doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Winchester action model 54 in 30-30 caliber Whats

Morning all. I have an origional model 54 winchester action set up by the factory for the 30-30 caliber cartridge. The bolt handle was reworked by Griffin & Howe in new york years ago. The receiver is drilled for both iron sights and scope mounts. The bolt is basically in the white as are the trigger assembly, magwell, complete trigger guard/floorplate assembly. Its in excellent condition with the blueing turning brown and comes with the origional mauser type safety as well as an afermarket low swing safety. I have the barrel stub which shows how winchester configured it for the 30-30 cartridge. I'm trying to get an idea of its worth. So if anyone could help I'd be very greatful. Thanks, Frank

As in sell it worth do you mean? A pic would be helpful.

In the 1940s there was am article in the Rifleman which told how to alter one of those for the .30-40 Krag. It was not too difficult as best I recall and a handloader, given the greater strength of the 54, could run right up close to an '06.

The magazine box on the M54 may be too short for the .30-40.

I must be missing something here. The M54 was factory made in 30-30. I assume this is a factory 30-30 with the mentioned modifications, namely a modified bolt, safety, and some extra holes. A pretty nice parts stash if someone needs a bent bolt for an existing gun.

Frank.....It's worth 300 bucks to me. Let me know if you want to sell. Grant. Oldmodel70@aol.com

And that's about all it's worth.

Frank, Could you post some pictures? If not you can send them to me at mjpetrov@acsalaska.net

I didn't say at what price I thought it was a great parts stash, but I need a modified bolt that would fit a .220 Swift Model 54. I don't imagine that a bolt from a 30-30 would be suitable for a .220 Swift. Would it?

No, Bill, the .30-30 bolt will not work for the Swift. The swift is semi-rimless, not full rimed, and uses the standard cone breech and bolt. Also the .220 bolt for a Model 54 is tailored for the length of travel needed for the Swift.

Thanks, Don.

Steve, it's been a few years since I examined a 30-30 54, but I think the factory put a spacer into the normal '06/.270 mag box to adapt it to .30-30. Same as adapting the 70 to such cartridges as .220 Swift. But may also have needed a slant insert to keep the rims from tangling. Maybe one of us has a 54 30-30 and can take a look.

The interior length of the .30-30 magazine box was shortened by use of two partitions. A two partition magazine box was also used for the .220 Swift.

Energy of bullet increases by the square of the velocity, so knock down or stopping capability increases

Gentlemen, sorry I have not been back sooner. I bought the action as a barreled action about 25 years ago. Dealer I think in Brooklyn by the name of logan arms had a couple fiber barrels with just the actions and barrels sticking out. The bolt handle was done by griffen & howe and the holes for the scope bases and iron sights were already done on the action when I bought it. The barrel had seen either lots of corrosive primed 30-30 ammo or it was used in a damp humid area. Because the bore resembled the inside of a coal mine.I had the bbl removed. Regarding the two slanted inserts, they worked much the same as the slanted smle and #4 magazines. To make the mag work with 30-40 I seem to remember them telling you to remove the front slanted piece so the longer 30-40 cartridges would feed. That and cut back the extractor to kick out the empty cases. Thanks for the information. Needed it for insurance purposes. Frank

Bcp, thanks for the pic of the 54 30-30 shank. When I had the bbl removed I saved it in case I ever wanted to rebarrel it and give the gunsmith what the origional shank looked like. Frank

Michael, sorry about the pics. I'm electronically challenged. Heck don't even have a cell phone. Frank

I have a question. Does the picture of the M 54 .30-30 barrel shank show it in a finished state? Has it been chambered and faced?

The barrel shank is a Winchester takeoff barrel, so all work has been done.

Bruce