30-30 trim length trouble

[Zalinth]

I have a Marlin 336C that I am trying to reload for and I am having some trouble with the case length.

My Lyman manual says trim length to 2.029 and max length is 2.039. After full length re-sizing the case length is 2.034 or 2.035 just barely under max length. I tried trimming the case to 2.029 with a lee case trimmer cutter and lock stud for 30-30. Well the case trimmer doesn't cut anything and just spins. I tried chucking it up in my drill and same thing just spins really fast and doesn't cut anything lol.

So I am not too sure what to do at the moment, is it safe just to leave the cases at 2.034 or should I go out and buy a bench mount case trimmer like Horandy? I have been waiting to get one, but everytime I see the price of one I change my mind. lol

 

[kelbro]

2.034 would be fine in any Marlin that I have seen. Most have rather generous chambers.

 

[Salmoneye]

Most have rather generous chambers.

And really short throats...

 

[helotaxi]

You're right in the happy middle ground between trim length and max length. Don't sweat it, you're safe. If you want precise control over what your cases are trimmed to, get a lathe style trimmer.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Zalinth...Don't trim the cases until after you have resized them. Resize THEN measure and trim. Anything with the range of 2.029 and 2.40 is good. Reload'em,. Shoot'em and reload'em again.

 

[303tom]

If you are under 2.40 use em..........

 

[Certaindeaf]

You need to spin them faster.


just kidding

 

[JLDickmon]

might actually need to spin it slower

 

[rcmodel]

My Lyman #49 says 2.028" Trim Too length.

The thing is though, you do need to trim them.
Just so they will all be the same length, so you can crimp them uniformly.

Was I you?
I'd shorten the depth stop pin on the Lee trimmer to get the prescribed 2.028" Trim Too length.

rc

 

[Mike 27]

+1 RC

Lee Trimmers are a set length unless you grind the stud on the end of the gauge. I use them exclusively and really never measured them after trimming as they are set. I load 30-30 and have had 0 issue with the Lee gauge length.

 

[blarby]

You sir, are good !

If the cutter isn't cuttin- its time to move on !

 

[sacnho]

The last Lee cutter I bought I had to use pliers to get the depth stop screwed all the way on the cutter. Maybe something to check?

 

[rcmodel]

My .223 one wouldn't stay screwed on.
The more I used it the looser it got.

I finally used Lock-Tight on it and ground it too length after it cured.

Hasn't changed since.

rc

 

[SSN Vet]

Just out of curiosity you did deprime the case b4 trimming, right? The Lee trim length pin has to go through the flash hole and reference off the flat surface of the case holder.

 

[Dudemeister]

I just measured my 30-30 Lee trimmer, and the stem length is 2.037.

Which means that any shell under that will not be trimmed, the mouth of the shell is below the cutting edges of your trimmer.

Depending on how short your shell is, and whether you're applying a crimp, you may want to either skip those shells, or use the factory crimp die which doesn't care about the actual length

 

[Zalinth]

Thanks for the replies.

Just out of curiosity you did deprime the case b4 trimming, right?

Yes I did deprime and re-size first. After full length re-sizing most of the brass size was 2.034. A few actually did trim, maybe 6 to 7 out of 40.

My Lyman #49 says 2.028" Trim Too length.

Rc you are correct my Lyman manual said the same thing. For some weird reason I had 2.029 stuck in my head.

I guess I have a small amount of OCD and if the manual says 2.028 then I want my brass to be the same. lol I can see that everyone is saying if it don't cut then just move on and that works with me. Thanks for your guys help.

 

[FROGO207]

This is one of the places that the Lee factory crimp die shines. It will crimp at varying case lengths and work well. Then start trimming when the length reaches max. A no brainah to me. Well worth the expense if you don't have one yet.

 

[Dudemeister]

This is one of the places that the Lee factory crimp die shines. It will crimp at varying case lengths and work well. Then start trimming when the length reaches max. A no brainah to me. Well worth the expense if you don't have one yet.

+1.

That's why I got mine with the factory crimp die. It only costs like $8 more for the 3 die set, and while you won't use the FCD most of the time, when the time comes, you'll be glad you have it.

 

[4895]

When my Lee trimmer doesn't contact the case, I wrap a shop cloth around the pilot and tighten it with a pair of pliers. That usually fixes the problem. Just be careful not to marr the pilot and you will be ok. If you like, you can just shoot them like they are but your crimp location won't be as precise unless you set the oal to the same dimension.

 

[popper]

Don't let the cutter spin on the brass, just wears the cutter down. I suspect that if you set the HS correctly, you'll not need to trim any more. Checked with 30-30 case gauge. Rim is .02 outside and neck is .02 inside the gauge. COL is the same. Same thing with 308. If the die doesn't set HS properly, the case stretches (the wall gets thinner), you push the shoulder back (can't thicken the case wall), extra brass makes the neck & COL longer. You trim brass off the mouth that came from the case, not the neck (read - case head separation). 30-30 lever gun HS on the rim - nope.

 

[blarby]

This is one of the places that the Lee factory crimp die shines. It will crimp at varying case lengths and work well. Then start trimming when the length reaches max. A no brainah to me. Well worth the expense if you don't have one yet.

+2

If you just use it as a case length gauge, eventually all of your brass will be at this length- much sooner than you might expect with FL sizing every single time.

 

[.22-5-40]

Hello, Zalinth. The .30-30 is one of the worst calibers for overlong chamber neck reaming. Sinclair International sells a chamber length gage to check the chamber length on YOUR rifle..not what some catalog tells you to trim to. A gunsmith friend of mine found most .30-30 chambers to be .030" to .050" longer than max trim length.

 

[Birdhunter1]

The thing is though, you do need to trim them.
Just so they will all be the same length, so you can crimp them uniformly.

As said above trim length is needed more for a uniform crimp than anything but as long as your case mouth ends on the bullet cannelure and it fits in the rifle after being crimped then the length should be ok.

And +1 on the Lee factory crimp die.