Thinking about doing a barrel stub project I 40/65 or 30/30?

[koger]

I have a handi rifle made for modern rounds, and I have a 20 gauge barrel I could cut off and stub it. Thinking about making a rifle in either 40/65 or 30/30. I would imagine either one would work fine. Both of these rounds impressed me on a shooting outing, and I can see a set up on a handy being cheaper to make, than building on any other single shot action. I currently have a .357 magnum and maximum barrel for this rifle. Might be better off just putting some sight on the .357 max and see how it will do long range. The 30/30 did so well out to nearly 500 yds that I am thinking of getting one to 1000 yds, the 40/65 as well. What are your thoughts? John Taylor chime in here anytime.

[marlinman93]

Not that you can't hit a dinger at 1000 yds. with a .30-30, but you wont hit it nearly as easily as you would with a .40-65. I would never build a rifle in .30-30 to use for over 500 yds. myself. It would be more of a case of how lucky will I be to occasionally hit at 1000 yds. The .40-65 is a great 1000 yd. cartridge with a 410 grain bullet.

[725]

An old caution reminder: The H&R made two different receivers; one for low pressure and one for high pressure. Check with somebody who knows which is which. Your project sounds like a lot of fun. I just had a .30-30 converted to .38-55 and it is a real shooter! Sure wish H&R were still around. It was like the poor man's T/C with switch barrels!

[GhostHawk]

I have a H&R Handi rifle combo in .30-30 and 20 ga.

That sucker just plain shoots. You can go bigger if you like but a well placed .30-30 will handle most animals found in the USA.

[38-72]

I shoot the 40-65, the 45-70, and the 45-90 at long and mid range matches. When loaded correct they all are very accurate rounds in my Sharp's and High Wall rifles. I have found that for consistent accuracy, the maximum accuracy for the 40-65 is not much beyond 600 yards. The 45-70 does well out to about 850 before accuracy begins to get iffy. The 45-90 shines all the way out to 1200 yards.

Any range that you can shoot out to a 1000 yards and you will have deal with the WIND! The 45s buck the wind better than the 40 ever can.

[koger]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I am fast becoming a fan of the 40-65 it really shined all the way to 750, with consistent hits with fewer sighters, than any of the 3 single shots. Val had recommended shooting a lighter bullet in a Ruger no1 I have in 40/65, that did not like 385 and 400 gr slugs, and it now shoots 1" groups at 100 yds. The sharps liked it so well, I just loaded up a bunch of the 335 postells, PC. I was shooting in 15 + mph cross wind, but had no problem allowing for the wind on any of the rifles. The 30/30 at 450-500, I had to hold about a rifle front sigh bead right to allow for the wind, that would have been about a foot or better. I may just stick with what I have and do something else with the 20g barrel.

[John Taylor]

The H&R s are a fun gun to work with. Most of the time I make a new lug to the old barrel can still be used. I swapped into a couple of the older 30-30s several years back. A friend was trying to teach his daughters to shoot so I made up and extra barrel in 32 S&W. They grew up with that rifle and could switch back to the 30-30 for hunting. The 40-65 would be a nice caliber but there are also a bunch of 40-70 chambers and a 40-82 that might do a little better at long range. I personally like the 38-55 bit then I'm not trying to hit something at 1,000 yards. A long heavy barrel will also help.

[Gunlaker]

I think both are really enjoyable cartridges to shoot. I use a Shiloh in 40-65 for silhouette and it's the bees knees. A while back I picked up a highwall that someone had fit a new 28" 1:10 twist Douglas half octagon barrel to. The work was well done, and if not for the missing barrel stamps would pass as an original. I haven't shot cast it it, but it shoots quite well with Hornady 168gr A max bullets which shoot flatter than the standard 30-30 bullets.

If I could only have one of them I guess I'd pick the 40-65, but I like having them both

Chris.

[Gobeyond]

The 40-65 has always been on my bucket list. Are you thinking of lining that 20 gauge barrel? Fun project. Ha.lol

[Rockindaddy]

I am a big fan of 40-65 Win. Have barreled up an 1886, an 1874 Sharps, and my 1881 Marlin that was a 40-60 Marlin caliber. Currently using a Borchardt 40 cal barrel and fitting it to a Remington Rolling Block action. The 40-65 is a very versatile cartridge. I have loaded 325 gr cast and 410 gr cast boolits. Hornady makes a 300 gr jacketed boolit for the 405 Winchester. These 300 gr 405 Win boolits shoot great! With the 405 Win jacketed boolits you can fill the case full with IMR 3031. Shot a nice buck at 175 yards several years ago. The 300 gr 405 Win boolit took out both lungs. You will not be disappointed with the 40-65 Win. I have a Hanson reamer that produced a perfect chamber!

[marlinman93]

I am a big fan of 40-65 Win. I have a Hanson reamer that produced a perfect chamber!

Does the Hanson reamer have a decent lead angle to allow for heavier bullets? I had my last .40-65 barrel chambered using 4D Reamer a friend rented when he installed the barrel on my Hepburn. Unfortunately it wont accept my Lyman Snover 410 gr. bullets unless I seat them really deep. I'm contemplating getting a throating reamer to open up the throat so it will accept all the ammo I already have loaded for the heavy bullet.

[John Taylor]

Does the Hanson reamer have a decent lead angle to allow for heavier bullets? I had my last .40-65 barrel chambered using 4D Reamer a friend rented when he installed the barrel on my Hepburn. Unfortunately it wont accept my Lyman Snover 410 gr. bullets unless I seat them really deep. I'm contemplating getting a throating reamer to open up the throat so it will accept all the ammo I already have loaded for the heavy bullet.

You should be able to clean up or deepen the throat with a throat reamer.