Are carbide 30 carbine dies worthwhile?

[Fatelvis]

Im thinking about reloading 30 carbine for my M1. If I buy a carbide sizing die, will I still have to lube cases? I think that will determine if I want to reload `em!

 

[taliv]

absolutely. carbide is not a replacement for lube.

 

[Fatelvis]

I figured because it doesnt have a shoulder, it would be in the same category as handgun rounds, i.e. no lube nessisary with carbide dies.

 

[Ross]

The .30 Carbine case is tapered, not quite straight. The mouth of the case is 0.336", the base 0.356". The carbide ring die insert is small enough to size the neck and really too small for the base. Lube is essential. The steel die actually does a better job.
The 9mm Luger has the same problem. I have returned to conventional dies for these two cartridges.
Even if you find a full-length carbide sizer, you will need to lubricate the cases, as you do with bottle-necked carbide dies.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Carbide Progressives

I have sold .30 M1 carbine Star reloaders in both steel and carbide and advise lubing on both of them to reduce resistance in loading. I still have a couple of them.

Paul

 

[Fatelvis]

Thanks guys- I guess Ill keep buying surplus in this caliper. To me, in this caliber, the savings isnt great enough to warrant reloading them. I hate lubing, and removing lube!

 

[Sisco]

I use RCBS spray lube then toss the cases into the tumbler before loading them.
The instructions that came with my carbide's said lube every third case or so. Found out the hard way it's better to lube 'em all.

 

[taliv]

out of curiosity, why the aversion to lubing? i've always considered it pretty much painless. (i.e. cheap and easy)

 

[stans]

But messy, especially the older lubes that required cases be rolled along a lube pad. The spray lubes do make it a little neater, but you still end up with lube on your fingers.

 

[Cortland]

To me, in this caliber, the savings isnt great enough to warrant reloading them. I hate lubing, and removing lube!

I load .30 carbine for $73/1000 rounds, I think that's a substantial savings over buying loaded ammo. I load mine using a Hornady LnL AP with steel Hornady dies and a case feeder. I just dump a few hundred cases in the feeder, turn the feeder on, and hose down the cases with spray lube as the feeder tumbles them around. Even with carbide dies, I don't think I'd want to load w/o case lube. Too much force required.

Lee makes a carbide .30 carbine sizer, but due to the thickness of .30 carbine brass (compared to pistol brass), Lee still recommends you lube every second or third case.

 

[Sunray]

I've been loading .30 carbine with carbide dies for 30 years with no lube. No fuss or bother. Same with 9mm.
"...savings isnt great enough to warrant reloading them..." It isn't about saving money. It's about using the best ammo.

 

[Ed]

I don't lube them. Use Lee Dies and a Dillon 550 B and have no problems whatsoever. No more force required than a 45 ACP.