Lever or pump action questions

[MrDig]

the dimensions of a .357 Magnum cartridge is 9x33 and a 30 Carbine is 7.62x33,

So here is one of my questions could a .357 lever or pump action be re barreled to shoot .30 Carbine? Feeding the cartridge from the Mag tube would be the hang up. How tight do you think the tolerances for the mag tube diameter would need to be?
Marlin Levermatic Model 62 in 30 carbine seem to be scarce as hens teeth and it seems to me a person could do this.

 

[rcmodel]

It would be frought with problems.

Most lever actions use the cartridge rim for the cartridge stop, and for alignment in the feed rails when the lever is cycled.

So the rimless .30 Carbine would require a whole new set of feeding devices to be made.

In addition, the bolt face, extractor, & ejector on a .357 rifle would be too big for the .30 Carbine case rim.

.357 rim dia. = .440".
.30 Carbine rim = .360".

rc

 

[Jim K]

I am not sure I see a point today. In the days when .30 Carbine ammo was all over the place at two or three cents a round, such a conversion would have made sense, but today .30 Carbine costs as much or more than .357 and is harder to find. (Which is one reason that Marlin is scarce!)

I think it could be done, but as rc says, it would be tricky and costly.

Jim

 

[Clark]

I have a CZ527 rifle that came as a wildcat based on the 30 carbine cartridge. I think they used the 22 Hornet bolt face version.
This is a disgusting rifle. I have blown the bolt apart twice. The problem is the 30 carbine case head.
22 Hornet case head is strong.
223 case head is strong.
The 357 mag case head is SUPER STRONG.
But the only things weaker than a 30 carbine case head would be the 25acp case head and the 10mm case head.

What does it all mean?
Avoid cartridges where the extractor groove cuts through almost to the primer pocket. That makes a weak spot.