Equipment Rules

[glen ring]

Like most of us I like to tinker with guns and loads. I don't want to push the rules, I know I'm not going to discover a new technique or load that will launch me into the national champion chair. I just like to tinker. The rules say I can bore out or line by barrel. What if i took a very tired 38-55 marlin and lined the barrel to make it a 30-30 or a 25-35? What do the rules say or imply?

[jnyork]

Doesn't look to me like there is any problem with it, IMHO. If you can bore it out to a larger cartridge, you should be able to line it for a smaller one.

I would be curious to find a gunsmith who would reline a .30-30 to .25-35, only reliners I can find only do pistol calibers.

[crosssection]

The 25-35 will require a faster twist for the heavier, and longer, bullets. Track of the Wolf offers a lot of liners:
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categorie ... tyleId=483

[boats]

Re Boring to larger is allowed. Re-lining is specificly allowed although re-lining to a different caliber than marked on the factory barrel is not addressed. I suspect some match directors would not pass a different caliber than marked. More likely not to allow if the twist was changed from Factory 25/35 specs although as I recall the factory barrels had a real fast twist, Factory ammo was loaded with 117 gr bullets. Heavy 25's pushed fast may well damage Rams at 200 which would also keep the rifle out of matches.

Lot of match directors and competitors shoot CLA instead of the other disiplines so they don't have to tinker, not too receptive to pushing the envelope. Best check your local club first.

Boats

[glen ring]

Cross section
Track of the wolf rocks.Thanks for the link!
Boats....the boring out to a larger caliber would make it different than what's marked on the barrel also....say going from 30-30 to 38-55. Going down from 38-55 to 30-30 with a liner seems like a reasonable step. The 25-35 is only going about 2200 fps with a 117 grain grn bullet so I don't think target damage would result. I'll e-mail the silhouette department and get an opinion on the stepping down in cal. with a liner. Either way it sounds like a fun project over the winter months.

[ppkny]

I would think that the silhouette department would be gun shy to make a ruling on anything right now after what happen at the Nationals. I believe the end result of the controversy was that the rules committe has the final say on what's legal and what's not legal not the silhouette chairperson.
ppkny

[silhouette13]

the only issue i have every heard or seen was when a "new caliber" would not feed through the lad gate, cause the case was too fat. the rules say it has to feed fron the magazine, so therefore must load through the gate. going smaller should work just fine.

dave

[glen ring]

Dave

Seems reasonable enough to me. I will get an OK from the silhouette department or a "can't use" decision. Like I said, I'm just wanting a project to tinker with this winter.

Maybe a 7-30 waters in an octagon Marlin.........

[boats]

It's up to you but I don't give the Silhouette department more power than they have. There is a rule book and local match directors use it to make equipment calls on match day. Shooter does not agree with the call, jury of shooters is appointed and their rule stands. Nothing to do with NRA home office. All NRA can do is table it for the Silhouette committe to change the rule going forward.

Best find out what the opinion is were you plan to shoot.

Boats

[glen ring]

Boats
I'm not worried about target damage. We shoot along side IHMSA shooters and a 117 grain round nose bullet at 2100 to 2200 fps is mild compared to some of the unlimited guns the IHMSA guys use.

My wife and I are the local guys that put on the lever gun match here in Oklahoma and the small group we shoot with could probably care less about the caliber.

My only concern is when we shoot at other venues.If the home office interprets the rules one way I intend on following their lead.

The equipment rules do not specifically prohibit a liner being of a smaller caliber and my inquiry is for information and feed back from shooters that have actually done a like conversion. Bored out to a bigger caliber is legal and lining a barrel is legal. I just want informed opinions and rulings before I start my winter project.

[silhouette13]

7-30 waters would be nice for the game, just be sure to get some round nose pills! pointy ones would not be cool in the tube.

[lone ringer]

Dave

Seems reasonable enough to me. I will get an OK from the silhouette department or a "can't use" decision. Like I said, I'm just wanting a project to tinker with this winter.

Maybe a 7-30 waters in an octagon Marlin.........

Have not seen any 7mm liners but I had a Win 94 commemorative 26" worn out barrel relined to same caliber 30-30. Have not had a chance to shoot any matches with it but the chamber is so tight that I am having to reduce my loads by a couple of grains. Will keep you guys posted.

[jnyork]

Hey, Lone Ringer, would you mind sharing with us who did the work on your rifle and where you got the liner? Thanks.

[lone ringer]

Hey, Lone Ringer, would you mind sharing with us who did the work on your rifle and where you got the liner? Thanks.

It was done by a friend of mine but he is not able to receive and ship firearms from customers, he basically does work for us locals that bring our rifles to him. I believe the liner was made by "Track of the wolf" since he told me he pays so much for every inch of liner.

[jnyork]

OK, thanks