Thoughts on 30-30 AI convertion for a pack rifle

[Stefan]

I have a Marlin 336W that I was thinking about reaming to a 30-30 Ackley Improved. Any thoughts or experience with this?

Thank you.

 

[hodgeman]

If it floats your boat- go for it.

My opinion? Most of the AI cartridges gain very little over their parent cartridges with modern gunpowder and cartridges like the 30-30 just don't benefit much from an extra 100fps of muzzle velocity. The 30-30 was perfected a century ago, nothing wrong with it "as-is". The 30-30AI has some cool factor, but gives you very little practical gain in the field.

 

[robtattoo]

I've also read on the Marlin Owners Forum that some folks are having feeding issues with there .30-30 Ackers. Were I you, I'd leave it standard. If you can't kill it with a 170gn round nosed hammer, traveling at 2200ish fps, then the same thing doing an extra 100fps ain't going to make a difference.
The idea of one in the chamber & another the mag with pointy Spitzers is just damn weird to me. The original .30-30 is as fine a 150-and-in rifle as you're ever going to find in standard trim.

 

[GKPrice]

try the flex tip ammo

 

[hodgeman]

try the flex tip ammo

I agree, you can probably do more for a 30-30's range and trajectory by running the Hornady flex tip than trying to AI the chamber...lot more convenient as well.

 

[ATX762]

There is a badass factor to the AI setup. But as mentioned above, the flex tip 160gr factory loads basically match a 150gr AI load in terms of energy/velocity.

But, with the AI setup, you can choose your bullet weights and styles etc.

So ease of use, the 160 flex tips.

Overall flexibility if you roll your own: the AI setup. And I guess you could actually load the 160 flex tip component bullets in an AI setup and presumably drive them even faster than the hornady factory ammo...

 

[Stefan]

Thanks, I had been considering it and not sure how I really felt about it adding in the cost since I already have 30-30 dies.

 

[ZDR]

Stefan, I am a big fan of PO Ackley and have considered the same conversion in my Marlin, but I am not sure the cost is worth the benefit. I just loaded up a batch of the Hornaday 160gr flex tips and they are very accurate zipping along at ~2350fps. I think investing time and $$ in good bullets and good load is probably a better way to go.
z

I have a Marlin 336W that I was thinking about reaming to a 30-30 Ackley Improved. Any thoughts or experience with this?

Thank you.