30-30 to 25-35

[Bridger]

I have been wondering how hard it would be to take a cheap 94 in 30-30 and rechamber it to 25-35? For some reason I eventually want to get my hands on a 25-35 and this seems like a fairly economical way to get one. Not a project for the immediate future, but certainly for the "one day" list.


Or would it be possible to find an original carbine in this chambering cheaper all things said and done?

[hfcable]

I have been wondering how hard it would be to take a cheap 94 in 30-30 and rechamber it to 25-35? For some reason I eventually want to get my hands on a 25-35 and this seems like a fairly economical way to get one. Not a project for the immediate future, but certainly for the "one day" list.


Or would it be possible to find an original carbine in this chambering cheaper all things said and done?

well....you can't rechamber to 25/35, you would have to rebarrel or reline .. and if you found a cheap barrel they whole thing could be pretty simple...otherwise probably is cheaper just to find a 25/35 , not to mention that it would be more valuable and have better resale value.

[AJMD429]

I had the same problem in wanting a .45 Colt Marlin 1894, and none except expensive 'Cowboy' models to be had, but was able to take a .44 Mag one and the ONLY part I had to swap out was the barrel. Cost me around $100 for the barrel, and I used an aluminum AR barrel-vice with perfect success. I know the 94 is a different design, but I think your idea is sound, IF you can find a 'beater' or other inexpensive one, or have one to spare, and IF you can find a barrel at a decent price.

Others on the forum would be able to tell you if there are any other parts than the barrel needing swapped out for your project - that may be where the rub would be.

[Rusty]

After I read this the first time I got to thiking about it. I know it wasn't what you were thinking but a 336 XLR in .25-35 would wear a scope quite nicely.

[Mescalero]

And even better yet in .25 bullberry,
if you going to re-barrel might as well go all the way.

[Booger Bill]

How about just finding a 7x30 waters? I havent really researched the differance, anyone up on that cartridge and what the differances are?

[hfcable]

How about just finding a 7x30 waters? I havent really researched the differance, anyone up on that cartridge and what the differances are?

you could rebarrel to that caliber if you could find a barrel [ had an extra but sold it ] and overall it is a great cartridge, probably significantly better than the 25/35.

[Griff]

The barrel is all that's needed. Same parent case (.38-55) length and rim dimensions. I'd sorta think the Marlin in .25-35 would be harder to find... but, then I ain't looked...

The 7-30 Waters has more case capacity, as the case is essentially a .30-30 necked to .284, whereas the .25-35 is both necked to .257 and has a greater taper with a longer neck, both of which result in less case capacity. The 7-30 Waters is ballistically the better cartridge, IMO.

As for ruining the gun's value... That's really between you and any future buyer.

[Bridger]

I am just not as interested in those other calibers as the 25-35. The only other one I might even think about would be going the other direction, the 32-40.

[Bridger]

And as far as the guns value, it wouldn't get sold anyway so that's wouldn't be a biggie to me.

[olyinaz]

I can't see why a reline to that caliber isn't perfectly plausible.

I like the idea of doing a Marlin. Should make one heckuva coyote rifle.

Oly

[ollogger]

I have seen 25-35 bbl. on Ebay, one was on there the other day 1/2 round 1/2 oct.
few years ago I was looking for one,wife bought me one from that outlaw SIX GUN, I now have 2 of em, be carefull there a bad habit


ollogger

[AmBraCol]

This is a project I've kicked around a lot over the years, but living where I do it's more an exercise in theory than anything. The big issue is the barrel, there's not that many drop in 25-35 barrels around. So you're looking at obtaining a blank, having it machined down and chambered and installed. The "family rifle" is an old '64 Winchester in 25-35 that has been "rode hard and put away wet" too many times - but it's an accurate piece of ordnance anyway.

You can even form brass from 30-30, lube and run it into the 25-35 die. I've not tried annealing the neck area but believe that I'd get better results if this were done. Again, I just don't have time while up north to play with it that much.

An interesting (to me) twist on the idea would be to pick up an old Marlin and rebarrel it to 25-35 Ackley Improved. The 25-35 would really benefit from this treatment as it straightens the neck out and moves the shoulder forward. This results in a pretty decent boost in velocity. The downside of the 25-35 is the lack of appropriate round nose or flat nose bullets. To the best of my knowledge the Hornady RN 117 grain bullet is about all there is, and those can be like hen's teeth to find. I've never had a chance to try cast in it so can't speak t that. A Marlin in 25-35 AI would allow you to use a scope quite easily and take advantage of the better trajectory. Methinks it would be a dandy coyote rifle, although it WILL take anything in the lower 48 if you do your part. I know that the old '64 took every legal Arizona big game animal and varmint "back in the day" at one time or another.

[Rusty]

Sorry Bridger, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I figured from the start that a simple rebarrel would be all it would take but I thought someone with more experience with Winchesters than I should make that call.
For as great a rifle as it would turn out to be IMHO I would even think about getting a custom barrel from Shaw or Douglas and having a smith set it up.

[Old Savage]

I do see the point use wise and ballistically in going from the 30-30 to the 25-35. But I see none in going from the 30-30 to the 32-40 although some folks seemed charmed by it.

[Ironwood]

Winchester brought the 25-35 back in 2005. I don't think it went much more that that year. Even so, you might be able to find one online. I had a 25-35 Winchester 1894 rifle once upon a time. I've wished many times that I had kept the rifle. I killed several fox with the gun. The 87 grain flatnose does a good job on varmints. I was told the 115 grain roundnose bullet did a good job on Texas deer also.

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