Do I Really Need a 30-30 AI?

[Blue Avenger]

Do any of us need a reason to acquire just one more barrel in any caliber? It's an illness. I can't seem to recover. And did I mention it's February.
Heading over to ebay now

right, you owe yourself a valentines present!

[BT]

Now ya got me thinkin again, Norm. I bought one of my nieces a new 30/30 H&R Handi Rifle many years ago. She deer hunted with me for about 5 years, got a deer each season, then completely lost interest. Her little rifle has been here and not used in a long time. I wonder if she’d ever notice if I reamed it to AI? Probably not. LOL I have a buddy with a reamer, now if I can talk him into loaning it to me again. He might even see this post.

[Bobby Tomek]

Well, there are no more 30-30 AIs by Van Horn, but there are a number of his other barrels on ebay again, including 7-30 and .30 Herrett among others. I don't know why I keep looking LOL...

[BT]

Has Dave been cutting back on the barrel building, Bobby? Close to retiring?

[Ed K]

Do I Really Need a 30-30 AI?

I thought so, so one day I sat there with 500 rounds of 375 Winchester brass in my shopping cart at Wideners at something like $10.95/100. Was going to order a MGM or Bulberry barrel. Why I didn't pull the trigger I'll never know. And then they were gone...

That seemed to jinx the 30-30 AI for me. Just never got around to it. Danced all around it with standard 30-30, 7-30 Waters, 307/308 AI Encore but never made it happen. Oh well with barrels from 22LR, 22 K-hornet, 223 AI through to 45 Colt and 45-70 and plenty in between my life never collapsed!

[Bobby Tomek]

I haven't spoken to Dave for two years or more, so I couldn't answer that. I do know age is creeping up on him -- as it is with all of us LOL. Someone who's worked right alongside Dave is a forum member here. Maybe Mark will see this and chime in.

Dave is certainly an interesting character and has many unique stories to tell. A simple phone call to check on an order or ask a question can easily turn into an hour-long conversation.

If he's cutting back or retiring, I wish him the best as he certainly deserves it.

[J A XSP]

It used to be that the AI version held more advantage but, as has been mentioned, newer powders and bullet designs have allowed the plain old 30-30 to keep up just fine. That being said, I prefer the 30-30 AI. The extra bit of case capacity allows slower powder loads to push more velocity at Contender-friendly pressure levels. Brass life is nearly unlimited plus there's just a certain cool factor in the shape of the AI round. :)
I think if I were looking for a factory barrel I'd be happy with 30-30 but ordering custom, there'd be no reason not to get the AI. Factory ammo can be shot in the AI chamber and fire-forming loads with standard brass can easily be used for hunting and target work.