Leverevolution for 30-30

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okierider

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Looking into reloading 30-30 and was wondering if this stuff is good for cast lead as well as jacketed. Also any info you lever guys could share would be awesome. Tried the search function and not much showed up.
 

swampratt

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The 30-30 is a slow round say when you use a 170 gr bullet and with that said many rifle powders work very well in it for cast.
I have used IMR4064 H4350 and Varget for cast loads in 30-30.
I have also used 2400 pistol powder.
I found when shooting cast loads in my model 94 the brass neck thickness was crucial.
Some necks would measure .004" thicker than others and this resulted in fliers in the group.

Did not seem so crucial with jacketed loads.
I ended up turning the necks all to the thinnest in the group which was .010" thick.
Groups got way tighter and no more fliers.

Try the powder and see if it likes it.
I have some of that powder and the groups with it were not impressive and I was using the Hornady pointy bullets with it.
BLC-2 was almost as fast and more accurate.
Some have said 3031 was the most accurate for them.
I used to load with 3031 and BLC-2.. then i had to try new type pouders and I should have never stopped using the old stand by that worked.
Tail chasing :)
 

Cedar Creek

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I load .30-30 cast loads a lot, but I don't load any that I would call full-throttle deer loads. I probably will, but I still have quite a few jacketed loads I use for that. My favorite knockaround load in a 1953 Marlin 336 is a gaschecked Oregon Trail 170 grain lazer cast bullet over 16.5 grains of IMR 4227; I don't have a chronograph, but I think it's about 1500 fps. I load a 70's Marlin 336 with from 8 - 10 grains of Unique and a Missouri Bullet Co. 135 grain coated bullet; probably 1300 - 1550 or so. The MBC 135 is sized .311 for Marlin Microgroove barrels as they tend to run a little oversize. I use a Lyman neck expander to bell the case mouth a little (like loading revolver cartridges) when using cast bullets. There are several rifle powders and pistol powders that work well for cast .30-30 loads; I have a can of AA 5744 that is highly recommended for cast loads but haven't tried it yet.
 

tkdgeek

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I was looking to start getting supplies to reload 30-30 for target shooting/practice. I have a weird question that I can't seem to find information on. Many cartridges can be have brass formed from something more readily available or less expensive (like making 300 aac).
Is there any other common cartridge that could be cut/reformed and annealed to make 30-30 Winchester?

I'm reading up on the cartridge and it sounds like maybe the reloading of the 30-30 does not have a very long life? I'm hoping an anneal process on the brass can extend it a bit.

Sorry to hijack and go sideways on questions. I've read a lot (zero experience yet, ha) and hear that some of the 5.56 powders like my W748 should work well. Which sounded good to me as I don't need another kind to find! That said, I'd be fine with getting another pound of something that works well with 150g and doesn't require 100% fill to ease the stress on the cases for how I would mostly use them.
 

swampratt

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I do not know of any cases you can use to make 30-30 that aren't more rare than the 30-30.

For extended case life in any brass the key ingredient is to minimally work the brass.
If your sizing die pushes the shoulder back 10 thousandths or 8 thousandths expect 8 reloads or so. This is based on .308 winchester cases and a thinner wall case will probably last less.
You can double that if you push the shoulder back NONE or .001"

I say None and this will work excellent as the case is not really fire formed completely to the chamber until about the 4th firing.
So if None makes you think it will not chamber you could be mistaken.

Not talking semi auto's here.


You always get a little bit of "spring back" to a case after firing it.

I began handloading and the round was 30-30 and I used this.
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/5...MIp9SpifXk2QIVQbnACh17TAN7EAQYASABEgKNq_D_BwE

It has a nickname Lee Wack-A-Mole .
I then got a 308 and the same tool and then a 30-06 and again another Wack-A-Mole graced my Kitchen table.

Wife got really tired of all the hammering and i scored 250 pieces of 30-06 brass..To my surprise the Lee tool would not make the cases correct to fit in my gun.

I learned that that Lee classic loader which I swear was called Field loader when they came out in the mid 60's
Is a neck sizer only.
I never had a failed case with those.. but I did not keep track of hopw many times I loaded cases then either.
I just loaded and shot them and with those cheap tools I was getting way better ammo than the store sold.

Neck size to save cases or minimally size the case..You can Hone dies or have it done to match that particular gun.
Light loads make cases last a long time also.

My cases that do die do so from case head cracks.
 

Cedar Creek

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.30-30 cases are common and in great supply as once-fired range brass. Swampratt is correct about anything used to form .30-30 brass being more rare. I formed .219 Zipper brass from .30-30 about 40 years ago and it was a pain in the butt. I made some .250 Savage brass from .22-250 brass once, but it was pretty simple. With the internet there is a lot more sources for obsolete and oddball brass- which I have learned to avoid if possible.
 

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