Chamber reamer question

[RPRNY]

I have a Handi Rifle chambered in 35 Krag. This was done by rechambering a 30-30 to 30-40 and reboring to 35 cal. The old 35 Krag was simply the 30-40 necked out to 35 cal.

However, with all the body taper in the 30-40 case, the 35 Krag has virtually no shoulder. It is almost a straight/tapered case. Ackley noted that the 30-40 Improved delivered among the greatest performance improvements of any of the improved cases. It took out most of the 30-40 body taper and took the shoulder out to 40 degrees. The 35 Krag Improved would probably enhance efficiency and performance delivering Whelen level velocities.

My question is whether I can have to 30-40 chamber reamed to 30-40 Improved with the neck and bore now at 35 cal? I would have thought the pilot was at 30 cal so the reamer would not center on the 35 cal bore so it can't be done? Have I got this right or can it be done?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, it can easily be done.
you need to use a piloted reamer with a .35 cal pilot on it to center the reamer.

But, Ackley was prone to thump his own drum, and never had access to modern pressure testing equipment.

It is very unlikely you could gain any meaningful performance in a handy-rifle to ever make up the cost of doing it.

You can very easily reach a point of dimensioning returns on wildcat stuff.

And you are already there, without putting a bunch more money in it to get less then any noticeable performance gains.

Don't waste your money!!

rc

 

[RPRNY]

Thanks RC. I appreciate both the answer to the question and what I can only call good advice. I wasn't sure that the pilot wasn't fixed to the reamer.

I too have my reservations with Ackley and his disdain for pressure but let's remember that the Handi has been chambered in 500 S&W, so it will stand a good deal more pressure than the 30-40 Improved likely delivered and that diminished already by the lower pressure afforded by the 35 bore. I think the shoulder will efficiency while the added capacity will do no harm.

As to money? As you correctly note, that part of the equation went out the window when I had the 30-30 barrel bored and rechambered! I am a Krag aficionado, more so the cartridge than even the original rifle, and a lover of the single shot rifle. My next wildcat will be the 6.5 mm Krag in a Ruger No 1, which will almost rival the 270 Win but with a rimmed case. Foolish or at least profligate in some respects perhaps, but it doesn't hurt anyone else and makes me happy...

 

[rcmodel]

The question isn't the strength of the gun.

The question is the strength of the brass.
Both the 30-30 and 30-40 cartridges were designed for well under 45,000 PSI loads.

So you don't want to subject them to 65,000 PSI!!

If a case head let's go?
The gun will let go.

No matter how strong the action is.

rc

 

[Kp321]

As usual, I agree with rc. You don't need to hot rod these old cartridges. I certainly take Ackley's claims with a grain of salt.
On the subject to reamers, if your reamer has a floating pilot, simply purchase a new pilot of the desired caliber. If it has a solid pilot, the original manufacturer can modify it to take a floating pilot for less cost than a new reamer.
I have a customer who thinks the Gibbs calibers are the greatest ever. I have a 240 Gibbs reamer and other pilots for 25, 260, 270, and 308. The only other thing needed is a combined neck and throat reamer for each caliber. Much less cost than a drawer full of individual reamers.

 

[Jim Watson]

I looked around a bit.
There are a good many H&Rs rechambered to .30-40 and .30-40 AI. They don't seem to blow up but brass life is short; one post said six cycles.
Your .35 Krag approximates the .35 Winchester. I don't know if the AI shape will put it in a league with the Whelen but you can gain a bit.
If you want to push the loads, you could probably size fresh Hornady .405 brass to fit.

 

[RPRNY]

I am not worried about pressure and 30-40 brass at all, in terms of safety. It's sturdy stuff and headspacing off the rim is a bonus. But the case life argument definitely gives pause for thought. On top of which...if I wanted Whelen, I could have purchased a Handi in 35 Whelen and re chambered to Brown Whelen...

Thanks for the information and for the good advice.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, the case life question only showed up in one thread, maybe just one poster. Maybe he had old or shoddy brass.

I agree with Ackley, the rimmed case is stronger and superior for everything except smooth feeding out of a Mauser box magazine. And that can be managed.