Another reloading question (gun)

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Well-known Member
Ok so 308W is 2.015 long and 30/30 brass is 2.039 long so can I use the 308 dies to reload 30/30 and that way I will not have to buy a new set of 30/30 dies
Thanks.
My think is both are 30 cal so since both are so close to being the same length the 308 die should work just fine if that die is ok and I have just had problems with cheap thin 308 brass
 
Ya I only looked at how long both where I did not look to see all the other stuff but still the 30/30 seems like it would fit into the 308 die and neck sizing and popping the primer out is all I need but again I want a 30/30 set of dies any how just would like to save some time since it takes a week or more to get things shipped
 
They will work, but will only "neck size" the case. The ammo can only be fired in the same gun as it was originally.
 
in reallity,you can cut the die in two using just the neck sizing part and reload any cartridge of any style that uses a 308 bullet.BUT only untill case body dimensions get large enough you have trouble chambering in your firearm.in fact thats what a neck size only die does. not the best to do so of course but its been done jillions of times.for all intents and purposes,you dont even need the die or press. a block of hardwood with the proper sized hole will resize the neck, add powdwer,and push in a bullet,and your reloaded.
 
Neck sizing brass to be used in a lever-action gun is a bad idea. A set of FL sizing dies will cost you less than 30 bucks. They'll pay for themselves after 50 rounds.
 
Figured they probably would not work but know that if I do not ask I may never know for sure. Wish Midway was a place you could walk into and buy because I will be in Columbia tomorrow and that is where midway is
 
Rich, as others have said, neck sizing will work, but you have to shoot it in the same gun. and it is only used in bolt actions. I am afraid it wouldn't work in a lever gun. You might get by with it once, but as the case stretches you will start to have real problems.

Dont risk it.

In my .270 bolt gun, I have experimented getting the die set to full length resize, the start backing it off a little. It works OK, and doesn't work the brass as much and will maybe get you a little longer case life.

I have reloades some cases so many times that they eventually have a case head seperation. Close inspection will show a dark line just up from the rim of the cartridge. this is where it is getting thin.

Good luck, Gene
 
I have some 44mag brass that has been reloaded one time to many and has split the side out of it the last time I shot it which of coarse I can now no longer even think about using it
 
(quoted from post at 17:06:00 11/26/12) Rich, as others have said, neck sizing will work, but you have to shoot it in the same gun. and it is only used in bolt actions. I am afraid it wouldn't work in a lever gun. You might get by with it once, but as the case stretches you will start to have real problems.

It works fine in lever guns, just a little stickier to extract live rounds, but never been a problem for me. I I neck size only for my 35 Rem Marlin 336. The 35 Rem has a tiny shoulder for headspace, and full length sized cases will cause issues with missfires.
 
Neck sizing a 30-30 using a 308 die will not work as a 308 case neck OD is .343 inches. A 30-30 OD is .331 inches. A 30- 30 case neck is a lot thinner than a 308 case neck , so if you did try to use a 308 die it would be so oversize ID it would not hold a bullet in the case. Check your loading manual for both case ODs.

Joe
 
One thing that is different is the 308 is a rebated rim and 30-30 is a rimmed cartridge this will require a different shell holder.
The dims on the 308 are
Length 2.015
angle degree 20
neck dia. .343
case dia. .454
case length to shoulder 1.56
case to bottom of shoulder 1.711

The 30-30 Length 2.039
angle degree 15 39'
neck .332
case dia @ head .421
case dia @neck angle .401
case length to shoulder 1.35
case to bottom of shoulder 1.55
So I would conclude that it would not be the wisest thing but could possibly be done if no other means was available.
These dims are from the 47TH edition Lyman manual.
 
If you order and pay online Midway will let you pivkup at the store and save shipping. Same way with Cabela's.
 
Have the same reloading handbook just did not compare enough of the numbers to be sure
 
I know that but I will not have the $$ to pay for it til I am in Columbia so I can not order and then pick up since the $$ will not be here till I am there
 
Dies are relatively cheap, and I find used ones at the flea markets, antique stores, all sorts of odd places. Too easy to not use the right dies.

Charles
 
Ya up till a couple years ago I had a place 7 miles from me that I would buy dies and powder and bullets from but ATF closed him down due to something about missing paper work and the poor guy had cancer and was on his last legs as it was. Getting hard to find that stuff used any more due to who we have in the not so white white house
 
Rich, you remind me of a neighbor we used to have, he was reloading some cartridges for an old lever gun. He said he just kept increasing the powder amount until the shot would knock the hammer back to half cock, then decrease it a little. Funny thing is he lived to and old age and died a natural death!
 
Reason I ask is to make sure I do things in a safe way. I have yet to ever load a hot load and all loads I have ever done are to the starting load and never much is any more then that and that is by scale not one of them little load cups you get with die sets
 

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