35-30 AI

[johnc]

soon as i can figger how to post pics i'll put some of it on here. i've been told its one of a kind. great shooter. i know i put it in the RELOADING forum, but theres a reason for that. its how i discovered its a 35-30 AI and not a 35-30.

[Ken O'Neill]

I‘ve always liked the IDEA of that in a Contender, but have never seen or shot one.

[Encore64]

Oct 11, 2021 7:19:35 GMT -5 Ken O'Neill said:

I‘ve always liked the IDEA of that in a Contender, but have never seen or shot one.

Reeder has the 355 GNR which is the same basic cartridge. It easily outperforms the old 35 Remington with better case life.

In Contenders, I have the 25-35 Ackley, 30-30 Ackley and 355 GNR. The old 30-30 Case is nearly perfect for the Contender. These three cover most game well...

[johnc]

when i bought this rifle off another gun forum i was told it was a 1920s 32 win converted to 35-30. ser# shows a 1920 32 win. documentation of past 3 owners was included. all said 35-30. included were several reloaded rds and empty cases. and 35-30 dies. upon firing and ejecting several cased it was apparent it was NOT a 35-30 as case neck was too short and shoulder was bumped up. when i sent pics to the guy i bought it from he immediately said what the hell, sent some fired cases to dave manson for inspection. manson said he has reamer specs for the case but has never made a reamer for one. going back thru the documentations i found one from the 60s that said it was converted to 35-30AI by Ackley himself. theres no way to prove that. gun is in great shape, never reblued. has a lyman peep sight on it #55? 58?. don't remember. i contacted lyman they had me talk to the appropriate staff. they said they had heard of such a sight being made way back but had no specs or infor on it. was too old of a sight. i load a new 30-30 case with a few gr TB or unique capped with wax and fireform. 240 gr cast over 10 gr unique or 15 gr 4198 makes for a great whitetail load. and gong killer. guy that sold it to me wants it back. thats not gonna happen.

[lar4570]

Sounds like a great rifle. I always thought the neck on the 30-30 was way to long and that you get get way more out of it by improving the body and pushing the shoulder forward.

[johnc]

i'd post a pic but after 12 tries using the referred pic host i gave up. lifes too short.
as for a shorter neck on the 30-30, i was told that a longer neck is much better for shooting cast. kinda makes sense when you think about it. i guess. anyways, after 2 years of posting and asking, i am beginning to believe i have the only 35-30AI made.

[Encore64]

Oct 20, 2021 13:45:55 GMT -5 johnc said:

i'd post a pic but after 12 tries using the referred pic host i gave up. lifes too short.
as for a shorter neck on the 30-30, i was told that a longer neck is much better for shooting cast. kinda makes sense when you think about it. i guess. anyways, after 2 years of posting and asking, i am beginning to believe i have the only 35-30AI made.

It's highly unlikely that P.O. Ackley developed this cartridge for one gun. You can do a quick Google Search and find threads about the cartridge on Marlin, Leverguns and other forums...

[johnc]

Oct 20, 2021 15:20:04 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

Oct 20, 2021 13:45:55 GMT -5 johnc said:

i'd post a pic but after 12 tries using the referred pic host i gave up. lifes too short.
as for a shorter neck on the 30-30, i was told that a longer neck is much better for shooting cast. kinda makes sense when you think about it. i guess. anyways, after 2 years of posting and asking, i am beginning to believe i have the only 35-30AI made.

It's highly unlikely that P.O. Ackley developed this cartridge for one gun. You can do a quick Google Search and find threads about the cartridge on Marlin, Leverguns and other forums...

been there done that. the only thing that makes us believe its an AI is that it fits right into his designs, and the reamer specs that two commercial businesses have for the cartridge. i'd be happy just to find the real history of it whatever it is. manson was sent 3 fired ejected cases and he told me his spec sheet matches it. but he personally never built the reamer for it. the only thing i've ever found on sites is for a 35-30. read many posts. but this is not a 35-30. shorter neck longer shoulder.

[Encore64]

It's likely the same cartridge, but the builder used an abbreviated marking. It's not an uncommon practice.

I've got a 50 Alaskan that's marked 50x348 Improved.

I know Ackley used 35x30-30 Improved. I got to hold a Martini Single Shot that supposedly came from his shop. Sadly, it wasn't for sale.

[johnc]

well that answers that then. thanks