30-30 to 38-55 Conversion

[KCSO]

This started on another thread but since I just finished one I figured I'd go from ground up with a new thread. I had a Winchester C/C 30-3o that I bought as a shooter in the 1970's ( they were cheap then) and decided that I would convert it to 38-55. I ordered the barrel from GPC and got a Magazine tube from them also. As my gun was a short rifle I ordered a forestock from Brownell's and I used a fore end cap from another old Winchester. First off the new GPC barrel is a straight octagon barrel .875 wide and is bored on center and has a bore of .376 ( and I have 200 rounds loaded for a MARLIN) The chamber is fairly well centered and will chamber 2.082 Starline brass. The chamber is just tight enough that the .382 bullets loaded in Winchester brass are too tight for the chamber. When the barrel arrived I had to clean up the threads lightly with a thread chasing file to remove a couple of small burrs and then it screwed in with just the right resistance. To head space the barrel and turn it up to flat I had to take 3 thou off the shank and 5 thou off the face for a tight (minimum) headspace. The sight dovetails were square and the Marble sights slid in with just a little fitting. The fore end and barrel band slipped right into place and the magazine tube had to be shortened 3/4" to fit properly. All in all aside from finish sanding and fitting the fore end the rebarrel job took less than 3 hours for the whole shooting match.

The good news is that the assembled rifle is a real shooter. My indoor round ball loads will group into 1/2 at 25 yards and my outdoor plinking load of 10 grains of Unique and a 250 grain cast bullet will shoot under 1" at 50 yards. The bas news is that the rifle does have some feeding issues. As the round comes off the carrier you have to wiggle the lever a little to let the round chamber. I haven't had time to work on this yet but the rifle as a 30-30 wasn't the smoothest and the carrier wi the old cheap stamped carrier they foisted off on us in the 70's I am going to try a milled carrier tonight and I'll bet that will cure the problem. I don't think it is the ctg. guides as they list the same part number for 30-30 and 38-55.

I will advise anyone who is wanting to do this conversion to be sure and get a new magazine tube band as the old commerative 30-30's have a cheap band staked in place and the new barrel takes the old style turn in band. As to the nose cap will have to have a few file strokes to fit it unless you are lucky enough to get the GPC cap when and if they ever are in stock. All in all this is a worthwhile option if you are looking to take your 30-30 up to a top notch bear and hog rifle. Total cost for parts will run under $200 and if you are at all handy you should be able to do all the work except setting the head space and if you have a friend with a lathe that shouldn't cost more than a couple of beers.

[Cimarron Red]

KCSO,

I don't have it handy right now, but I believe Pirkle's book on the Winchester models 1894 and 1895 states that the .30 WCF and the .38-55 used different cartridge guides.

[Hobie]

CR is right about that but I've heard many, many folks "get away with" (if you'd like to think of it that way) with the .30 WCF cartridge guides.

[KCSO]

Many years ago they listed different ctg guides for 30-30 and 38-55 now all they list are one part number. GPC still lists 38-55 when available from used stock. When I find a solution I will post here. If the good carrier doesn't fill the bill I will have to find drawings for the old 38-55 guides and build up a set.

[20cows]

I could be wrong, but I belive it makes a difference on what OAL the gun will handle. My two, using .30-30 guides will not handle Hornady's 220 gr jacketed reliably in factory brass. I use fire-formed .30-30 cases with that bullet in the rifle that favors it.

[KCSO]

Doc Carlson put me on to a place that has 375 Winchester guides and the probllem is solved.

[somtec]

Hi
Iam new to this site, but was looking for info on doing such a conversion when I saw this thread, could I ask how difficult is the removing of the existing barrel are special clamps required to hold the receiver and or barrel?
Thanks
Peter

[KCSO]

I use a barrel vice and a home made action wrench with aluminum shims and have no problems at all with even the tightest barrel. I have used a regular vise and a 24" cresent wrench with brass jaw inserts but this demands a very carefull approach. In general lever gun barrels are not in as tight as most boolt guns and are no where near as hard as say a 1917 Enfield or a SMLE. Octagon barrels are easier than round . For a one time do it yourself project you can remove a round barrel by pouring cerrosafe into a 4" section of pipe around the barrel and then clamping this in the vise. A set of brass jaw inserts for the 24" cresent wrench and work slow and carefull. I prefer to put a block inside the 94 action when turning out the barrel to prevent any deformation but this isn't srtictly necessary if you put your wrench right up next to the threads. I had one rifle that I unscrewed by turning the lever, the barrel was glued in!