.30 Carbine dies

Hornady and Hodgdon both have data for AA#9

 

I’ve used 2400, li’l gun, h110, and IMR 4227. I liked h110 the best but just for cleanliness and function. I haven’t shot any for accuracy. I can’t see well enough anyway LOL

 

2400 and AA#9- I use these two strictly for cast bullets. I've long since run out of #9 but prefer 2400 anyway. I use 13.0 gr. of 2400 with a cast 115 gr. RN (RCBS 30-115-SP) and get just over 1900 fps and the loads trajectory pretty much matches the original load to 200 yds., accurate too-



N110- This is a peculiar (and expensive) powder in that it's extruded, but I really like it. 14.0 gr., which is maximum according to the Vihtavuori site, yields a bit over 2000 fps with a 110 gr. Hornady FMJ.

Ramshot Enforcer(AA4100)- This is probably my favorite powder for the .30 Carbine as it meters like water and because 14.8 gr., which is a full grain under maximum will run a 110 gr. FMJ a bit over 2000 to 2040 fps, depending on the carbine. I've loaded as much as 15.3 gr. and a 110 gr. bullet which netted almost 2100 fps, but didn't really see the need. Ramshot/Accurate data lists 15.8 as maximum for almost 2200 fps with a Sierra 110 gr. bullet and a 17" barrel.



That said, if all I had to use was H110/W296, I'd set my powder measure to drop 15.0 gr. and be a happy man forever.

35W

 

W296, or the military grade equivalent, is supposed to be the original powder in 30 Carbine.

I’m happy with my W296/H110 30 Carbine ammunition.

Of the powders Walkong lists, I chose one whose data produces similar performance as the W296 data.

 

I would second the H110/W296 selection, have had no surprises with loading that powder with 115gr coated.....
I have not dived into another powder either......
M1 Carbine and a Ruger Blackhawk-------aren't really inherent to accuracy but accurate enough.........and the Blackhawk.......................................is REALLY loud......!!

 

I always liked the notion that I used H110 and a 110 FMJ bullet for 30 carbine. Fair accuracy at 100 YDS in my Underwood and impressive fireball in my Blackhawk. What's not to like.

 

At the public range I shot at with my neighbor ( in the 70's) we found out that if he shoots his full tilt 44mag and I shoot my RBH in 30 carbine we would have the range to our self after a couple of cylinders. The 30 carbine in a pistol is fun to shoot but loud and throws a massive fire ball. The cylinder gap on my BH was a little on the wide side so side flash was a little excessive. W296/H110 was the powder of choice.

 

Smart man. I had an Automag III briefly. VERY briefly!

AA4100 and No.11FS are probably the best options in my opinion. Inexpensive compared to the alternatives and typically available even when nothing else is. Of course, that opinion predates the Hodgdon Takeover of Western/Accurate.

 

I use the H110 at 14.4 grains for just at 1950 +- FPS. Not tried the AA#9 yet but would with the coated cast projectiles.

Back to the dies - I have found the 'Shooters Box Case and Ammunition Gauge' to be accurate and easy to use. Initially I gauged every case, but now have been doing about every third or fourth. Got mine on Amazon.

 

The Lee carbide dies have two carbide inserts!
I was gifted a set of Lyman.30Carbine Steel dies

I later bought the Lee carbide set with factory crimp die.
Guess which I use?!
However, both require using case lube. And no, I don’t load them on a progressive press, butI do use a powder through case expander.
Neither my two M1’s or Black Hawk are accurate enough to justify Sierra bullets ($$$) or weighed charges or matched brass.
I do trim every 3-5 loadings...
I mostly use a Lee 93gr RN powder coated, sized .311” over 11.8gr of #2400. Just enough to cycle the actions and as accurate as anything.
Marvelous plinking! 6-cavity molds!

 

It'sa pussycat.

[barrel rest/iron sights]

(BTW: 32-20 Cases work perfectly in the Blackhawk... and eliminate the mouth/headspace/case length challenge)


.

 

I liked mine so much that I purchased a second one in short order. Lead bullets and trail boss produced ammo with the recoil of .22 long. Also much cheaper than replacing the .22 during the last ammo drought.

 

FIFY

.30 Carbine is too long and weak-walled a case not to use lube. I use carbide dies as a policy, but lube is mandatory.

 

Mine is a steel die from CH4D, it's also a trim die for the dillon rt 1200.

 

I'm using Lee carbide dies with an RCBS tapered seating die. I don't recall why I purchased the RCBS die, maybe the Lee seating die wasn't working to my satisfaction.

RCBS carbide dies are expensive but much easier to use.

If I had it to do over I would just buy the RCBS carbide die set.

Lube is a must for 30 Carbine, regardless of what die you use. I spray mine with the Dillion case lube.

 

Going through your brass, be aware (in case you aren't) of some LC52 that may be berdan primed.

Otherwise, I haven't really run across a "bad" head stamp, they're all pretty good so far as I know

 

Do you use a lee powder through case expander with a powder measure? Or do you use a funnel?

 

Funny you mention that, out of the 500 odd cases I just processed, one of them was a LC52 that broke my decapping pin. I looked at the head stamp and was like 'huh?' but is was berdan.

Walkalong: I had some problem children, such as Aguila and a couple of PMC in there I had to double lube (they were so tight in the sizer I thought they would get stuck). The Aguila was also grossly long at 1.299 - 1.310 after sizing (before trimming), but there were also some '42 and '43 cases in my batch that were in great shape. Almost all my case mouth split failures (upon loading) were the non-berdan LC52 head stamps.