Should I crimp 30/30 for leveraction?

You need SOME crimp or the bullet will be pushed back into the case when loading your gun.
 
It depends on how much neck tension your particular set up is producing.

I've never found it necessary to crimp 30-30 but others have.

I've left rounds in the magazine for many,many firing cycles to check for bullet movement and found none.

But your load might shoot better with a crimp anyway...

So my answer to your question is - maybe, but you need to check.
 
Like the other guys said, yes, you should crimp your rounds if you're using them in a gun with a tube magazine, or a revolver. No good has ever come from bullets wandering in and out of cases. Now, that being said, if you're going to be shooting them single shot, it doesn't make the slightest difference if you crimp or not as long as you have enough tension to hold the bullet in the case neck.
 
A good solid crimp allows all the powder to burn before the bullet exits the barrel. Even Speer puts a cannalure on their 30-30 bullets.
 
My preference is to crimp when I use an bullet with a crimping groove, but you get better round to round consistency if you crimp as a separate step from seating the bullet. Lee's Factory Crimp die is one of their better ideas.
 
Audet ......

The 30-30 is one of the few rifle cartridges that I crimp, and I like to crimp inside (but near the front of edge) of the cantilure. However, 30-30 cases have very thin brass, and if you're not real careful a decent crimp can easily buckle your case between the neck and the shoulder. The thinner brass of the 30-30 gives a bit less bullet tension - especially after a few reloads when the necks become harder. That's why I prefer to use the Lee collet crimp die. It avoids deforming weaker bress, and it gives you a very good looking crimp.

- Innovative
 
BrotherRockeye .........

The Lee Collet Crimp Die does a good job of crimping bullets with or without a cannelure. The feature that makes it better is it pushes straight inward - not down.

- Innovative
 
The 30-30 brass is so thin that i don't think the crimp would add very much. The neck is so long that if it is sized down, it would give a lot of what is called "bullet pull".

Crimping can cause more problems than it solves. The exception is the Lee factory die, but if this meant an extra step, I would not bother. If you use a progressive and there is a place for a crimper on the die set up, like on a Dillon 650, it would do no harm.

If you would rather not crimp, don't bother. But fire a few shots withthe same round in the magazine and see if the pounding sets it back. if it does not, you are good to go.

If you plan on using your ammo for hunting, it is real important in a lever to cycle all the rounds through your magazine and chamber, making sure the bolt locks up tight. If any rounds are probelmatic, you want to know before the hunt.

read below.
 
The Lee Factory crimp die is a marvel for the 30-30. I've reloaded for it since the beginning of time or so it seems. The regular crimp will work just fine, if adjusted properly, the cases are trimmed evenly, and you don't get carried away trying to crush the hell out of the crimp. But not on an un-cannelured bullet.
More importantly, pay attention to each and every round you reload, and watch the crimping operation closely.
The crimp die will crimp regardless of case length, regardless of presence of cannelure, and used properly, won't push the shoulder back.
I always crimp 30-30. I have had bullets pushed back, even crimped ones. But usually, when they have been in and out of the mag a number of times, and possibly in there during firing, as in a hunting scenario.
Neck tension is as important, probably more important than crimp, but crimp is still a must I feel with a tube mag.
Grab the bullet in your fingers and twist it in the case it should be difficult, or impossible to get any movement if it's done right.
 
glang1 said:
The Lee 3 die sets come with a factory crimp die.
Click to expand...

Not for the 45/70. The 45/70 dies are like a 3 die pistol set in that they do not use an expander ball in the sizing die but rather a seperate die with an expander / case mouth flaring plug.

The bullet seating die can be set to crimp though, just like most seating dies.

The Lee factory crimp die is a better choice. Crimping with the 45/70 is definitely a good idea with even a medium load.

I'll say again that I've never had to crimp 30-30 and have never had bullets move on me, even after repeated firings with the same cartridge in the mag.

I did buy a Lee crimp die for 30-30 but more for experimentation than for the need to crimp.

I'm surprised so many are saying you have to crimp the 30-30. I'd say you don't have to at all but you should unless you're willing to experiment and make sure it's working properly without a crimp.
 
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