40-30 or 40-55

[BT Sniper]

Richbug mentioned sizing up the 30-30 to 40 cal. So naturaly being the tinkering sort I set out to the reloading bench. Necked up and straightened out a 30-30 a bit and set one of my 40 cal 190 grain BTS bullets on top. Pretty interesting looking little round.

A little research shows the 38-55 was a .377 diameter bullet and apperently was the original case the 30-30 was necked down from. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

Oh the fun one can have thinking of possible cartridges. I'm sure problem is that there is not many left to think up that has not been tried all ready though this 40-30 sure looks cool to me.

30-30 on left with a 150 grain 5.7x308 bullet in it and 40-30 on right with 190 grain 40 cal bullet.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1030517.jpg


Good shooting and Swage On!

BT

[richbug]

What did the OD of the loaded round end up being at the neck?

[Hickory]

Now thats a thought!
You could name it the .40 Richbug

[Eutectic]

What did the OD of the loaded round end up being at the neck?
Now this is a good question!

My calculations show virtually a straight case without body taper. This is a sticky extraction situation especially if the front end exceeds the back end by a few thousandths!

Eutectic

[richbug]

Now this is a good question!

My calculations show virtually a straight case without body taper. This is a sticky extraction situation especially if the front end exceeds the back end by a few thousandths!

Eutectic

The nearly straight case was the appeal to me. I could cut the chamber with a simple chucking reamer( or a slightly modified one).

Weren't some of the Sharps cartridges straight? The thought of a 336 in a true "thumper" cartridge is very very appealing to me.

[Cactus Farmer]

My 40 is build on the 30-40 Krag case for the exact reasons mentioned above. A slight taper makes for easy extraction. I shoot BPCR and load 65 grns of Holy Black and a 400 grn boolit. Deadly out past 500 meters.

[richbug]

My 40 is build on the 30-40 Krag case for the exact reasons mentioned above. A slight taper makes for easy extraction. I shoot BPCR and load 65 grns of Holy Black and a 400 grn boolit. Deadly out past 500 meters.

Is your 40 a .400" groove, or a .406-.410"?

Going to the 30-40 case eliminates the 94 and 336 actions.

[richbug]

Now thats a thought!
You could name it the .40 Richbug


It came to me as I was trimming down 30-30 brass to make 10mm auto rim brass.

[Eutectic]

Take a look at this thread..... A Winchester thought that never got past the experimental stage.... The .408 Winchester!

Eutectic

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25105&hilit=408+winchester

[Ballard]

I believe Paco Kelly had the .40 straight years ago. Interesting round.

[mroliver77]

What is the appeal of it when it is basically a 38-55 or .375 Win with a .020 larger boolit? I have a 38-55 Marlin and it is a great "thumper" Looking at book specs it is pretty ho hum round. Looking at a 300+lb hog shot with one it is pretty impressive for a 120 year old round.
It sure do look "smart" with the BT Sniper bullet in it!
Jay

[richbug]

What is the appeal of it when it is basically a 38-55 or .375 Win with a .020 larger boolit? I have a 38-55 Marlin and it is a great "thumper" Looking at book specs it is pretty ho hum round. Looking at a 300+lb hog shot with one it is pretty impressive for a 120 year old round.
It sure do look "smart" with the BT Sniper bullet in it!
Jay


The appeal is the fact I have all sorts of moulds for the 40, and swage dies to make jacketed.

[Cactus Farmer]

Is your 40 a .400" groove, or a .406-.410"?

Going to the 30-40 case eliminates the 94 and 336 actions.

RB, It's a .408 and with the krag case it's 2.3" long. No lever guns but I shoot it in a Farrow single shot. 400 grn bullets seldom require second shots.:bigsmyl2: