30 30 die question..... reload question....

[antilley]

Now that i have the .357 / .38 sorta figured out I thought i would move on to 30 30 loads. (pretty excited about 500 rounds to date)

I hope to be able to shoot some type of cast (assuming it is cheaper) ..... do you need some type of belling device to seat a cast bullet? or will the 2 die sets work? I read a thread on here that was discussing using Unique in a cast load at / around 1400 fps (I didn't see a final thought) .... thoughts on using Unique?... or should i look to get a different powder? if anyone has a reasonable cast 30 30 recipe with cast bullets .... please share.

Thanks -

dan

[J Miller]

Dan,

I'm new to cast bullets in the 30-30 too. I'm not sure they'd be less expensive than jacketed unless you cast your own.

I was told that for the best results in seating the cast bullet to get a Lyman "M" expander die. This die works absolutely wonderful at putting a nice little self just at the case mouth for starting the bullet. It also sized the case neck properly for the larger lead bullets.

I "think", please let someone else confirm this, the Unique load you are thinking of is 10 grs. I have some loaded, but they are burried away and I can't readily get to them.

Joe

[Wind]

Hey there antilley -- I'm a pretty big fan of Unique in 30-30's, 32-40's, and 38-55's and a bunch of other calibers as well. Ten grains or there abouts seems to work well with bullets ranging from 170 grains to 250 grains in these various calibers. I like to use Laser-Cast (Oregon Trail Bullet Co.) TrueShot gas checked 170 grain bullets over 10 grains of Unique in the 30-30 for a great general purpose target round, near and far. I also think you would be very happy with a set of RCBS Cowboy 30-30 dies when it come to loading cast bullets. My friend Whit Spurzon gets over here now and then for some load testing and has taken some videos of the process you might enjoy. Here is a link to some of them showing some Unique loads. http://www.youtube.com/user/WhitSpurzon ... DtB-4YXTi4 Hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

[mikld]

A good idea would be to get a copy of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. Lotsa good info on lead bullets; making, loading, shooting...

[Griff]

A good idea would be to get a copy of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. Lotsa good info on lead bullets; making, loading, shooting...

+1, should be your first purchase!

For Cast plinking loads, Joe is correct, plain based Pb boolits up to about 1400 fps sized about .002" bigger than groove diameter, or .309" in my Winchesters... some might like them at .310", but I don't see the need. The Lyman "M" die for expanding the neck works for that purpose. You don't "need" to run the case all the way into it... just enough to get the base of the bullet started without distorting it.

However, since I'm not a fan of reduced loads in my .30-30s, I make sure I use a gas-checked bullet of sufficient hardness to run them at factory speed. For that, I still size mine at .309" and use a lube more "wax" like in consistency. I haven't had any leading problems even when I use the Lyman Alox lube, but I might be pushing it's capabilities a little.

[Don McDowell]

Another recommendation for the Lyman M die.
5744 is my powder of choice for smokeless rifle cast bullet loads.

[Centaur 1]

I load a lot of cast bullets in several calibers. I use the Lee universal case expanding die because it works for all calibers. I went as far to buy the cheap Lee c-press for $27 just for case expanding.

[BigSky56]

+1 on 5744 works for PB or GC and jacket bullets you can load it down or hot. 22 grs under a 173 gr GC Beartooth bullet its listed as a max load. danny

[El Chivo]

I got the "M" die to expand necks and flare the mouth, and found it ruined lots of cases for me. If your press or case isn't lined up just right, the die mashes the case mouth. I went and bought the Lee, and it works well on the mouth, because it is loose in the die and seats itself. And by adjusting the depth, you can make more or less flare as you like.

But the Lee doesn't widen the neck all the way down - it doesn't go in that far. So after flaring the mouth, I run the "M" die to expand the neck all the way through. It doesn't hurt the mouth then because there's plenty of flare.

I will be giving up cast bullets in 30-30 once my supply is depleted, I've found the copper-coated lead is more accurate for me. They're just a little easier to deal with all around, and they are .308 size.

[Lefty Dude]

The lyman "M" die 30/cal can be used for all 30 cal. I reload for 30-30, 30 Remington, .308 & 30-06. I use the same die for all. You can also use it for jacketed bullets. Just do not adjust as much as for lead. This prevents from scraping copper on a tight case neck.

[Hobie]

I never used the M die with my .30 WCF loads but I'm really careful in seating bullets and I chamfer my case mouths. The M die does make it much easier to properly seat a cast bullet as seen in other calibers.

[earlmck]

I got the "M" die to expand necks and flare the mouth, and found it ruined lots of cases for me. If your press or case isn't lined up just right, the die mashes the case mouth. I went and bought the Lee, and it works well on the mouth, because it is loose in the die and seats itself. And by adjusting the depth, you can make more or less flare as you like.

But the Lee doesn't widen the neck all the way down - it doesn't go in that far. So after flaring the mouth, I run the "M" die to expand the neck all the way through. It doesn't hurt the mouth then because there's plenty of flare.

I'm a fan of the "M" die over the Lee Universal, but El Chivo is right about them messing up case necks. Here's what you do: take your grinder and reshape the "M" nose from wadcutter to round-spitzer and it'll be much more user friendly.

Why doesn't Lyman make them this way to begin with? Well obviously the guy that designed it never bothered to use it. Engineer's disease. Widespread, irritating, but seldom fatal.

[J Miller]

I must have done something wrong when I used my "M" die. I didn't munch nary a case. Maybe I should try again .....


Joe

[win38-55]

I use the Lee Universal case expanding die. Works like a charm on cast lead loads.
I actually had to use it tonight on some tight fitting nickle .300 Win mag cases.
Works good with all calibers. Here are the .300 rounds that I used it on tonight.

[FF1063]

I use the M die with great success. I also use the Lee factory crimp die, but not sure it's necessary, the crimp area in most seater dies should be fine.
I use Trail Boss powder for lead loads in .30-30, very pleased with that. Loading density is well over 50% for loads around 1,000 fps.
I use Magnus 100 and 150 grain flat points and the 110 grain LRN in my single shot. The 100 grain flat point is super accurate in my Handi rifle, and the 150 grain flat point shoots best in the Winchester.