Question for guys reloading 30 /30

No, they are completely different.
For 30-30, you require 30-30 dies.
I would advise getting a standard 2 die set of dies. I would recommend the Lee dies because they are much less price than the other makes.
And don't be talked into a so-called, "Lee factory crimping die." The seating die you get as one of the two dies, is all you require for crimping.
 
I bet you could neck size and seat a 30-30 round and maybee crimp as well with 308 dies but it would involve some mickey mouse work and be a PITA.
 
Kazman1960 said:
Hi . Please don't bash me , i'm just asking a question .

For re loading 30 30 rounds , can you use a die set from 308 or 30 06 ?
Click to expand...

The only silly question in reloading is the one you don't ask.. no worries. Like said by the other guys no you can't. A set of dies is made to basically wrap perfectly around the shape of the case and resize it perfectly to factory specs. Every cartridge you load for needs its only set of dies specifically made for that cartridge. The 30-30 by the way is an easy cartridge to load for a good one to learn with I'd say. I'd recommend getting a good reloading manual and start reading the 'how to' section and a lot of the mystique of this stuff will go away in a hurry. Lyman's 49th (or is it 50th now?) is a good manual to start with.
 
H4831 said:
No, they are completely different.
For 30-30, you require 30-30 dies.
I would advise getting a standard 2 die set of dies. I would recommend the Lee dies because they are much less price than the other makes.
And don't be talked into a so-called, "Lee factory crimping die." The seating die you get as one of the two dies, is all you require for crimping.
Click to expand...

Myself and others have experienced the Lee two die 30/30 set failing to provide a decent crimp.
 
Last edited:
Plus 2 on the answers already posted. The casings are entirely different for resizing. I suppose it is possible to seat the bullet, but a die set already comes with the proper seating die. It is better to have asked the question than run into frustrating problems in undertaking the exercise without being informed. Ask away!

Just out of curiosity, did someone advise that you could?
 
I find the Lee factory crimp die a must have, especially for the price, when loading 30-30.

If your case lengths aren't exactly the same you'll have a pretty tough time getting a consistent crimp.
 
I also agree with the Lee crimp die.
As much as I detest Lee chit, there are some good things they make
that is just too easy to use.
The hand primer is another easy to use tool from Lee.
 
sobo4303 said:
Plus 2 on the answers already posted. The casings are entirely different for resizing. I suppose it is possible to seat the bullet, but a die set already comes with the proper seating die. It is better to have asked the question than run into frustrating problems in undertaking the exercise without being informed. Ask away!

Just out of curiosity, did someone advise that you could?
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the helpful answers . No one told me I could , I just purchased a Marlin 30 30 , bought the shell holder and some brass , but , for whatever reason , forgot the dies ! I'm ok for now though as I have 3 boxes of store bought ammo that will last me until the die set get here . Once again , thanks for all the help Guys .
 
Why is a 30-30 any different for crimping than any other calibre?
I am not a great fan of Lee dies, but mainly because of the mickey mouse way they hold the primer removal and internal neck sizing rod in place. Other than that, they seem to work OK. I have them in a few calibres and have no trouble crimping with them.
I am not a fan of their so-called factory crimp die. I was talked into getting it with the first set of Lee dies I got. But after giving it a good try I went back to crimping with the regular seating die, which I much prefer doing.
I have been reloading 30-30, off and on, for some thirty five years, always using RCBS dies. The 30-30 has crimped perfectly with regular dies, so why would it be different with Lee dies. Lee, like all reloading dies, are built to SAAMI standards.
I fairly recently started loading the 35 Remington, which after all, is just a 30-30 case opened up to 35. I bought Lee dies for the 35 and they tried to talk me into getting the special crimping die. But no way, I didn't want it. I have had 100% success in crimping the 35 Remington with the standard Lee seating die.
We also have to consider that guys were reloading the 30-30 for maybe 80 or 90 years, before Lee made their crimping die!
Taking all of the above into consideration, and with full respect for other peoples opinions, I'm afraid I have to consider it hogwash that a 30-30 won't crimp properly without the Lee crimping die.
 
Bruce, it's not that 30-30 is different than any other caliber. I should have added that it's just the lever action I load for the most.

For my plinking loads I use 150 grain plated berry's bullets with no cannelure. Try getting a good crimp on those with a regular die.

I agree with using rcbs dies, though. Most of mine are rcbs.
 
For me, the issue is having to have all the brass the same size and length if I'm using the
seating die.
Plus, with the crimp die, I can SEE what the heck the crimp is doing.
Easy to adjust and no pushed shoulder into a bulge.
Just far to simple to use.
 
A few years back I did up some loads with the 94 win I had and after a half a dozen shots I had to stop and totally take my rifle apart to clean out the un burnt powered out of the action.

I then checked the bullets and sure enough no crimp.
I could pull the bullets by hand.

And I couldn't get a decent crimp after that no matter what I did.
I'm not trying again until I get a 30/30 crimping die.
Also I need a sizing/trimming die.

The lee crimper I had for 7.62x39 worked fantastic.
 
i bet a 30 30 is long enough to size part of the neck in 308 enough to reload but i think its more important to full length resize 30 30 brass than bolt gun brass
 
I have a two-die Hornady set for my 30-30. It does the job BUT the neck expander is part of the de-priming rod and unless you inside lube the neck, the expander die may get stuck inside the neck. I had to cut a brass casing off once and even if it doesn't jam, it can end up stretching the neck way longer and unevenly. I put my 30-30 brass through the sizing die twice. The first time with the neck expander plug removed so that I de-prime and size. I then trim the case (important to avoid crimping problems) and then screw the expander plug back onto the de-priming rod and run my brass through the sizing die just far enough to expand the neck. I then use a Lee expander to very, very slightly bell the mouth of the case. The rest is standard. I like to case trim my brass every second time or so. Properly trimmed brass crimps just fine with the Hornady dies. Although I find the Lee Factory Crimp die a life-saver in some other calibers where I am loading oversize bullets for oversize bores, but tight chambers, I don't have that need for the 30-30.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom