Reloading for lever action 30-30

I have been reloading 45 LC and 45ACP, also 9mm Luger. No bottleneck cartridges. I want to reload for my Marlin 336/30-30. I know that full length resizing assures a factory spec cartridge. I need to know if it is oki to neck-only resize if I am only going to use the ammo in this one rifle. I don't know for sure if the cartridges HAVE to be full length rezized or if the shgells will chamber properly if I only neck resize. (I know I can load one and try it but I just need a general rule of thumb here. One way or tother I am going to cook up my loads at home.

I used to load for a 270 and a 222 but those were bolt guns.

 

I got the same info

I couldn't remember if full length sizing was just for other leverguns, other guns or whatever. I heard it just as you told it. Levers do not have the extraction or chambering power of a bolt. (I was hoping I could necksize only for MY lever gun but looks like it it's going to be full length.)

Thanks a bunch
h

 

I think the rule is hard and fast, but I can just necksize and seat a bullet w/o crimping, w/o primer or powder and see how it works. That makes sense...not too complicated and not dangerous.

 

That's part of the enjoyment...

... of the whole activity that pertains to firearms. I enjoy working up loads. I haven't managed to do so well using my homemade lead bullets but using jacketed, or professionally made lead bullets my 45LC and 9mm seem to do well. I mayjust start molding fishing sinkers and leave the bullet making to the pros. My 9's would tumble over on their sides at 25 yards. BUT, they all stayed in the kill area. The JHP's I loaded kept a bit tighter group and flew right so I would trust them at a bit longer distance. I wouldn't be afraid to carry either in my concealed weapon.

I still have issues with my 45LC not being as accurate as I like using cast. But I think I need to harden up the lead some and experiment with the bullet size. Mine may be a couple thous too small.

It takes time and money to do it right and right now money is the problem. I am ok at about 30-35 yards with what I got but the groups aren't very consistant. Could be me too. That Ruger kicks a bit and is a bit slippery with the plastic grips, and I haven't gotten to take it out since I put the Hogues on. Hoping to use it next week when I get to Tyler.

 

Dummy rounds

I have read and will use this for seating depth for each style bullet I use: When adjusting for seating depth, make a dummy round, which may mean sacrificing a casing for each bullet style, and seat a bullet without crimping. Chamber the round and gently close the action, thereby seating the bullet to a depth that just touches the end of the bullet to the lands. Then crimp the case and adjust the seating die to that length. Best to do this for each bullet style. This eliminates the distance the bullet has to jump before it meets the lands. (freebore?) Makes sense to me.

 

Oops...

I thought about that too. I am betting that when the neck is expanded it will allow the bullet to be slid in pretty easily. Touching the lands SHOULDN"T grab the bullet and pull it out but I know it can happen, especially with lead bullets. I will have to just work thet out if it happens, right?

It is all part of the process. I am hoping to use homemade/homestuffed lead bullets for hogs. Lower velocity, i know but good shot placement will be required for a quick kill. That goes for all shots but even moreso when not using supersonic superexpanding factory made externally propelled anti-pork missiles. I like loading my own but if it turns out loading lead pills doesnt work, I will load factory bullets.

I hate tracking game. I want them down...one shot, one kill.

 

Point taken

I know that tha youre right...now that I remember reading that somewhere. 1-2 thou makes a big difference in chamber pressure.

Thanks for the reminder.

 

Old info and bad memory...

Seems to be familiar to me ...I almost remember the article being on benchrest HiPower shooting. The cases were neck sized only then the powder and primer applied. Next, the bullet was just pressed into the casemouth and not very deep. The cartridge was chambered and was not crimped. The pill was stopped by the lands and there was no crimp.. None needed. I wonder if I am correct, firstly, in remembering this correctly; and also I am wondering if this eliminated one of the variables that increases pressure. I cannot source this. But, I have also read that an underdose of powder can cause hi pressure, sooooo, maybe by not crimping, this took care of any over-pressurization. Seems like a long way around the barn to me. I think I will just full length size for the lever gun and when I finally get another bolt gun, I will play with the loads. I need the sierra manual...I believe someone posted that it has loads for levers, pumps and semiautos, and also specifically for bolt guns. Makes sense to me.

HEY...are we having fun yet? Windy, hope you don't feel left out. Eventually you will want to try reloading. As you mentioned, shooting gets expensive. Compare the cost of a box of reloads to a box of factory ammo.

(Reloading adds to the enjoyment of the sport and gets the relpader really familiar with his/her guns and ammo. I like it because it is cheap, and my friends who shoot aren't always asking to borrow my handloaded ammo cause they think i load too hot for their guns. )

Brass for my 45 LC costs $22.00/100; Bullets, cast storebought cost about $9.20/100 and way less if I cast my own which I do most of the time; Primers cost $3.00/100 and powder, say Unique, costs about $19.00 a pound can. At 8.6 gr powder per shell, I can load 823.5 shells per pound of Unique. That comes to 2.3 cents per shell for powder. Or $2.30 per hundred...but after the case is fired one time it's actual cost is offset by the number of times that case can be reloaded. So I consider it written off the first time it is fired because I hate math. Anyway, my 45 LC loads cost me (second loading, because I buy my brass new and dont buy factory ammo unless I cant get the brass.) about $13.00 / 100. Buy anything in bulk and it cuts down on cost.