Remington 30 Express 30-06 - Curious to find out more info

[cash_tx]

@Huvius
The latter production model 30 had the bolt handle straightened and the Acton lightened View attachment 645233View attachment 645234
Check out the velocities they were claiming for the 150gn and 110 grainers in the ought six back then.
Bob

Wow, 110 grain bullets at 3,500 FPS! I wonder just how well the 1:10 twist would stabilize that.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Did Remungton change them to cock on opening? I hear it can be done relatively easily.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Wow, 110 grain bullets at 3,500 FPS! I wonder just how well the 1:10 twist would stabilize that.

@cash_tx
The 1:10 twist will stabilise them well there's no such thing as over stabilised but you can definitely understand stabilise a projectile .
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Did Remungton change them to cock on opening? I hear it can be done relatively easily.

@Ontario Hunter
Can't say whether they did but I prefer cock in closing. Easier and faster to operate in my opinion.
Bob

 

[mdwest]

Most 300 win mag have a 1:10 twist and will stabilize 150gr bullets at similar velocities..

Stepping into heavier bullets like a 212gr hornady eldx or a 208gr Barnes LRX you might want a tighter twist… most 300 prc use either a 1:8 or a 1:9 to push those heavier/longer projectiles at max velocity…

 

[leslie hetrick]

i owned several over the years and all were good shooters, one that i had was in 35 remington that some one converted to 358 norma mag. boy was it a hand full to shoot. if it had left alone in 35 remington i would have kept it as they are quite rare.

 

[cash_tx]

i owned several over the years and all were good shooters, one that i had was in 35 remington that some one converted to 358 norma mag. boy was it a hand full to shoot. if it had left alone in 35 remington i would have kept it as they are quite rare.

I own a Browning Safari Grade in 308 Norma Mag, which is noticeably heavier than this 30 Express; so I can imagine the 358 Norma would indeed be quite the handful (not to mention that steel buttplate).

 

[AZDAVE]

The model 30's are one of the best rifles of that era. I would keep it and shoot it alot. If you decide to get rid of it I am sure there will be a large group that will have to arm wrestle over it.

 

[pilar]

I own a Browning Safari Grade in 308 Norma Mag, which is noticeably heavier than this 30 Express; so I can imagine the 358 Norma would indeed be quite the handful (not to mention that steel buttplate).

Is that Remington a 30SX , that’s what mine was m30s with Lyman peep = SX
“”The Deluxe or "Special" 30S which in 1930 became the Model 30SL, the 30SR with Redfield Optics sight, the 30SX, with a Lyman sight, and the 30SM with Marble-Gossaperture receiver sight. These "Special" models were available with 22 or 24 inches barrel, selected stock, ””
“”
1918, after the end of World War I and termination of contracts for both the P14and M1917, Remington was left with two factories (the main factory at Ilion and a subsidiary at Eddystone) tooled up to make the M1917, and was also left with a large inventory of stored spare parts./Remington_Model_30# It was decided to make a sporting version of the P14-M1917 model rifles at the Ilion plant. In 1921, Remington introduced the Model 30 High Power sporting rifle in caliber 30-06 Springfield. Early models differed from the military rifles by deleting the prominent rear sight protection ears and machining the receiver bridge to the same diameter as the receiver ring, and straightening the floorplate. These changes made for a better-looking rifle but magazine capacity was reduced from 6 to 5 rounds. The barrel was of the military profile but shortened slightly to 24". The barreled action was placed into a sporter type stock of plain American black walnut with a schnabel fore-end and a steel buttplate grooved to prevent slipping. A simple receiver aperture sight was fitted to the receiver bridge by a dovetail. This sight was soon discontinued and replaced with one mounted further forward on the barrel band. The Enfield-type cock-on-closing feature, and the double-stage military-type trigger were retained. In 1926, the stock was refined with a higher and thicker comb. A crossbolt was added, and checkering of the pistol grip and fore-end became standard. There was a deluxe Model 30S made 1930–32 with a better designed and chequered stock, a Lyman 48 receiver type sight called Model 30 Express.



I found mine at a auction and bid $125 and won , then made a huge mistake by selling the Lyman for a $100 , ruined the value when I couldn’t find a replacement Lyman
Sold it unfortunately ( don’t sell it it was only made for 2 years)

 

[PerH]

Ruarks .30-06 was one of them btw .

 

[cash_tx]

Is that Remington a 30SX , that’s what mine was m30s with Lyman peep = SX
“”The Deluxe or "Special" 30S which in 1930 became the Model 30SL, the 30SR with Redfield Optics sight, the 30SX, with a Lyman sight, and the 30SM with Marble-Gossaperture receiver sight. These "Special" models were available with 22 or 24 inches barrel, selected stock, ””
“”
1918, after the end of World War I and termination of contracts for both the P14and M1917, Remington was left with two factories (the main factory at Ilion and a subsidiary at Eddystone) tooled up to make the M1917, and was also left with a large inventory of stored spare parts./Remington_Model_30# It was decided to make a sporting version of the P14-M1917 model rifles at the Ilion plant. In 1921, Remington introduced the Model 30 High Power sporting rifle in caliber 30-06 Springfield. Early models differed from the military rifles by deleting the prominent rear sight protection ears and machining the receiver bridge to the same diameter as the receiver ring, and straightening the floorplate. These changes made for a better-looking rifle but magazine capacity was reduced from 6 to 5 rounds. The barrel was of the military profile but shortened slightly to 24". The barreled action was placed into a sporter type stock of plain American black walnut with a schnabel fore-end and a steel buttplate grooved to prevent slipping. A simple receiver aperture sight was fitted to the receiver bridge by a dovetail. This sight was soon discontinued and replaced with one mounted further forward on the barrel band. The Enfield-type cock-on-closing feature, and the double-stage military-type trigger were retained. In 1926, the stock was refined with a higher and thicker comb. A crossbolt was added, and checkering of the pistol grip and fore-end became standard. There was a deluxe Model 30S made 1930–32 with a better designed and chequered stock, a Lyman 48 receiver type sight called Model 30 Express.



I found mine at a auction and bid $125 and won , then made a huge mistake by selling the Lyman for a $100 , ruined the value when I couldn’t find a replacement Lyman
Sold it unfortunately ( don’t sell it it was only made for 2 years)

That's actually a really good question, and I'm currently a little confused as to what "Special" model it might be. On one hand, it is currently wearing a Lyman peep sight (which originally made me think it was a 30SX); however on the other hand, there is a place on the right hand side of the stock where it looks like it was inlet for a Redfield peep sight (as can be seen in the pic below). So, I wonder if it was originally a 30SR that was later fitted with the Lyman sight. I guess I'll never know for sure.

All I know at this point is that every time I pick this rifle up and hold it, I am ever more glad that I bought it. This is probably the best 300 bucks I've spent on firearms this entire year, and can't wait for the rain to stop so I can get it out to the range.

 

[Boris11]

Just a little information to pass on to your son: Your Model 30 Remington was produced right after the end of World War 1 for civilian hunting rifle use. These rifles were produced with parts and machinery that was first used to produce the British P-14 service rifle just before Britain entered the War.

Winchester, Remington Arms and Eddystone (a subsidiary of Remington) were all awarded contracts from the British Government to produce the P-14 rifles. Production ran a year or two, then was halted because the British had a very large quantity of Enfield SMLE rifles, and with the urgency of the war - they decided to retain the SMLE and ramp up production of those instead of issuing a completely different rifle in the middle of a war with Germany.

When the United States entered the war in 1917, the Army and Marine Corps were very small in numbers. With the rapid expansion of the size of those forces, they were completely under-equipped with service rifles. The U.S. Arsenals at Rock Island and Springfield were unable to produce sufficient quantities of rifles to meet the war-time needs.

With the British Government contract just cancelled, the 3 above named civilian arms makers had the trained personnel and tooling to produce a war service rifle. The U.S. Ordinance Department contracted them to resume production of the British P-14 style rifle, but with modifications to enable that rifle to fire the standard .30 caliber U.S. service cartridge instead of the British .303 cartridge. The modified rifle was designated as the "U.S. Model of 1917", and was issued in vast numbers to the U.S. Army 'Dough boys' headed for France. The limited number of M1903 Springfield and M1903 Rock Island manufactured rifles were mostly issued to the U.S. Marine Corps, while the Army used the Model of 1917.

The Model of 1903 was "Standard Issue" while the Model of 1917 was "Alternate Standard Issue".

After the end of the war, the U.S. Model of 1917 rifles were withdrawn from service and placed in War Reserve storage, while production of the M1903 rifles continued at the Springfield Arsenal.

Remington Arms Corporation, having huge stocks of parts on hand to produce the Model 1917 service rifles, began production of a sporting rifle for sale to the civilian market to take advantage of those left over parts - the Remington Model 30. That is the story behind your rifle. Sales were brisk with that rifle - mostly with returning Veterans who had used the U.S. Model of 1917 during the war and found it very accurate and dependable.

 

[Boris11]

I made an interesting surprise discovery at my local Scheel's store earlier today in the form of a Remington Model 30 Express (based on the M1917 action) in 30-06 at what I think was a bargain price ($299). I didn't previously know much of anything about the Model 30; but after some quick Internet searching, the rifle appeared to be mostly (or even all) original and in really good shape for its age. The rifle has some nice figuring in the wood, a styling that appealed to me, and fit me like a glove; so it came home with me. Once I got it home, it cleaned up pretty nicely. These pictures aren't the best resolution, but give you an idea of its condition. Based on the proof marks of the barrel (the letters "DU"), it would indicate a DOM of September 1927; and the other features seem to align with what is described in the Wikipedia article for the Model 30 for this time period. I think this might be the variant known as the Model 30SL, based upon its Lyman aperture sight. As a bonus, it seems to have had a nice trigger job done to it at some point.

Does anyone else have experience with one of these, and can provide any additional insight? Thanks!

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congratulations
you have got your self a really rear masterpiece..

 

[cash_tx]

Thank you for that additional insight into the history of these rifles. I feel very fortunate for having made this find, and will do my best to give it a good home.

 

[pilar]

That's actually a really good question, and I'm currently a little confused as to what "Special" model it might be. On one hand, it is currently wearing a Lyman peep sight (which originally made me think it was a 30SX); however on the other hand, there is a place on the right hand side of the stock where it looks like it was inlet for a Redfield peep sight (as can be seen in the pic below). So, I wonder if it was originally a 30SR that was later fitted with the Lyman sight. I guess I'll never know for sure.

All I know at this point is that every time I pick this rifle up and hold it, I am ever more glad that I bought it. This is probably the best 300 bucks I've spent on firearms this entire year, and can't wait for the rain to stop so I can get it out to the range.

View attachment 645346

I’m convinced it’s a 30SX as it’s identical to mine , also I had its predecessor in .303 British ( which came with a different design sight/ express mechanism on the barrel and 1x scope side mount on left )
But same snabbel forend and high quality walnut wood , a transition rifle between post ww1 and m30
It had a trapdoor in the butt plate for a cleaning kit because the corrosive primer used in “ Great War “ era ammunition
I’m so happy to see this post, as it brings me back memories

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That's actually a really good question, and I'm currently a little confused as to what "Special" model it might be. On one hand, it is currently wearing a Lyman peep sight (which originally made me think it was a 30SX); however on the other hand, there is a place on the right hand side of the stock where it looks like it was inlet for a Redfield peep sight (as can be seen in the pic below). So, I wonder if it was originally a 30SR that was later fitted with the Lyman sight. I guess I'll never know for sure.

All I know at this point is that every time I pick this rifle up and hold it, I am ever more glad that I bought it. This is probably the best 300 bucks I've spent on firearms this entire year, and can't wait for the rain to stop so I can get it out to the range.

View attachment 645346

@cash_tx
If I was you I would take the stock off and put it in storage for later use and get a more ergernomic synthetic stock or Boyd's . It would be more comfortable to shoot if'n y'all put a scope on it. Plus if you sell it down the track you still have the original stock to go with it.
Bob

 

[cash_tx]

I’m convinced it’s a 30SX as it’s identical to mine , also I had its predecessor in .303 British ( which came with a different design sight/ express mechanism on the barrel and 1x scope side mount on left )
But same snabbel forend and high quality walnut wood , a transition rifle between post ww1 and m30
It had a trapdoor in the butt plate for a cleaning kit because the corrosive primer used in “ Great War “ era ammunition
I’m so happy to see this post, as it brings me back memoriesView attachment 645363

Thank you for that info, and I agree that it's most likely a 30SX. Much appreciated, and this is one of the reasons I love this community.

 

[CJW]

Yea I would have snagged that too. That's a great price on a rifle I've wanted for a while.

 

[cash_tx]

@cash_tx
If I was you I would take the stock off and put it in storage for later use and get a more ergernomic synthetic stock or Boyd's . It would be more comfortable to shoot if'n y'all put a scope on it. Plus if you sell it down the track you still have the original stock to go with it.
Bob

There is some darkness in the stock near the buttplate (see my latest photo) and also inside the stock channel; as if one of the previous owners went overboard with the gun oil and it stained the wood. It probably would have eventually rotted it, but I think I caught it in time and it seems to still be solid (just darkened). I still have yet to get it to the range, but time will tell how much I actually use it; but your suggestion makes a lot of sense, and I may do that at some point. Thanks again for sharing your info re: these rifles, and much appreciated!

 

[cash_tx]

Finally got it out to the range today for the first time. With factory Remington 150 grain Core-Lokts, it didn't do too bad at 100 yards with open sights and my aging eyes. The sight adjustment seemed decently on target, so I didn't mess with it; just wanted to check zero today. I'm pretty confident it would do substantially better with a good scope and handloads.