modern rifle alteration

[pocketshaver]

can anyone recommend a place that can oh, alter a modern savage bolt head to work with 30-30

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[RCS]

Chuck in Denver

[Daan Kemp]

I'm curious. What rifle are you going to work with?

[browningautorifle]

Just a thought though...doesn't Savage have an interchangeable bolt head? Held on by cross pin so you CAN change them? I know the Savage Axis preached that very minute perfection in their design... Cross pin drives out and bolt head changes.

But yes, Chuckindenver or Brian Dick at BDL Ltd can...

[pocketshaver]

the savage bolt head, is replaceable, however savage doesn't sell heads or bolts, if you want one, you have to send the existing barreled action to them to have a new one fitted for the original caliber.

I have tried with no luck for some time to find someone that can. The issue has been they constantly claim that:

1. it cant be done because the 30-30 headspaces on the rim, and a rimmed cartridge cant headspace in a rimless action. Despite all the enfields made.

2. rim diameter does not match standard factory rim diameter options for 8x57, 5.56, and so forth families.

3. they will make a barrel in 30-30 and install it, but everything else is a no go

4. they use the magazine feed issue as a major issue, I guess the enfield and mosin nagant are unable to feed from a magazine if they be truthful in what they say

[browningautorifle]

however savage doesn't sell heads or bolts, if you want one, you have to send the existing barreled action to them to have a new one fitted for the original caliber.

That would make sense too, it would be a warranty item for them...I couldn't imagine doing it anyway.

[vintage hunter]

the savage bolt head, is replaceable, however savage doesn't sell heads or bolts, if you want one, you have to send the existing barreled action to them to have a new one fitted for the original caliber.

I have tried with no luck for some time to find someone that can. The issue has been they constantly claim that:

1. it cant be done because the 30-30 headspaces on the rim, and a rimmed cartridge cant headspace in a rimless action. Despite all the enfields made.

2. rim diameter does not match standard factory rim diameter options for 8x57, 5.56, and so forth families.

3. they will make a barrel in 30-30 and install it, but everything else is a no go

4. they use the magazine feed issue as a major issue, I guess the enfield and mosin nagant are unable to feed from a magazine if they be truthful in what they say

Savage may not sell bolts or bolt heads directly, but they are available as replacement parts from other distributors.
Midway USA for one, and I'm pretty sure Numrich has them and although I havent looked I would think that Brownells would have them as well.
Pacific Tool and Gauge makes Savage bolt heads in house for the model 10/110 series so they might be your best option for a custom bolt face.

[Eaglelord17]

the savage bolt head, is replaceable, however savage doesn't sell heads or bolts, if you want one, you have to send the existing barreled action to them to have a new one fitted for the original caliber.

I have tried with no luck for some time to find someone that can. The issue has been they constantly claim that:

1. it cant be done because the 30-30 headspaces on the rim, and a rimmed cartridge cant headspace in a rimless action. Despite all the enfields made.

2. rim diameter does not match standard factory rim diameter options for 8x57, 5.56, and so forth families.

3. they will make a barrel in 30-30 and install it, but everything else is a no go

4. they use the magazine feed issue as a major issue, I guess the enfield and mosin nagant are unable to feed from a magazine if they be truthful in what they say

#4 is a major issue. Depending on the magazine design making it work would either require significant modification (well outside the skill set of most modern 'gunsmiths'), or possibly a brand new magazine fitted to the rifle. Lee Enfields and Mosin Nagants magazines are both designed from the ground up for a rimmed cartridge, its much harder to make a rimless design work with a rimmed round. If its single stacked there likely isn't enough room, and if it is double stacked you would have to do a ton of work just to get a couple rounds into it (capacity would likely be greatly reduced).

My recommendation if you really want a .30-30 bolt action is to find one of the 1889 Swiss sporters that are kicking around in .30-30 (tend to be pretty cheap too). Not saying what you want isn't possible, but the cost to actually do it would likely be significantly more than buying a gun made that way would be.

[pocketshaver]

#4 is a major issue. Depending on the magazine design making it work would either require significant modification (well outside the skill set of most modern 'gunsmiths'), or possibly a brand new magazine fitted to the rifle. Lee Enfields and Mosin Nagants magazines are both designed from the ground up for a rimmed cartridge, its much harder to make a rimless design work with a rimmed round. If its single stacked there likely isn't enough room, and if it is double stacked you would have to do a ton of work just to get a couple rounds into it (capacity would likely be greatly reduced).

My recommendation if you really want a .30-30 bolt action is to find one of the 1889 Swiss sporters that are kicking around in .30-30 (tend to be pretty cheap too). Not saying what you want isn't possible, but the cost to actually do it would likely be significantly more than buying a gun made that way would be.

well if you got some links to them ide be happy

---------- Post added at 08:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:02 AM ----------

30-30 would be my ideal. I love the cartridge and it has never failed me. I just have no further interest in hunting or target shooting with a lever action. arm and hand injuries make it annoying as hell for me.

I would be content or happy with military rifles in cartridges that had the same recoil/hunting power as the 30-30, but those not so easy to find.

[browningautorifle]

military rifles in cartridges that had the same recoil/hunting power as the 30-30,

I often toyed with the idea of converting a #1 or #4 rifle into 30-30... A .30 cal barrel and some machining. That would make brass easy to get and recoil down as you say.