30 Carbine vs 30 Apache

[StrawHat]

I am considering building another, perhaps my final, bolt action rifle. It will be built on a small or medium action and I am hoping for a weight at or under 6~6.5 pounds, fixed sights and wood stock. The purpose of this rifle is a coyote or varmint rifle but mostly just a rifle to carry while walking in the woods or fields.

The two cartridges I am considering are the 30 Carbine or the 30 Apache. On another forum I was told the 30 Carbine can only be used in the M1, the 30 Apache is just made up, I really need a ______, and why do I want alight weight bolt action.

So, please, try and stay close to the question or not. Both cartridges will be reloaded and I would like to use cast bullets about 125 - 140 grains.

Considering either the Savage Varmintsr or maybe the CZ 527. Could also be talked into a single shot.

I have a heavy 22 Hornet, Springfield 1922, and a heavy 222 Magnum, Remington 722. Also a 6.5x55, Swedish Mauser. Not looking for a deer rifle but ....

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[fiver]

I'd maybe consider a 32-20, or a 300 B.O. or the like to simplify things.
the 300 is an off the shelf bolt action [and easy to get in a 6 or so lb. rifle]
the 32-20 may be a bit harder to come by, but simple to have built.

 

[JamieHazel]

Zastava/Interarms/Charles Daly/ Remington 799 Mini Mauser or even the CZ in 7.62X39 is the very easy way I would solve your desires. You cast and can load the Russky Shortsky however warm you choose to meet your goals. That may be too easy if you must build something though.

 

[StrawHat]

Good ideas, keep them coming.

Kevin

 

[Bret4207]

The 7.62x39 is the obvious choice to me. Factory rifles, lots of brass, no special dies. Should be perfect for a walking varminter. There is no reason the 30 Carbine couldn't be put in a bolt gun, but finding something that would work would be the issue, and then there's the magazine. The 32-20 was made in bolt guns, both Savage and Winchester made them. I'd lean severley towards the Savage if interested. The Winchester just isn't as nice IMO. And it's rimmed which gets you back to the mag again.

I've thought about a gun like you describe for a long time. Mine would be in 25 cal probably and a Savage 99 lever. I certainly don't "need" one as the gun safe is overflowing, but 've always had a thing for the 99 in 250-3000. In a carbine length with a pencil barrel and the right wood it could work.

 

[KeithB]

A .30 carbine in a falling block action might make a nice rook rifle. I’d probably go with a straight walled .32 of some current manufacture but same principle applies.

 

[StrawHat]

A .30 carbine in a falling block action might make a nice rook rifle. I’d probably go with a straight walled .32 of some current manufacture but same principle applies.

My brother is trying to steer me towards the 327 Magnum.

Kevin

 

[Rick H]

Ruger's little bolt action Ranch Rifle in 7.62x39 fits that bill right out of the box. If you can accept the round. It is right in the ballpark performance wise...a little hotter than the 30 carbine, but much better for handling the heavier bullets you want to use in my opinion.

 

[Gary]

I have a 7.62 x 39 that was a re-bore of a H&R Handi that use'ta be a 300 BO.(I still have (2) 300BO's) It's a short compact rifle with a big impact IMO.

 

[Bret4207]

A .30 carbine in a falling block action might make a nice rook rifle. I’d probably go with a straight walled .32 of some current manufacture but same principle applies.

Carbine is rimless. 32-20 or 327 would be easier.

 

[fiver]

look you guy's ain't helping me none.
I have been wanting an X39 bolt gun for a number of years, and finally found a Ruger which I kind of like.
I got all the stuff for it sitting here, and I also have a pair of 300 BO bolt guns, and a few model 94's in 30-30.
I'm telling myself I don't need that X39 since I got it bracketed on both sides in duplicate rifles already.
if y'all keep on going along like this I might just talk myself back into needing it again.

let's be moving along to stuff like the 30 Badger, and 32 Miller.
if Outpost see's this I bet he has some pretty neat 32 cal. bunny rifle stuff that might be worth looking over too.

 

[CZ93X62]

What Fiver said. I am already a free-range mid-caliber handgun addict, and a matching-caliber rifle/carbine always comes along for the ride. 32/20 WCF has been handled, but long arms in 30 Carbine and 327 Federal remain unpurchased. For now.

 

[RicinYakima]

The 7.62x39 is the obvious choice to me. Factory rifles, lots of brass, no special dies. Should be perfect for a walking varminter. There is no reason the 30 Carbine couldn't be put in a bolt gun, but finding something that would work would be the issue, and then there's the magazine. The 32-20 was made in bolt guns, both Savage and Winchester made them. I'd lean severley towards the Savage if interested. The Winchester just isn't as nice IMO. And it's rimmed which gets you back to the mag again.

I've thought about a gun like you describe for a long time. Mine would be in 25 cal probably and a Savage 99 lever. I certainly don't "need" one as the gun safe is overflowing, but 've always had a thing for the 99 in 250-3000. In a carbine length with a pencil barrel and the right wood it could work.

My favorite type of rifle and I have a bunch. The lightest is a 580 series 22 LR converted to 32 H&R Magnum that weights a little over 4.5 pounds with 4X scope. But unless you can do the work yourself, not cost effective. Then there is the Martini Cadet in 357 magnum; pretty, light and fast to handle. CZ and 1903 Springfield in 7.62X39. Savage 23 in 32 WCF, with a Browning lever gun to match. Plus more that I don't remember right now.

However the most versatile still seems to be the Savage Model 1920 bolt action with the pencil 250/3000 barrel. While it has a cocking piece sight and no scope, it shoots flat enough that no hold over is required for anything I would shoot at.

 

[Bret4207]

I've always dreamed of walking into a hole in wall gun shop and finding a Savage 1920 in 250-3000 just as you describe sitting in a corner for a couple hunnert bucks. I know where one such example sits, but anything short of maybe $3K wouldn't move it, and I might be betting low.

A nice Marlin 94 in 327...now there's something to ponder on!

 

[popper]

Was talking to Tippmann today trying to get the RB (spanish) barrel thread size. Want to put a light sporter barrel in rimmed 300BO or a variant. Want to get a welder to put a front tang on it to free float the barrel. He said it was pretty good for continuous 48K pressure. BO will pretty much do what a 357mag will, 110gr-250gr. Interesting, they are super busy making 9mm gattling guns.

 

[Edward R Southgate]

I got a Piper Martini in .22Lr I am thinking about converting to either .32 S&W Long or .38 Spl for a light walking rifle . I have carried it as a .22 but it has a bad chamber and is not reliable . My all time favorite rifles for goofing off are my Winchester 63 and Winchester 43 in .218 Bee . Really like the 43's and want one each in 25-20 and 32-20 .

 

[Cherokee]

You said bolt action, so, I would be inclined to look for 762x39 in a small rifle I liked. If it were me, I would use an M1 Carbine. Its no 100 yd gun but with cast bullets, it works fine...then there is my Marlin in 32/20, its handy too...…….

 

[Bret4207]

I got a Piper Martini in .22Lr I am thinking about converting to either .32 S&W Long or .38 Spl for a light walking rifle . I have carried it as a .22 but it has a bad chamber and is not reliable . My all time favorite rifles for goofing off are my Winchester 63 and Winchester 43 in .218 Bee . Really like the 43's and want one each in 25-20 and 32-20 .

Ed, the 32 S+W Long in a rifle is a very interesting little combo. You find it turns into something totally different than what it is in a revolver. Before I foolish started "fixing" my little Remington #4 RB in 32 S+W Long I could hit soda cans at 100yds with it. As with your Martini 22, my Remington had a bad chamber, probably due to many, many years of 32 Short RF use before my Dad rechambered it to 32 S+W Long and changed the FP to CF. I've done a #6 Remington myself but keep that for the standard 32 S+W as it's breech block is just an "L" shaped hunk of cast steel. Even the little 32 S+W in a rifle will send an 85gr bullet out at something above 900fps with a pinch of Bullseye. Makes quite a little rifle for small game. I still need to get hold of a proper reamer as the D reamer I made is more of a scraper thana reamer.

I'd trade my Win 43 218 for a 22 Hornet Savage 23 in a heartbeat. I thought the 43 would grow on me, but it just hasn't.

 

[StrawHat]

All this talk about the 32 caliber reminded me I have a Ballard No 3 chambered for the 32 long and because it has a reversible firing pin it can handle either center or rim fire cartridge. Unfortunately, I had V M Starr sleeve it and rechambered it to 22 WCF. I could have the sleeve cut loose and a larger sleeve put in, 32 long of the S&W variety. I also have a Germanic Martini in 22 long. An easy conversion to cf and rechambered to 32 Long.

But I a still long of taking a bolt action, 22 Hornet and reworking it to accept the 30 carbine. Or a 223 rifle to 30 carbine.

My intrigue with the 30 Apache is that it is a 30 caliber wildcat of the 223.
Kevin

 

[Ian]

So's the 300 AAC Blackout and the 7.62x40 Wilson Tactical, the 300 being the easiest to make brass from .223 because of the neck location.

Why not a Marlin 336 in .30 WCF?