30cal throating reamer

[SuperCub]

Good day folks ...... I recently took ownership of a NEF single shot rifle/shotgun combo in 30-30 with a spare 20ga bbl. I wanted the 22" 20ga MOD bbl for use on my quad and figured I could make use of some 30-30 loading kit I have here blasting at the range and maybe my grandson might find some interest in it.

I loaded up some Remington CLSP 150 gr to the cannelure figuring I should be GTG at that OAL to start. I really just wanted to get it on paper. Upon arrival at the range I used some old 30-30 factory loads here to get on the paper and then switched to the reloads only to find that the handloads would not allow the action to close to fire. I also noticed that the marks from the lands could be seen on the bullet. The bullets were pushed quite far into the case by the lands as evidenced my the marks.

I fired a couple starting loads like this and noticed that the velocities were quite high in the +2400fps range indicating high pressure. I stopped shooting those and came home and pulled all the bullets. I then did what I should have done in the 1st place and started measuring the OAL by jamming a bullet int the lands and taking a measurement with a cleaning rod and another to the breech face.

It looks like the throat is quite short of the SAAMI spec allowing 2.550" max OAL. The following is the results of the bullets I tried.

1. Remington CLSP 150gr RN 2.425" max OAL
2. Sierra 170gr FP 2.475" max OAL
3. Hornady 165gr SP Spire Point 2.635" max OAL
4. WW 150gr PP Spire Point 2.575" max OAL

Question .... Would a 30cal throating reamer be able to fix this w/o problems? I've never had that done to a chamber before or ran into this problem.

 

[jamesharrison]

Yes, it would. The ONLY fly in the ointment is that if it is a neck & throat reamer, like most that I've come across are, you have to make sure the neck dimensions of the reamer match the neck dimension of your rifle's chamber. If not, you'll wind up with a stepped neck, which is not good.

 

[guntech]

Throat longer with a throating reamer or simply load to factory lengths. It's just a 30 30. lol

 

[SuperCub]

Throat longer with a throating reamer or simply load to factory lengths. It's just a 30 30. lol

In it's current form, I cannot get close to a factory OAL of 2.550" and if the bullets are seated to the lands the base of the bullet is well into the gas tank area of the brass.

 

[guntech]

In it's current form, I cannot get close to a factory OAL of 2.550" and if the bullets are seated to the lands the base of the bullet is well into the gas tank area of the brass.

I found a spiral throater the easiest to use by hand when the barrel is held in a vise. I used a cleaning rod down the barrel to prevent the sipraled throater from advancing too quickly and too far... check often.