I haven't seen this thread in a while but let me throw out a barrel suggestion. A few years ago I found out that The Falling BLock works were still in business in Ohio. Sadly, I don't think that is true any longer. I had liked them back in the 70's but never got around to getting one. I contacted them and ended up buying two of their smallest size made for varmint and pistol cartridges. They made five sizes from Hornet through Elephant rifles and all were Hi wall replicas. I used one of them to make a small light custom with a half oct/half round barrel from Montana Rifleman that I had purchased. It wa a very light weight tapered .25 caliber barrel barrel intended for lever guns and matched up to the action well. It was 29" raw and I chambered it in 25/35 Win at 28". Leverevolution powder had just come out and the velocities at moderate pressures with the 28" barrel were incredible. This was using modern bullets, not flat nose. I can duplicate anything from 25/20 to near Roberts level. This in a tiny gun that weighs 5-1/2 pounds. It makes for a great walk-about rifle that can be used for almost anything. If you are considering the 30/30, I would suggest that the 25-35 is and eminently better all around choice. A 100-110 grain controlled expansion bullet will easily kill deer with the velocity you can achieve with that powder and barrel length and the use for small game, varmints and crows is much improved.
