As some of you know, I just built a Hoch with a 30 cal RKS barrel.

This rifle has always been 30 cal. I bought it in 1986 as one of the first Hoch "kits" (139). It came from the new company (Farmers operation) and was a complete mess and even as a machinist, it took me 16 hours to straighten it out. But, it was worth it. 

It started life as a 14 twist, 30 cal Douglas barrel in 32/35 and won it's share of matches, here in the N/W. I chambered a friends 44 1/2 in that same caliber with a 14 twist Clerke barrel and when he quit shooting, I got it. So, I thought I'd try the 30/30 Wesson on the Hoch and Tommy Mason gave me two extractors for the purpose, a while back. 

A little note here........ The late extractors are different than the early ones. The pivot hole is larger and the width of the extractor is narrower. So, I made a flanged bushing to take care of both problems.

I had Ron make a barrel for me that is 1.31" in diameter and the twist starts at 26 and ends at 13, in 26". I had originally wanted a octogon barrel that was 1.2" across the flats but, as the time ran out, I desided to polish it and install it full round. I was hoping to get it shooting for the matches at Spokane, in May but, only got it finished 2 weeks before so, I didn't have time to work up a load and that's what this and the following posts will be about. And yes, I know that a couple of people in the Modesto area built rifles in this caliber and gave up on them. I have wanted this caliber for over 20 years and so, I must try it. Also, I've never been one to shoot what is most popluar and like my stuff to be different. Even my first target  32/40, I re-throated with a freebore and a long leade in 1988. I'm sorry, I have a hard time leaving things as is.

As pictured, (upper before 14.5 lb and after) my rifle weighs in at 18 lb 13 oz, it's NOT a light weight and is the heaviest rifle that I've ever built. For now, at least, I'm leaving the #4 Stevens butt plate on it with both tangs, hoping that the weight will take care of any torque problems with the upper tang. I may cut it off, later. 

I have five PB bullets to try in this rifle. Three Ron Long molds, that I had made for my 32/35 barrels (180 - 184 gr), a bore riding 190 gr, NEI mold that Marrill Martin used and the NOE bullet that I recently designed that casts 170.5 gr in 22/1.

For the next post, I'll discribe how I made the cases for it and then give what little target and  load data that I've generated, so far.

Frank

The heat and mirage was very bad when shooting the above group. 85+ deg and about a 10 mph variable, switchy wind. That 3/4" dot was dancing 1 1/2" vertically.

This this the chronograph results of that group:

170.5 gr NOE bullet, 7 1/2 Rem primers.
11.5 gr Enforcer
1611 Ave
12.7 SD
44.7 ES

Not very good chrono numbers.

BTW, my Spokane group wasn't chronoed and I used Fed 205M primers for it.

I'll post more as I go and I would like any input from others that might have tried this cartridge.

This is what the cartridge dimensions are and what the NOE, and Ron long bullets looks like. I've only shot the 1.16 RL and my NOE, so far but, will try all five of them at some point (NEI 190 gr bullet isn't pictured).


Frank

Good looking rig. You may remember me from a short time ago. You chambered a barrel for me in 30-30 Wesson for my Lo Wall. Haven't had time to play yet but kept your notes on powder and bullet combos. Again good looking rifle.

JHolland
Cochran Ga

I'm very proud of my new rifle! I won my first score match with it today

It has about 200 rounds through it now and although the 10 shot group was about 2 1/4" (waiting for offical measurement), after 2 more shot to get POA, it started plooping them in. The widest shot is only .32 out of the 25.

The last time out, my 12.0 gr charge of Ramshot Enforcer, wasn't working so, after trying three other powder charges above that, I cut it back to 11.0 gr and got a fairly good group @ 100. So that's what I used today. The velocity was 1476 fps @ 85 deg. with a SD of 7.7 and ES 26, using Rem 7 1/2's.

The bullet used today was the RL 1.155, as shown above. I still have much more work to do in developing a load with it but, this is a good base line.

I would still like to hear from anyone that has shot this caliber. I've got loading data to share but, it's Excel and it has to be Emailed.

Frank

Very nice target indeed! and Congratulations on your first win.

JLouis

Hi Cat W,
              I will do a 30/30wesson on a Martini,it may be no better than the 30/222 I have at the moment,but it will be fun to try it out, the 30/222 Was put together in 1974,by D Engelhardt,it started out as a 200yd German ring target rifle,launching a 168gn Mc Craken jacket  pill at about 2000fps,would shoot about 1.25" at 200.I have turned it into a BP Schultzen style rifle ,33gns of Wano p,shoots almost MOA at 100yds,similar groups with PB AND UNIQUE, using a 157gn pope style proj.it shoots to same poi  with smokeless, handy no cleaning between shots! We shoot on a cast iron target approx, 4' round 8" black on a whitewashed background ,13 bull, out to 1,13ring is about 1.5".They shot the match at 200 and 100yds.the German settlers here in Adelaide started shooting matches about 150yrs ago.Our club had its 150 birthday last year,keep in touch with your progress on the Martini ,looking forward to hear how it shoots. 

        Cheers Mal.