

[444ttd]

I think what you have, is officially called the 35-30/30. Should be a great deer cartridge.

yes, but the 35/30 sounds "cooler"!!!!

[Texas by God]

Us poor boys have to make do with the 38-55!
Try 25 grains of IMR 3031 under the 200 grain bullet.
35-30 does have a nice ring to it.

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[cwtebay]

I have a ball with mine! I use a 200 grain cast as Texas mentioned, definitely an accurate load. I was too cheap to get actual dies for it, so tried a Lee neck sizing set for 35 Remington and seems to work great. My 12 year old killed a nice whitetail with it last year - anything Winchester and 35 caliber works. Period.

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[richhodg66]

I must admit to being intrigued by this round, but I have a couple of .35 Remingtons and a .358, so can't really justify it. If I ever come across a .30-30 with a shot out bore though...

[bruce drake]

I've been dancing around doing the same for my dad's old .32 Winnie model 94. The original barrel has about 80 years of bullets through it and she's not as accurate as she used to be and could use a reblue on her as well. The old girl could definitely get a new top coat and a fresh bore for the next 30 years for when I pass the rifle along to one of the boys.

Thanks for reminding me that JES does great work.

Now I need to start building a Christmas 2020 fund...

Bruce

[richhodg66]

Us poor boys have to make do with the 38-55!
Try 25 grains of IMR 3031 under the 200 grain bullet.
35-30 does have a nice ring to it.

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I like the .38-55 too, but a .35 will use .38 Special revolver bullets which I have quite a few molds for.

[sandog]

Jes made a .356 Winchester out of an old Glenfield .30-30 for me, he does do an outstanding job.
The thing would outshoot many bolt actions after I got it back from him.
https://i.imgur.com/WFCOL24h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mM87Py7h.jpg

[richhodg66]

I know there have been a lot of threads on this wildcat before, I'm just too last this morning to search. Where does a guy get load data for it? It seems like it's almost simply a rimmed .35 Remington, but it probably isn't quite that simple. I'm sure figuring it out wouldn't be too difficult.

How long/well, does .30-30 brass hold up? It's been my experience that .30-30 brass seems to be weaker than most centerfire rifle brass.

[lar45]

According to Quickload
Case capacity for the 35/30-30 is 50gns with a pressure of 39kpsi
Case capacity for the 35Rem is 51gns with a pressure of 39kpsi
Case capacity for the 356Win is 55gns with a pressure of 52kpsi

So It does indeed look like you might get away with using 35Rem load data, just be careful with max loads.
Hodgdon lists 35 Rem with a Speer 180 loaded to 2.470" with 39gns of H4895 giving 2232fps, I punched this into Quickload and it showed 2259fps @ 32kpsi.
The same powder charge in the 35/30-30 showed 2295fps @ 36kpsi

Hodgdon also lists 45gns of LvR giving 2302fps in the 35 Rem, so there is some performance possibilities.

[nekshot]

Jes made a .356 Winchester out of an old Glenfield .30-30 for me, he does do an outstanding job.
The thing would outshoot many bolt actions after I got it back from him.
https://i.imgur.com/WFCOL24h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mM87Py7h.jpg

Do you have a good answer for that wood!!

[444ttd]

I know there have been a lot of threads on this wildcat before, I'm just too last this morning to search. Where does a guy get load data for it? It seems like it's almost simply a rimmed .35 Remington, but it probably isn't quite that simple. I'm sure figuring it out wouldn't be too difficult.

How long/well, does .30-30 brass hold up? It's been my experience that .30-30 brass seems to be weaker than most centerfire rifle brass.

as i think about it(its been 25+/- years), i loaded the 30/30, 10-12 times, no annealing and they were good to go. i never split the case either.

[John Taylor]

Several years back I made a mistake and installed a a 35 caliber liner in a 30-30. Told the customer it would be a bit longer because I had to get another liner. When he found out I had installed a 35 liner he said he always wanted to try a 35-30-30, save me a lot of trouble.

[T_McD]

So this is a 30/30 necked up to 357 or 358? Like a mini Whelen?

[444ttd]

So this is a 30/30 necked up to 357 or 358? Like a mini Whelen?

yes, .358" or was it .359"?

[Outpost75]

My .35/.30-30 uses a .358" barrel with 1:16" twist of rifling, the same as in the .35 Remington.

Chamber throating follows the form of the .35 Whelen, having a cylindrical ball seat of .360" for 0.2" ahead of the case mouth, with 6 degree angle forcing cone and sufficient neck release clearance to load as-cast and unsized .362" diameter cast bullets in necked-down Starline 2.082" length .38-55 brass. I do not load light weight pistol bullets, but 215-270 grain plainbased lead bullets intended for rifle use. A nominal case full of IMR4064, IMR4895, RL15 or Varget, using a 2 grain tuft of Dacron and a pea-sized dab of white lithium grease, compressing the charge, inert fiber filler and "grease cookie" as if loading black powder, gives 1600-1700 fps with no leading.

Game performance is stellar at woods ranges.

246886

[444ttd]

i checked and its .359" for my 35/30(JES did it).

[richhodg66]

You guys are enablers.

I really don't need to get one of these but you're making it harder and harder not to.

[Bazoo]

I've been intrigued by this cartridge since I first read about it in cartridges of the world. If I'm not mistaken, there is a smidge of loading data in COTW.

[T_McD]

You guys are enablers.

I really don't need to get one of these but you're making it harder and harder not to.

For sure. I used to be the “common calibers only” guy. Then I got a 35 Whelen....now this is looking interesting. I think I know how old fogeys get to having 20 different oddball calibers. :D

[Texas by God]

Sort of a .35 Remington for 94 Winchester rifles in my view. It would be neat in any rifle, a reloader’s dream with 100+ bullet choices.

[Bazoo]

Anyone that loads 35/30-30 be willing to make me a dummy round? I'd like to have a tangible view of it when I'm dreaming. I'd be glad to pay something for the trouble and shipping.

[glaciers]

I've been thinking of this in a 94, but, the 94's I have I would not think about defiling. When I find a good pre 64 I'll send it to Jess. The 94 is about the best carry gun going and certainly my favorite rifles. Just can't mess with the ones I currently have.

[Pioneer2]

Shot out .32 Specials are more common than 30-30's so that would make a great donor rifle for a re-bore.

[Texas by God]

Anyone that loads 35/30-30 be willing to make me a dummy round? I'd like to have a tangible view of it when I'm dreaming. I'd be glad to pay something for the trouble and shipping.Me, too please.

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[Outpost75]

Here are pics you can drool on.

247091247092247093

Cartridges left to right: .30-30, .35 Remington, .35/30-30

Redding dies, example cases, cartridge and boolits

Relined Model 1894 "short rifle," done by John Taylor, with Krag ctg. belt and rounds.

[fordwannabe]

Bazoo and Texas byGod pm me and I will get a couple out to each of you. Cast ok? Tom

[Bazoo]

Fordwannabe, I sent you a pm. Thank you.

Outpost, thanks for the pics, that is pretty sweet.

When they are expanded out, what thickness does the necks end up at?

[Outpost75]

Fordwannabe, I sent you a pm. Thank you.

Outpost, thanks for the pics, that is pretty sweet.

When they are expanded out, what thickness does the necks end up at?

Neck thickness depends upon the brass used as feed stock. John, I believe, used a .35 Whelen neck and throater and a .30-30 reamer. Not a "tight" chamber. I wanted enough release clearance not to be worried about neck wall thickness or oversized bullets. I can load an as-cast .362" diameter bullet in necked down Starline 2.085" length .38-55 brass, and I use a Lee Quik-Trim for the .358 Winchester to true the case mouths after firing. Using various headstamp .30-30, .32 W.S., .32-40 or .38-55 brass the older stuff is thinner so no issues.

[444ttd]

i use the 30-30 starline brass and in 3 or 4 firings, i also have no issues. i have federal, remington and winchester 30/30 brass(25+ years ago) but i keep them for my dad's savage m340.

[cwtebay]

i use the 30-30 starline brass and in 3 or 4 firings, i also have no issues. i have federal, remington and winchester 30/30 brass(25+ years ago) but i keep them for my dad's savage m340.Do you have problems before firing 3-4 times? I noticed that chamber dimensions varied wildly on 35/30 aka 35- 30/30 (depending upon n the smith who performed the change) when I first started loading for it, and I heard everything from COW and single firing to 5-6 firings before perfect. Always wondered if it was the chamber dimensions.

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[Shawlerbrook]

JES does great work fast and reasonable. Hanging in the bush is the 356 Winchester Trapper he made for me out of a Marlin 30AS.
247257

[fixit]

all this talk about jes makes want to send my bubba'd no.1 enfield to be bored to 35-303....the bore has too much 'windage, and it had 2 or 3 inches bobbed of the muzzle for a bulge. probably would make a sweet indiana deer rifle.

[444ttd]

Do you have problems before firing 3-4 times? I noticed that chamber dimensions varied wildly on 35/30 aka 35- 30/30 (depending upon n the smith who performed the change) when I first started loading for it, and I heard everything from COW and single firing to 5-6 firings before perfect. Always wondered if it was the chamber dimensions.

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nope, no problems. as a matter of fact, i don't need to trim the 35/30 after the second firing. i think its because of the load that i use(200gr fn gc with 20.0gr of 2400/dacron goes 1726fps avg). i just done reloading #5.


JES does wonderful work.

[444ttd]

all this talk about jes makes want to send my bubba'd no.1 enfield to be bored to 35-303....the bore has too much 'windage, and it had 2 or 3 inches bobbed of the muzzle for a bulge. probably would make a sweet indiana deer rifle.

i've been thinkin of buy another 30-40 krag and i'll send it to JES to make a 35-40 krag or a 405 krag(.411").its good fer me that i got too many irons in fire!!!!!!

[reivertom]

I just got my 1980s model Marlin 336 back from JES the other day. I'm in the process of getting things together for reloading. I got a .358Win neck sizing die and Lee bullet seating and crimping dies. My understanding is that after you fire form the brass and get the length correct, as long as you shoot them in the same gun you can just neck size and load. The word is this round is easy on brass...I hope so.

[samari46]

Question,I've an old marlin 30-30 with what you could have rifling. And would like JES to rebore it to another caliber possibly 38-55. So when JES finishes with the reboring does he rechamber for that particular caliber prior sending it back to you or do have a gundmith do the rechambering? And I seen to remember he offered different numbers ?. As the rifles sits now I've stripped the wood and refinished the buttstock and forearm.Putting on a new barrel on a marlin I would think would be more expensive than reboring and if for nothing getting the marlin back in 38-55 would mean getting almost like getting a old rifle in a new caliber and a new lease on life. Frank

[richhodg66]

Question,I've an old marlin 30-30 with what you could have rifling. And would like JES to rebore it to another caliber possibly 38-55. So when JES finishes with the reboring does he rechamber for that particular caliber prior sending it back to you or do have a gundmith do the rechambering? And I seen to remember he offered different numbers ?. As the rifles sits now I've stripped the wood and refinished the buttstock and forearm.Putting on a new barrel on a marlin I would think would be more expensive than reboring and if for nothing getting the marlin back in 38-55 would mean getting almost like getting a old rifle in a new caliber and a new lease on life. Frank

He has a good web site with all the details. An awful lot of guys on here have had him do this and I have yet to hear a single thing besides a glowing report. I have an old Santa Barbara Mauser in '06 sitting here waiting to become a .35 Whelen, just haven't gotten to it yet.

[Texas by God]

I sent him a .243 Win. Remington 700 and it came back as a .358 Win. It worked so well that later I sent a Win 94 30-30 and it came back as a 38-55 Win. No one else to hire; he did the chamber too.
He even sent load suggestions along both times.

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[444ttd]

did i mention that JES does wonderful work. if i could drink with jesse, i would:drinks:!!!!

reivertom,
i bought the ch4d reloading dies and i can find no fault with them. i also bought 250 pcs of 30/30 starline brass. i use a hundred cases and the rest is put away. i'm on 5 reloads of the 35/30. i have only trimmed the cases once(after the first firing). i'm using 2.039" as the oal.

[reivertom]

did i mention that JES does wonderful work. if i could drink with jesse, i would:drinks:!!!!

reivertom,
i bought the ch4d reloading dies and i can find no fault with them. i also bought 250 pcs of 30/30 starline brass. i use a hundred cases and the rest is put away. i'm on 5 reloads of the 35/30. i have only trimmed the cases once(after the first firing). i'm using 2.039" as the oal.

I considered biting the bullet, and ordering some of the expensive ch4d dies, but when I contacted them, they basically wanted chamber casting data, 100 dollar setup fee and a 24 month waiting period. I just did some research and found out about neck sizing. If it works like they say, it will save a bunch of money. Thanks for the oal data.

[Prodigal Son]

He is good at what he does, JES reboring has done a 38-55, 358 win and a 9.3x62 for me and his work is top shelf! I'm getting ready to send him a 30-30 for a friends Christmas gift to 38-55!

[dangitgriff]

Could the mods please make this thread a sticky, unless we already have a similar one?
Thanks,
—Griff

[444ttd]

I considered biting the bullet, and ordering some of the expensive ch4d dies, but when I contacted them, they basically wanted chamber casting data, 100 dollar setup fee and a 24 month waiting period. I just did some research and found out about neck sizing. If it works like they say, it will save a bunch of money. Thanks for the oal data.

i think that dies costs around $115. i phoned ch4d and got the 35/30 dies on the shelf. they sent it to me and two days later, it was in my mailbox.

when i asked about the 400 whelen(it was mr. petrov design), all i needed to do was either 3 fired cases or a diagram and $115(or so) and i would have dies in about 3 - 4 weeks.

https://i.imgur.com/HvOC7rh.jpg

[reivertom]

444ttd, That's what I thought would happen also. I figured the 35-30 dies would be an easy purchase. I contacted them and got the message I posted. I was really surprised. The 24 month wait and the 100 dollar fee really surprised me. Maybe one of my ex-girlfriends works there now! :^) Anyway, I'll try with what I have for now.

[richhodg66]

SO, without the specialty dies, could you guys describe how you reload for it? If neck sizing with a .35 Remington die or similar is all it takes, then great.

[cwtebay]

SO, without the specialty dies, could you guys describe how you reload for it? If neck sizing with a .35 Remington die or similar is all it takes, then great.Yes, I've done nothing but use Lee neck sizing on my venture. I am around 1200 rounds through it, trimmed a bit, but I'm not shooting the brass in anything else - so neck sizing seems to be good for me.
Step 1: prime and charge brass with your choice of powder/ filler / COW or similar / fire. Load. My groups are <2 moa and consistently problem free reloading.

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[reivertom]

SO, without the specialty dies, could you guys describe how you reload for it? If neck sizing with a .35 Remington die or similar is all it takes, then great.

Well, I'm new to this round, but I've reloaded for 40 years. The way I understand is the round doesn't reqire full length sizing if shot in the same gun. So After fire forming, you just size the neck, charge the case, seat the bullet, and crimp. I got a 358 Win Neck sizer, the Lee seater, and a Lee crimp die. I've heard that you can use a .357 Magnum die to neck size, too if you have a universal de-priming die. I've almost got everything together to start.

[Bazoo]

Well, for those that FL resize, how is that working out for you? How much does your brass stretch? I always have felt better about FL resizing because I feel it provides better reliability.

[444ttd]

i do alot of...ahem, neck sizing on a fl die. every 5th or 6th shot , cases will get full length treatment. brass stretching is moot point, it could be because of the load(20.0gr of 2400/dacron under a 200gr fn gc). i mean, 30/30 cases are cheap and they are everywhere!!! i paid $88 for 250 30/30 starline cases.

[444ttd]

i was at my reloading bench when i found this.

35/30
win m94
williams peep sight
200gr fn gc
20.0gr of 2400/.6+/- of dacron

https://i.imgur.com/0MHCiQ1.jpg

the target was to zero the rifle. number 3 really amazed me, two in one hole. my blind butt must've ate a whole bunch of carrots to do this!!!!!!!

[444ttd]

IMG_20190905_140407.jpg (47.3 KB)


i shot this at 100 yards. 37 shots on fire forming 35/30.

200gr fn gc
20.0gr of 2400/.6gr of dacron
1726fps avg

win m94


it was hard for me to see the red center, as you can see!!!!!!!! i'm better off using homemade targets.

[reivertom]

After fire forming 50 or so 35-30 from 30-30 casings, I experimented with expanding the case mouth of a few 30-30 with my .358 Win. neck sizing die. It seemed to work OK as long as I lubed the inside of the neck, too. I split a couple, but I can afford to lose a few on the way. Have you ever tried this? I just decided "what the heck?" and ran a few through. If I start with a full length sized 30-30, they should fit in my rifle for the first firing. I know they won't be formed totally right until I fire them in my chamber, but at least I can get there without shooting way undersized bullets. Opinion? Thanks, Tom

[lar45]

You could always blow the cases out with a filler. Cream of wheat or grits. I used 7gns of unique, a 1/4 sheet of tissue paper, then a case full of grits, followed by another plug of tissue paper to form 375 cases from 30-30 brass. I used a punch and compressed the grits to get a more complete form of the brass.

[444ttd]

i take a q-tip and then i put pure lanolin on it. the next step is to lube inside the 30/30 neck and when you are done, lube the outside of the 30/30 neck. you only need a little bit of pure lanolin to lube the case neck. then its to the reloading die, mine is 35/30 fl die.

[reivertom]

You could always blow the cases out with a filler. Cream of wheat or grits. I used 7gns of unique, a 1/4 sheet of tissue paper, then a case full of grits, followed by another plug of tissue paper to form 375 cases from 30-30 brass. I used a punch and compressed the grits to get a more complete form of the brass.
That's what I did on my first batch. It's kind of a hassle and I have to drive out of town to do it. I want a way to make them in my basement without too much cost.

[reivertom]

i take a q-tip and then i put pure lanolin on it. the next step is to lube inside the 30/30 neck and when you are done, lube the outside of the 30/30 neck. you only need a little bit of pure lanolin to lube the case neck. then its to the reloading die, mine is 35/30 fl die.

Yeah I used regular case lube in a tube I had. It worked fine. I just have to stick them in the case cleaner with dry corncob to get the lube off afterward. I guess the full length die probably has a similar expander in it as my neck sizer. Thanks for you input.